Virgin Gorda BVI

Starcross Fair Log
Ross Wilson
Wed 6 Apr 2011 16:40
 
Wednesday 6/04/11
Position 18:27.0N  64:26.2W
Mid-day Temperatures: Air 32, Sea 26.5
Intention: to depart Thursday for Bermuda (St Georges) 850NM
 
Sunday afternoon and evening were spent exploring the Dutch (southern) part of Saint Martin (Sint Maarten).  It enjoys duty free/tax free status and is well endowed with holiday developments, some very new and palatial, casinos and expensive gold and jewelry outlets.  Our evening meal was taken at a Dutch McDonalds, the hamburgers being to their usual standard.
 
We departed St Martin Fort Louis Marina on Monday afternoon and had a cracking 95NM overnight sail to the British Virgin Islands.  With poled out No 1 Genoa to windward, a loose luff gib and tri-sail, speeds in excess of 9 knots were achieved.  We hove-to for a couple of hours to await daylight before transitting Round Rock Passage and securing in Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour at 0800 Tuesday morning.
 
We then experienced HM Customs and Immigration British Virgin Islands style, a procedure it would be hard to make more complicated and time consuming!  Interestingly the skipper ahead of me in the queue was checking in a yacht with a crew of 17 and 6 passengers which gives an idea of the type of yachting in the area.  On the pontoon we met up with a number of ex-ARC Norwegian yachts including Fanteliv, a regular on our HF net.  We enjoyed a pleasant evening on board Vulcan Spirit in the company of Richard and Alison (Vulcan Spirit) and Robin and Jenny (Maymio), their chicken curry followed by lime chiffon being a delightful gastronomic experience.  They both intend to cruise the eastern seaboard of the United States.
 
Today we intend to continue preparations for the passage to Bermuda and to explore Virgin Gorda.