An Invite

I know for many of you it is winter and you may even be snow bound wondering what to do next. Why not put your feet up and if you have any, pour yourselves a large rum and coke. Now join me as your charter boat skipper and my wife as your hostess on a luxury 50ft catamaran sailboat in the British Virgin Islands.

Be Loose Mon

After a long flight and maybe a jarring ferry ride from the US Virgin Islands you arrive at the dock feeling and looking a little frazzled. As skipper and hostess we greet you and invite you aboard. We show you your cabin and give you the opportunity to freshen up. If you come as a group there is no reason to introduce yourselves but if there are strangers on board we all settle in the cockpit for those oh so cool Pina Coladas, ice cold beers or any other drink you may fancy. As the island music gets you going you “soon be loose mon”.

Day One

We leave the dock and motor out of Village Cay marina. As we enter the Sir Francis Drakes Passage, the beautiful cool steady trade wind discovers us and we quickly hoist the main sail and unfurl the jib. Then with the boat on a fast reach doing 6 -8 knots we head for Norman Island which is also known as Treasure Island. If you have done some sailing or boating before I invite you to take the helm.

With the boat tied to a buoy at the caves off Treasure Island, you enter the wonderful crystal clear warm waters of the Caribbean for the first time. You feel as if you have left you old world and entered a new one. Thousands of tropical fish rush up to greet you and then playfully swim in circles as if they are inviting and welcoming you to make yourself at home in their under water environment.

After a superb lunch of Caribbean Roti we now go for our first dive at The Indians. This outcrop of rocks of Treasure Island is a delightful and easy dive. Because you may not have dived for some time it’s the ideal opportunity for us to do a mini refresher course band and getting you up to speed.

Night One

After the dive we pick up a buoy in The Bight where we spend the night. If you are not too tired, I take you to the famous floating party boat bar, the Willy Tee. This is an absolutely amazing experience and later tonight or is it morning you finally end up exhausted in your bunk.

Day Two

The next morning after the best sleep you have had in years, my wife and I prepare a hearty hot breakfast. While we clear up and prepare the boat ready for sailing you are floating on a air bed of the stern of the yacht and enjoying an iced Bloody Mary.

We sail up the island chain to Peter Island today and stop at grand bays named after famous pirates who frequented and caused havoc on these shores many years ago. After lunch as we tack up the Sir Francis Drake Passage we put out the fishing line with its bright shiny yellow and blue lure. It’s not long before the fishing rod is bending and the reel singing. This is a big one and I heave to, stopping the boat. I can see how excited and elated you are and I hope you don't fall overboard as you are experiencing that giddy surge of adrenaline while fighting and then landing your first shimmering blue water ocean fish.

Night Two

So here we are securely anchored in this picture perfect bay Great Harbour at Peter Island. It’s evening and cooking on the barbeque we have 8 big fillets from the tuna you caught earlier. Good wine, great food, intoxicating music and knowing tomorrow will even be better, I say good night.