Faith's Virgin Island Charter

[s/v Faith]

Just had lunch at Foxy's at Jost Van Dyke.... going back ashore later to look for the right place for a sailfar sticker to be... of course you can not rush into these things, I might have to spend a little time looking around the place (hope it is not too crowded at happy hour).  ;D

Uploading pictures now, will post soon.,

On edit;

 Here was a nice shot of a little Ketch that was having a nice sail between St. John and Tortula.



Many places were less then crowded in May.... they call this the 'shoulder season' between the spring breakers, and the start of H******cane season.

Kind of nice to avoid the heard;

[Tim]

Just don't put it over the top of this one  ;)

[s/v Faith]

I KNEW you had put one there Tim, I looked for it and did not find it.  :P

I went for a hike this evening, ended up going over the ridge to White Bay. I intended to take some stickers to Foxies but did not get them onto the dingy... so I may hike back over (plan to spend tomorrow night in White Bay).
'



Ok, this thread is about to get picture intensive... hope everyone enjoys them.  I want to post a lot, so that any future BVI / USVI Sailfar Sailors will have some idea what to expect.

Foxies bar, Jost Van Dyke;


Great Harbor;.


Here is one to ease you into it.  THis was the sunset we took from Francis bay, on St. John.

[s/v Faith]

One of many pictures taken with my Olympus camera my friends here helped me pick out.

THis was on Norman Island, at a place they call 'the caves';



We snorkeled into the caves and had a look;





These guys seemed like they were suspended;



More of the caves;


We then went 'around the corner' and spent the night in the Bight at Norman, home of the William Thorton (no, I did not take the 'naked plunge')



The pirates bar at the bight;

[s/v Faith]

"The Baths" at Virgin Gorda are absolutely not to be missed!



Someone throw me a line!





Some tight squeezes where the water meets the rock....



You pick up a free 'day use' national parks mooring, and dingy to the beach (you tie to a floating dingy moor, there is no landing at the baths).



Absolutely amazing... I wish I could post what it sounded like in there... and felt like.  You really need to go.

[s/v Faith]

My dad is a painter, and he brought his 'Plen air' set.  Here he has found a cool place to paint in Cruze Bay on St. John.

[s/v Faith]

Oh good they didn't sink, rather they went to the US Virgins

Craig told me that, years ago in his former life as a serving member of the US Armed Forces, he'd been on a US Navy ship anchored in that bay. He was amazed at the idyllic beauty of the place, and wondered what it would be like in different circumstances. So he promised himself that sometime in "The Future", he'd come back - on a vessel that wasn't carrying hundreds of other servicefolk, and with more time to explore and enjoy...

Looks like he made it. :)

Very cool that you remember that Kurt, yes... that was something of an epiphany for me.  I had vowed then to return to Magans Bay some day on a boat when I was the Captain, and could come and go as I please.    ;D





As Tim said, St. Thomas is the.... well let's just say that you should not leave your boat or dingy unattended long there.   I sent my crew ashore for some leave and they took the cab over the hill to Charlotte Amale for provisions and to trade beads with the natives;


I just relaxed on the beach for a while, and hung out onboard... some days it to tough to be the captain;


Couple of pics from Sunset, Magens Bay;

[s/v Faith]

The second night out we sailed around Guana and looked at an anchorage there, and did not find a place I liked... we then sailed over to Great Camanoe and anchored at Lee Bay.  The little Delta would not set!  After dragging it for a 75' I pulled it up and found out why.





The sunset at Lee Bay;



as the colors came out;

[s/v Faith]

I have gone back in and added some pictures over the thread, and it is all out of order...  now.

Here I was going ashore in Waterlemon Bay on St. John.



The ruins of the cane plantation at Waterlemon Bay;



More of the ruins, dad set up here the next day and painted this arch with the boats and the bay in the background....



I am sure that I am posting too many pictures, but I could not pick one... so here is another.



Enjoying the view;


Ruins at the top of the hill;



And the view of the anchorage from the top;

[s/v Faith]

Unmitigated Gull;

[s/v Faith]

Last night was spent at Soper's hole Tortola.



The Captain hard at work laying up provisions for the crew... of maybe just "The Waterboy"  :P





Sopers hole off the stern as we motor out this morning;

[s/v Faith]

Oh good they didn't sink, rather they went to the US Virgins

Craig told me that, years ago in his former life as a serving member of the US Armed Forces, he'd been on a US Navy ship anchored in that bay. He was amazed at the idyllic beauty of the place, and wondered what it would be like in different circumstances. So he promised himself that sometime in "The Future", he'd come back - on a vessel that wasn't carrying hundreds of other servicefolk, and with more time to explore and enjoy...

Looks like he made it. :)

Very cool that you remember that Kurt, yes... that was something of an epiphany for me.  I had vowed then to return to Magans Bay some day on a boat when I was the Captain, and could come and go as I please.    ;D





As Tim said, St. Thomas is the.... well let's just say that you should not leave your boat or dingy unattended long there.   I sent my crew ashore for some leave and they took the cab over the hill to Charlotte Amale for provisions and to trade beads with the natives;


I just relaxed on the beach for a while, and hung out onboard... some days it to tough to be the captain;


I briefly tried to pick up a couple coins by doing some lifeguard duty.. but strangely no one came along to pay me...


Couple of pics from Sunset, Magens Bay;

[s/v Faith]

I just noticed I have gone over 4000 posts some time this evening....


Jumping back to Virgin Gorda and the Baths, here is a shot of 'the skull'



A rainbow while anchored at Francis Bay on St. John;



We have been very fortunate with the weather.  The forecast has called for some chance of rain each day since we arrived, but the showers have mostly been short lived and had very little impact.

Here is a picture of the rain moving in at Caneel bay;

[s/v Faith]

Coral Bay (our second to last stop on our near circumnavigation of St. John) was a really great little harbor.

The guide describes Coral bay as a refuge from tourists... ours was only one of 2 charter boats in the anchorage....  it was crowded with cruising boats.

Cozy little harbor;


Boats look much more spread out here then they are in reality;



From the ridge, taken while hiking in the evening;


The Law;

[s/v Faith]

There is a story to this picture that will need it's own post (really it's own thread)... I will just post the picture since it is getting really late and I have been at this for hours now...

More on this picture to follow later;



More pictures to follow....

[s/v Faith]

Moving over to White bay now.  On looking over this it appears some of the pictures did not load... will look at that later...

[jotruk]

The pictures were great. I remember a lot of it from my days in the Navy. Looking farward to getting back there soon..

[Jim_ME]

Ok, this thread is about to get picture intensive... hope everyone enjoys them.  

Craig, The photos are wonderful. The more the better!  :)

Grog to you.

[s/v Faith]

Thanks for the encouragement guys....

... it is slow going uploading all the pictures with this connection.

Today we moved to White Bay.

White bay can be as private (empty) as you like;



Or it can be more crowded;



There are three main attractions (well, lots of attractions.. but there are more then 3 but...)

You have Loves;


On the other end you have Ivans Stree Free bar;


and you have the "Soggy Dollar"


Back to Foxies from yesterday... here is a picture that shows how close your boat is to the bar;



And back to Sophers hole.. Leto at teh fuel dock (that price was only good on 100 gallons or more).. we took 13.

[Tim]

Spot update;