[MHml] Chartering in the Britsh Virgins

[Gary Pearce]

We had some very good snorkeling at Key Cay 18 20 63     64 36 25 
which isn't far from Road Town but the conditions were dead calm. Extremely 
untypical. You would definitely want to check that it was safe in the 
prevailing conditions but its truly worth the effort if it is. There is a 
little point there with some nice trenches full of a huge variety of fish. 
Saw nothing else like it in the Virgins.

We regretted not buying more rum from the distillery in Cane Garden Bay but 
would not advise overnighting there on account of the no-see-ums and kids on 
unsilenced outboards and general levels of habitation (i.e. it was).

Liked Marina Cay but its difficult to anchor there unless you have a lot of 
rode on account of all the buoys ($10 or 15 per night from memory). Plan B is 
Trellis Bay where there were still a few good anchoring spots for shallow 
draught vessels.

Had a nice lobster at Abe's, Little Harbour, Jost Van Dyke (there is a long 
story about that lobster) which is close enough to Sandy Cay (which is the 
must do sandy tropical island) to make it an interesting option. Get the most 
seaward buoy near Abes to avoid nightclub type noise from further "upstream"

Hard not to have a good time there. Ideal place for a week or two's 
chartering. 

There are not too many other places as ideal for a week or two but other 
places I would consider would be Vavau in Tonga (moorings and sunsail) or the 
Whitsundays (loadsa companies) but travel to either of those might be 
difficult. Vavau is very like the BVI only completely and totally without 
tourists (although I gather a few small "eco resorts" have been approved 
recently). Whales often in the harbour, and at least 30 excellent anchorages 
within an hour or two. 

Gary
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On Friday 27 October 2006 08:34, Dan White wrote:
> Thinking about a week's charter next April out of Tortola on a Voyage 440. 
> Four couples total. Never been there.
>
> Any advice or comments would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Dan