BVI Beginnings

On Thursday at 1:00 pm we started our 130 mile journey to Virgin Gorda with the flexibility to head to the eastern or western side of the island. There were strange winds and lots of clouds at the start but in the end it was, as Austin called it, “Champagne Sailing” - a 20 knot broad reach. Austin pulled an all-nighter and, as for the rest of us, sleeping was hard because the boat was moving in a strange motion. We had gotten used to side to side and up and down but this was multiple directions at once. It was also incredibly loud. As day broke Virgin Gorda was right where it was supposed to be (fortunately) and we weaved our way through the north entrance near Necker Island and at 10:00 we anchored in Gorda Sound just off of Prickly Pear Island, a small island just off of Virgin Gorda’s north side. The rest of the day was a mix of relaxing and fun with Austin in Knot Speedy (our dinghy) and the kids in the inflatable kayaks getting pulled around. After some fun we noticed we were over some coral and decided to snorkel*. The rest of the day was more relaxing. The next day there was more relaxing and more snorkeling*. After dark Austin had the idea to shine a light in the water to attract large fish, just like they used to do at Saba Rock, a restaurant near where we were anchored – well before it was leveled by Hurricane Irma. The light attracted many fish, including Tarpon and, was it or was it not a barracuda, and it was very cool. The next day early morning we went to Leverick Bay Marina. It was chore day for Kathleen (laundry, laundry and more laundry followed by food shopping) and because they had Wi-Fi and a pool a relaxing day for Alison, Cameron and Austin. Early the next morning we loaded the boat with water, Kathleen finished the laundry (really yes more!) and we set out to a new spot to anchor in Gorda Sound and snorkeled again*.

*The snorkeling has been something else. We have tried two different spots on either side of Prickly Pear Island. We have seen an amazing array of fish (from blue headed wrasse to rainbow parrot fish), and coral (from vase coral to staghorn coral). The water is very clear and the coral here is not one big reef but scattered islands of color. The highlights so far have been multiple southern stingrays, barracudas, and a 3 ½ to 4 foot nurse shark. Alison has managed to conquer her fear of all three!

Big Dad: On a midnight watch… Anegada Passage crossing: in the middle of the crossing at midnight Cam stuck his head out of the cabin and asked: “Hey dad mind if I drive?” “No problem Cam the helm is yours.” The Anegada Passage is an 80 mile stretch of water where the Atlantic Ocean squeezes through a gap in the islands pouring into the Caribbean Sea. The waves can build here becoming large, steep and square - fortunately for us conditions were pretty close to ideal: a 15 to 25 knot broad reach with a four plus foot quartering sea. J J Pegasus was ripping along at 7.5 to 9.5 knots though holding her in the groove and keeping the genoa filled was not exactly easy as the waves kept pushing her around. Cam did an awesome job steering by the red glow of the compass. For the next hour he kept his eyes glue to the wind angle instrument: hold her on a 135 degree true wind angle, and giving me a much needed break.