Got back from the British Virgin Islands a week ago 23 days aboard and 544 nautical miles. On board my brother and myself.
We left from Combate which is the on the west coast of PR. 100 nm bashing upwind and waves to reach Fajardo on the east coast.
My luck a strong Bermuda high was causing winds around 20 to 30 mph for almost a week and waves 5 to 9 feet. With full ballast and early departures was able to reach Salinas PR and there wait for 5 days for better weather.
Cayo Matias were we waited.
Left for Fajardo 50 nm away a long way waves still pretty big in some places not as windy but still motoring at 6 knots banging in to the waves water came over the top twice all the way to cockpit hatches were closed but sea water I found out later made its way under hatch and got the rug wet. All wet and tired reached Palominos in Fajardo at 6:30 pm grabbed a free mooring buoy cleaned up the mess put rugs out to dry ate a sandwich went to sleep.
Picture of Palominitos if you saw the last Pirates of the Caribbean this little island was in the movie.
Rested the next day rested got gas and water oh! sailed to marina. Next morning went to Culebra Island 18nm away spent the day and the following day went to St. Thomas waves were only two feet and almost no wind. Into Crown Bay Marina to to laundry, charge batteries, water and showers. Lady remembers us from last trip calls us the toy boat. Went to town on the safari bus one dollar only Tomorrow going to Jost Van Dyke to do Customs.
Jost Van Dyke. Going to Customs in the super dinghy got laughs all the time i don,t know why.
Then again find my mac in Great Harbour JVD
Left JVD after filling out a bunch of forms for Customs paid 28 dollars including Nation Park mooring buoys fee.
Did not have a plan where to go bypassed Tortola ended up in Cooper Island.
Cooper Island got a mooring buoy close to land its always rolly here went to bar to pay and a have couple of beers.
After Cooper Island started heading to Virgen Gorda to the Baths no wind a few boats motoring there i am doing 7 Knots a Cat is a was behind me motoring fast he's catching up everbody wants to get a mooring buoy no anchoring allowed the cats getting closer i give a little more gas doing 9 knots we empty ballast and bye bye hit 15 knots.
The Baths
We went swimming ashore from the boat jesh it was a long way it looked a lot closer from the boat.
After leaving the Baths sailed a while. Winds were light 10 mph a short trip to North Sound Virgen Gorda lowered sails motored into the sound a lot of boats here sail and super yachts about. Reached Saba Rock grabbed buoy went to gift shop to pay 250 free gallons of water included think I should empty ballast and fill it up with fresh water to see the look on their face. had lunch at Saba Rock did wifi called home with Skype.
Next day got gas at Bitter End Yacht Club 6.60$ US a gallon got 10 gallons. Motored to charge batteries to Oil Nut Bay then back to Bitter End to spend rest of the day and night. Setting sail for Anegada in the AM.
Up early Breakfast on the boat leave mooring raised sails heading to Anegada 12 nautical mile north of here.
Sailed for about 10NM lowered sails to enter Anegada a cat passed me on the way there revenge of the cats we say.
Anegada a low lying island made of coral with a gigantic reef all around. Population 250.
Sailing
At mooring Anegada
And with such a big reef these guys are abundant. Barry preparing for dinner.
I say to my brother this is as far as we go. About 170 nm from where we left. Working our way back after Anegada but lots to do see still.
Shame on us we did not go to lobster dinner on the beach but made some steaks on the boat.
But I have a reason to go back.
Sunset in Anegada
Leaving for Norman Island in morning 30 nm No wind flat seas so motoring it is at least batteries will get a good charge.
Black clouds about rain ahead a little tired so went to Cooper Island on mooring closed hatches and went to sleep really rolly today
after a couple of hours went the rest of the way to Nomans Island. Still no wind lots of boats with all sails up I guess they paid to sail no matter what wind
or no wind BVI sailing we call it.
Pirates Restaurant The Bight Norman Island
I'll say the Bight was the best non rolly place we stayed while swimming around the boat a dinghy goes by and say they have a Mac26M in Sacramento California ask where we are from. Later on a boat goes by Deliverance selling beer bread cinnimon rolls etc.
Went over to The Caves early 9 am only one boat here grab National Park Buoy. Snorkeled in the caves for a while saw lots of fish here.
Went back to the boat rested then went back a while longer lowered dinghy and took nice pics of my boat.
A cave I snorkeled in no treasure was found must get waterproof camera next time.
Time to go next stop The Indians more snorkeling at another National Park dive site.
Then to Tortola Cane Garden. After The Indians did a BVI sail to Cane Garden (motor sailed) no wind in the Caribbean weird.
But it was a nice relaxing ride made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along the way boat steered itself for a long way.
In Cane Garden a were sitting in a beach restaurant having a beer a fellow asks what boat we answer the toy boat Herb from Atlanta has a 26X back home.
It starts to rain so we talk a while they chartered a Beneteau 34. It got a little rolly here too.
Back to JVD to checkout guess what no wind motored to JVD again to Great Harbour got mooring dinghy ashore went to Foxys got a t-shirt and hat walked to Alibaba for lunch saw Herb again. After lunch went to White Bay in a taxi another nice beach. Next day did Customs checkout 2 dollars back to boat untied mooring and left ran over another mooring boat stopped switched off motor no damage to boat or mooring so we leave on our way to St Thomas Crown Bay Marina oh no wind today either. Ran out of gas by St John switched tank it takes while to restart motor. Slow moving rain clouds about since there is no wind. Reach Marina a lot of junk in the water because of the rain while going in to slip I feel something on the prop can't go fwd or reverse lucky i had boat hook beside me pushed off boat next to me with it, my brother got off and starts tying up marina guy says you have to learn to control your boat I raise engine a nice large black garbage bag is wrapped around prop. I take it off with boat hook and put it on the pier. He leaves. Went to KFC for lunch. Charge batteries shower hang around marina rest of the day. The trip back was easier but still no wind had to dodge rain showers but did get caught in big rain showers twice. Made it back in three days found a kayak on the last day. It took another 3 days to clean boat had green stuff on the bottom. Almost forgot dolphins gave me a little visit by Manuabo PR.
Hola boricua! Great adventure!! My brother just made the same cruise, but from Puerto Real Cabo Rojo on a powerboat.
On the other hand, I just bought my first boat, a Mac 26M, here in NJ. I daydream of taking your cruise one day. In the meantime, I'll have to be content with Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Coast. Keep the good posts. They are hilarious.
Wow great trip, and lovely pics. I envie you especially since my boat's going in late this year cause he weather is so crappy. The weather channel says we may have frost tonight...ARGH!!!!!!!!!!
Q1= enjoying your adventure whilst watching the ice form on the hard ll!
l6
l6 * (
Hola Omar
Most likely seen your brother in Combate Boqueron or La Paguera area if he seen a 26M it was probably me. There's a 26X in Boqueron.
Quebec believe it or not we had hail a couple weeks ago I was on the boat on the way back and got hit by a really cold strong wind and the waves went from 1 foot to 5 feet fast then rained for about a hour a lot of pan pans on the radio people calling Sea Tow and Coast Guard for help. We got wet but were all right as we did not get hit by the worst of the thunder storm.
Great trip!
Beating against the 12-15 knot trade winds and Current is a major trip for a Mac.M.
I have sailed all the areas you visted back in 1982-1985 on my Alberg 35 Pearson and enjoyed looking at your pictures for memory. Thank You for effort to take the Great pictures and report of your trip.
There is a couple of pictures in the Baths that look just like it was in 1983.
Thanks again,
Dave
had lunch at Saba Rock did wifi called home with Skype. 
