British Virgin Islands ( 1988 )
SHIP'S LOG - VITAMIN K
Saturday, Sep. 17. Arrived in Road Town Harbor, Tortola, British Virgin Islands in mid-afternoon. Canadian crew members, Kirsten and John Gibson, arrived later in the evening. Made final preparations over a rum punch or two and inspected our sailing vessel - a 37 foot Beneteau sloop with 675 feet of sail and a 50 hp Perkins diesel.
Sunday, Sep. 18. Boarded Vitamin K at 1000 hours. Mustered crew on foredeck and assigned berthing spaces - Captain and wife in forward compartment, Head Steward and wife in after compartment.
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The Crew of the Vitamin K Chef John
Completed provisioning. Topped off water, fuel and rum supplies and set sail at 1300 hours for Norman Island with mainsail under light reef. Conducted tacking, furling and reefing drills for the crew.
Anchored in The Bight on Norman Island in 20 feet of water and set double anchors for the night. Grilled steaks on the fantail. Cabin lights shorted out.
Monday, Sep. 19. Radioed for assistance with electrical problems. Dingied to Treasure Point for snorkeling. Chase boat arrived in early afternoon to repair cabin lighting. Rain showers throughout afternoon. Took the dingy over for dinner on board the Willian Thornton, a Danish schooner at permanent anchor in The Bight. A couple Pain Killers followed by chicken crepes in that unique setting made for a memorable evening.
Tuesday, Sep. 20. Set sail for Cooper Island. Encountered heavy seas in the open waters east of Norman so steared a course between Norman and Peter Island to Manchioneel Bay on Cooper Island. Dropped anchor off palm-lined sandy beach in early afternoon. Snorkeled and beach-combed until sundown.
Wednesday, Sep. 21. Set sail for Virgin Gorda beating East North East into 15-50 knot trade winds. Anchored off Salt Island for a revisit to the sunken wreck of the U.S.S. Rhone. Snorkeled over stern section lying in 20-25 feet of water. Sighted large ray near the shipwreck as well as a couple sea turtles.
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The Baths at Virgin Gorda
Sailed on to The Baths on the south end of Virgin Gorda. dropped anchor and went ashore to explore the rock formations and caves. Final leg to the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor where we tied up for the evening and went ashore for ice, a shower and ice cream - at a local ice cream parlor up the road from the harbor.
Thursday, Sep. 22. Eggs Benedict for breakfast - specialty of the head steward. Set sail for Tortola in long reach downwind passing north of the Great Camanoe and Guana islands. Arrived in Cane Garden Harbon at 1600 hours. Tied up to mooring and swam ashore to explore and snorkel. Shish kebobs on the grill for dinner.
Friday, Sep. 23. Cheese omlettes for breakfast. Sailed across to Sandy Cay off of Jost Van Dyke island for some of the best scenery and snorkeling of the cruise followed by an on board picnic in this beautiful spot.
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The Vitamin K at Sandy Cay
Afternoon sail through the Thatch Passage on the west end of Tortola and back to Road Town Harbor by 1700 hours. Tied up at public dock and took a cab to the restaurant in the Fort Burt Hotel overlooking Road Town Harbor to celebrate our 30th anniversary (a few days earlier) and John's 55th birthday (a few days later). A special evening diminished only by a persistent mosquito attack.
Saturday, Sep. 24. Our loyal and, by now, well-trained crew took leave in the morning for their return flight to Canada leaving the Captain and his First (and only) Mate to spend the final day sailing alone across the Sir Frances Drake Channel and around Peter Island to Key Cay for an afternoon anchorage alone in a beautiful bay for swimming and snorkeling. Due to heavy swells, shifted anchorage to Little Harbor on the lee side of Peter Island for our final night on the boat.
Sunday, Sep. 25. Final breakfast on board and then hoisted anchors for the sail back across the channel to Road Town where we tied up at 1000 hours. Ship's company mustered on the quarterdeck for transfer back to shore duty. Departed ship at 1100 hours.
End of log . . . . and a wonderful vacation.