Virgin Gorda

Moonbeam
David and Lynn Wilkie
Sun 20 Mar 2011 15:38
 
18.30.503N  064.21.722W
 
On Wednesday the hydraulics expert promised to complete the autopilot ram and I collected it late afternoon , refitted it and all appeared well. Early to bed and we got up at 2.00am and left the anchorage under an almost full moon. We motored for a couple of hours then the wind improved as the light improved we sailed downwind all day in glorious sunshine and entered the BVIs via the Round Rock Channel and anchored off Spanish Town at 17.00hrs with 84 miles logged. However the autopilot still was not correct and just gave up steering as pressure increased!
 
      
 
In the morning we checked in with Customs and Immigration, nearly always a rather winded performance and had a look at the small marina and large boatyard with it's share of rather abandoned looking yachts.
 
In the late afternoon we moved North as a 'superyacht' race was arriving, tacking past us.
 
       
 
                                                                                                          Moonbeam anchored off Eustatia north of Gorda Sound
 
Gorda Sound looked hectic so we headed round the corner to a superb anchorage of Eustatia Island which we had to ourselves.Lying in 15' of crystal clear water with empty sandy beaches astern we were protected by a reef but had a nice breeze blowing through the boat. Not an all- weather anchorage but one of our favourites anywhere I think; just a mile North of us was Branson's exclusive Necker Island!
 
      
 
       Eustatia Island                                                                                                      Necker Island
 
     
 
                                                                            Cooling Down on our own private beach !   
 
     
 
       
 
Saturday we explored a little and swam and snorkelled before lunch then in the afternoon we headed around into Gorda Sound where Paul and Janie aboard Shian were lying so after sundowners aboard Moonbeam we went off to Saba Rock for a fun dinner.   ( www.sabarock.com )