Having Bob & Cindy onboard has been great, it’s amazing how fast you can connect with someone and feel you’ll be in touch as friends in the future, but hey when you take 4 strangers and throw them together into a 50 foot boat you can expect you’ll get to know each other fairly quickly!  Cindy is in real estate and Bob is actually a retired commercial airline pilot who now flies executive jets all over the place… cool job!  They love having fun going snorkeling and things like that and given that we’ve had some very light weather which was more favorable for snorkeling than sailing, we snuck in a couple days at new locations we’d heard about but not made it out to yet. 

 We spent our first couple days at an island with a couple of our favorite places that really ‘ease’ people into relaxation mode… Diamond Cay is by far our favorite spot to start out just about any cruise… it is surrounded on the Atlantic side by reefs with huge breaking waves off one side of the boat, that’s where the ‘blow hole’ is where we got a picture of them with a wave exploding between the rocks behind them.  We had a great walk around the far side of the reefs to a secluded tide pool where every wave coming off the Atlantic comes crashing over the rocks and fills the pool then gets sucked out again in preparation for the next wave… very cool!  Conditions were a little lighter than when we took the ‘Sophisticated Ladies’ there, but it was lots of fun and we still got knocked off our feet by those unexpected big waves that come out of nowhere!

Bob & Cindy at the ‘Blow Hole’

 After that it was nice and calm as the wind was settling down and the anchorage was very still where we were anchored in front of Foxy’s Taboo, so we inflated our big 9 foot ‘party island’ and threw that in the water behind the boat… that made a comfortable platform to hang out on for a few hours and then before you know it, it was sundowner time… amazing how time flies! 

Moonrise in Diamond Cay

Next day we were all up early and pulled anchor to head over to Great Harbour where the original Foxy’s beach bar/restaurant is... they still have the best reputation in the islands for seafood and Cindy reported that her lobster was excellent!  Terri and I joined them after dinner for drinks and dancing to the live entertainment they have every night.

Terri & Cindy dancing the night away

In checking the forecast the next morning they were calling for even calmer weather… we still had 15 knots of favorable wind so we set sail for Sopers Hole to fill up our diesel and water tanks, then set sail again for Treasure Island (aka Norman Island) where we stopped along the way at the Indian Islands which are home to some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the Virgin Islands… can you say snorkeling anyone?  The weather was perfect and this was a stop we had missed so many times before because of strong winds so we were thrilled to finally get to check it out for ourselves!  Needless to say, the Indians really delivered!  The sun was high and the water was calm and everyone was very impressed with the snorkeling here… Bob is an avid diver and even he said that it was the best he’d seen yet!

Getting ready to snorkel the Indian Islands (in the background)

 That afternoon we anchored in a bay at Treasure Island and went for sundowners at ‘Pirates Bight’ beach bar, a very cool little place in the corner of the anchorage and the only building around really… they play really good live reggae till all hours of the night, and have a ‘cute’ little gift shop… whenever Terri calls something a ‘cute’ little shop I get scared, lol.  Anyway, in she went with Cindy so Bob and I broke into a sweat and ordered more Heinekens, lol.  A few minutes later Terri comes running out yelling “Rick, Rick… they have the exact pirate flag you’ve been looking for forever!”  It was true, I had been looking for this flag for sometime now thinking they’d be everywhere in the Caribbean, but hadn’t seen a single one until now… and there it was in Pirates Bight!  A lot of boats fly the black and white ‘Jolly Roger’, I wanted something different and this one is actually called the ‘Caribbean Pirate’, it even has a red background which I figured would be a less offensive match for our red and white Canadian flag, lol.  I figured it was something I’d save until we were alone to hoist, but Bob was even more excited about it than I was… so excited he ran in and bought his own! Lol   We had a flag hoisting ceremony that night and it was great to see our new flag take its place amongst all our others.

Hoisting the new ‘Caribbean Pirate’ flag

Sunset from ‘Pirates Bight’

 Those of you that have read our prior emails will remember that ‘The Bight’ anchorage at Treasure Island is also home to the ‘Willie T’, the floating ship that is host to all kinds of derelict activities including giving out free T-shirts to any ladies willing to jump off the top of the ship naked… judging by the amount of screams we heard that afternoon, they gave out a lot of T-shirts!  We waited until after dark to visit the Willie T, and even though it’s not recommended that you jump off the ship at night, numerous individuals still jump after consuming copious amounts of alcohol, lol.  Well that night didn’t fail to deliver its share of ‘unique’ individuals, the ladies even got to meet Captain America!  Chances are if you can’t find it anywhere else, you’ll find it at the Willie T, lol.

Captain America at the Willie T!!

 The next day the weather was still calm so we decided to check out another new snorkeling site… the caves at Treasure Island!  I think I can safely say that we all had a hard time deciding which site we liked best, the Caves or the Indians… they were both spectacular but at the caves you can actually snorkel right into the side of the cliff and see corals in such iridescent colors that we have just never seen anywhere else.  There were underwater cliff edges, reefs, and coral heads that kept us all busy for hours and we got some of the best underwater video footage of any the sites we’ve been to so far!  (soon to be seen in our up-and-coming DVD!)

Snorkeling at the caves of Treasure Island

To be continued…

 She said

 It was a strange kind of excitement I felt knowing this would be our final charter before flying back to Canada to see our kids.   Its always exciting wondering what our guests will be like and thinking of all the fun and adventure that awaits them.  But it seemed to have an extra air of specialness knowing it was our last charter for a while.  People always ask how we can have all these strangers on board and do we get along with them and do we always like them.  We have met some amazing people and felt a real friendship for each one that seems to only grow and strengthen as the week unfolds.  We are genuinely sad when our new friends leave and we miss them after they are gone.  We have found that the kind of person who decides to go on a trip like this is usually someone who is like us – they have an adventurous heart and a love of life.  They are most often fun, easy going and excellent company.  It really is like having a long ‘sleepover’ with good friends.

 It is more than fun to plan our guests tailored itinerary and to anticipate their reactions to the stunning places we will take them to, the adventures we plan and the relaxation and peacefulness we know that awaits them here in the islands.  Some people think that a holiday on a sailboat is just all about sailing but it is so much more than that.  We travel to amazing anchorages with snorkeling, swimming, hiking, shopping and great island restaurants. Some are secluded and pristine and some are lively with towns to investigate.  They all have their own unique charm.   We get to sail to each one and often go to places cars can’t reach and there is nothing like the sight of the perfect beach or a green hillside dotted with island homes as you sail around the point.  Being on the water and arriving at each new island from the ocean has a charm all its own.

 Our detailed preference sheet gives me a good idea of what our guests like to eat, their ideas of the ideal vacation day and how they want to spend their time.   I am always so eager to read their replies and picture them in my head and get an idea of what they are like.  It’s a bit like having pen pals you finally get to meet in person.  Part of me always gets a little anxious as I am planning the menu – I want everything to be perfect for them, for them to have the best vacation ever and to love it here as much as we do.

 Rick usually lets me go to the airport and pick up our new guests and I always have a few excited butterflies in my stomach as I wait for them to come through the closed doors.  I wonder what will they look like, what will they be like and try to guess who they are as they walk out.  Bob and Cindy came out with huge smiles on their faces and a great energy around them.  We walked out of the tiny airport across the dirt road to our trusty dinghy bobbing at the dock.  The moon was out and it was a gorgeous warm night with a sweet scented tropical breeze surrounding us.  It is the perfect tropical setting with the little wooden dock surrounded by turquoise waters and the bay filled with gently floating sailboats full of happy friendly people.  I love bringing people from the airport to this idyllic Caribbean setting.

 For Bob and Cindy’s first evening we planned a quiet and peaceful time to unwind, they had been travelling all day and it was already 9pm.  I made some hor d’ouvres and we made a pitcher of the yummy and addictive local cocktail called ‘painkillers’!  Everyone loves them and they do make all your ‘pains’ go far away! We sat in the cockpit under the stars and watched as our guests leaned back, took in the scenery and relaxed.  

 Next morning we set sail for Diamond Cay, this is one of our favorite spots and a great place to begin Bob & Cindy’s vacation.  It is this quaint and secluded anchorage with a huge reef and the crashing ocean on one side and a calm bay on the other.  There is only one little open air bar with the best bartender named Lewis who is always happy with a huge smile to welcome you.  My favorite tiny boutique is attached and is run by Ellen (who is also very awesome!), she has the most gorgeous clothing and bathing suits in the islands as well as cool hats and gifts.  I love taking our guests here because everyone loves her clothing, the atmosphere and finding something Caribbean to buy.  After shopping to our hearts content we hiked up the hill side to the ‘bubbly pools’ for a cool dip in the natural wave pool on the other side.  The hike is breath taking all along the way and the beach and pool at the end is impossible to describe.  We all had a blast playing in the waves and taking endless pictures.   After a light lunch in the shady cockpit Bob and Cindy floated around in the inflatable party raft which quickly lulls you asleep as you lay back with sun warming you and your feet dangling in the cooling ocean.

Catching some rays in front of Foxy’s Taboo

 Great Harbour was our destination for the next day and we sailed over in under an hour and anchored in the beach lined bay.  We had a great time at Foxy’s, the world renowned restaurant.  This place is set back from the beach and all the tables and the dance floor are in the sand.   The food is great and the bands and dancing are lively and everyone is there to have a great time.  The ceiling is lined with t-shirts, hats, and banners from all over the world that people sign and hang as they pass through.  Cindy and Bob danced the night away and we joined them to take pictures and dance our toes off too!  We climbed back into the dinghy and sighed as we headed back to the boat after another great day.  Tucked in our beds with the waves gently rocking us to sleep and the trade winds cooling us, we were all quickly asleep dreaming of the next day’s adventures

 We had a yummy breakfast in the cockpit, eating as we enjoyed the view.  It really is amazing to sit in the cockpit of the boat with a lovely table set before you, mouth watering food and the most perfect tropical scenery surrounding you.  It really is like suddenly finding yourself in a living postcard.  You feel like pinching yourself to see if it is real.  And we get to share this with our guest’s everyday – we feel so lucky to have this amazing life we can share with others. 

Setting up for breakfast ‘al fresco’ in the cockpit

 We sailed to Norman Island and anchored just off the Indians – a grouping of towering rock formations with the most incredible snorkeling you can imagine.  Bob, Cindy, Rick and I grabbed our gear and jumped into the dinghy.  We could hardly wait to tie onto a mooring ball and leap into the water.  The Indians lived up to the stories we had heard.  We all were in awe at the underwater world around us.  We kept coming up and saying ‘that was so amazing!’.  There were hundreds of fish and huge banks of coral with tunnels and coves throughout.  It really was spectacular.  We spent the afternoon going ashore to the beach bar called Pirates Bight and finding our own treasures in the cute little gift shop they had.  Rick got his pirate flag and Bob soon joined in the fun with his own pirate flag and hat. Bob and Cindy were such wonderful people and we were having such a fantastic time with them. The guys were in pirate heaven as we raised the skull and cross bones and swore to uphold the pirate’s code!! LOL  We ate under the stars – Bob & Cindy loved my culinary creations which made me feel great and we all ate way too much!   We zipped into the floating barge bar ‘Willie Tee’s ‘ for a little dancing and people watching and had a good time.  Another perfect day with our cozy beds to fall into at the end.

 The next morning Cindy and I were so excited.  We had taken a little dinghy tour around the point of Norman Island and there are a series of 4 or 5 caves all along the shore line.  We knew we had to go back there this morning and snorkel the caves!  After breakfast we donned our gear and zipped over.  The caves were magical and we all were in awe of the beauty, colors and secret hidden inner chambers of the caves.  We felt like we were all exploring this untouched place even though there were others around.  It was as spectacular as the Indians and really hard to decide which one was my favorite.  I still can’t decide.  The mysterious caves with the moss covered openings and deep pink and purple walls were unreal.  Under water in the shadow and coolness of the caves brilliant neon colored coral and plants grew that I had never seen before.  What a spectacular morning we had! 

Beautiful colors of coral inside the caves

Part two coming soon