Fw: Intermediate blog (BVI arrival)

Catou
Paul and Sylvie Tucker
Thu 21 Apr 2011 16:26
18:25.03N 64:36.93W

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From: <paul {CHANGE TO AT} crabo {DOT} co {DOT} uk>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 11:09 PM
To: "Angela Bird" <angela {CHANGE TO AT} angelabird {DOT} plus {DOT} com>; "Clunk & David Boakes" <clunkboakes {CHANGE TO AT} hotmail {DOT} com>; "Denise Taylor" <denise {CHANGE TO AT} crabo {DOT} co {DOT} uk>
Subject: Intermediate blog (BVI arrival)

Didn't have time to do blog last night as we left Saba at 1830. Ran engine for two hours and I took first watch until midnight. By 2030 there was just enough wind to sail, so stopped engine and had a beautifully gentle sail at between 5 - 6 knots. The sea was calm, the breeze warm and the sky was clear.

A full moon rose behind us - almost directly behind Saba and it really was a magical sail. Sadly, the wind died just before midnight, so I waited until Sylvie was up before switching on the engine so she wouldn't be woken early.

Therefore I went to bed with the sound of the engine - instead of the lovely sound of water trickling past the hull while gently sailing along.

Sylvie sighted the Virgin Islands at about 0300 and eventually made it in to Road Harbour and picked up a mooring off the customs office at 1130. It was very hot, but we took the dinghy ashore and cleared customs and immigration and sought out an eating establishment in Road Town. In the meantime, we discovered that a ferry went to and returned from St. Thomas (in USVI) this afternoon, so we booked ourselves a return trip on it (with only 35 minutes there). Reason being that we have to visit the USVI in person to obtain passport entry visas before taking Catou around there next week. (Apparently you can only enter the US by air or commercial boat and NOT by private yacht). After which we are OK to enter with Catou. Anyway, it's a good to be able to get this out of the way now - in only 1/2 an afternoon, and it will give us a full 5 free days to explore the BVI a little.

So, am writing this on the high speed ferry - it's very interesting whizzing through these islands - there are so many of them. It will be fun navigating them during the next few days and exploring some of the BVI. Think we will have to leave the USVI for another day.

There is little wind here, so I think we have done very well on the first half of this trip. We have had some wonderful sailing overall.
When we get back to Road Town later this afternoon, we are motoring around to meet up with Maymio who are a short distance away. They went back in the water this morning - and have had to be taken out again this afternoon! Poor them - an ongoing problem with their stern gland I think - no doubt we will hear more this evening.
In touch soon.
Paul and Sylvie.

P. S. Sign in the ferry toilet:

PLEASE DO NOT THROW ANY TRASH IN TOILET. Thanks very much and have a great day.
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