We're back....on "Arbella" in the BVI's
18:20.856N 64:34.661W After a great Christmas in Denver with the entire family, and a month back in Annapolis, Vicki and I arrived in the BVI's to start a two week "no plans" sailing adventure, with lots of relaxation! We arrived on February 5, and sailed across the Sir Francis Drake Channel from Tortola to Peter Island (picture below has Tortola behind Vicki), anchoring in our "#1 favorite spot"! We stayed for 3 nights, and for 2 days in that time, there was not a ship or person in sight....the south side of Peter Island (opposite side from the resort) is very desolate! Snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing aboard was the order of the day. Moreover, this is exactly where we were in past years when we have TWICE seen the "Green Flash"! We thought for years that this was "sailors' myth"....and then we were shocked the first time we saw it (probably about 10 years ago...on "Arbella" and watching the sunset with a glass of wine, and then WOW....there it was!). It is an optical phenomena that occurs at sunset such that just after the sun goes down, with the ocean "touching" the sky at the horizon, when the sun seems "gone", a burst of emerald green flashes across the horizon for about one second....it sort of takes your breath away for a bit! Mother nature has all kinds of surprises on the water! In the sunset pictures below the sun actually is setting over St. John at this time of year, so there cannot be a "Green Flash"; but, later in the season it sets over the water just to the left, and that is where we have seen the "Green Flash"!! More to come....and I will build in some history of these beautiful Virgin Islands along the way! Captain Mike |