Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Isles
The brisk wind blowing from astern was perfect for the early morning rigging and sail maneuvers to add more canvas as we headed for Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Isles. As we sped along at a steady rate of knots we were accompanied by squadrons of silvery flying fish and the air around our billowing sails was punctuated by several boobies keenly observing the fish below.
Mid morning Tom, our Expedition Leader, gave a stem-to-stern tour of the ship’s complex lines, sails and rigging. By the end of this fascinating tour the spaghetti-like miles of ropes and lines started to make sense and we could understand why it was so important for all deck-hands to ‘know the ropes’.
Being St Stephen’s Day (or ‘Boxing Day’) it was a holiday in Britain and, hence, also in the BVI. The little bay was filled with yachts and motor vessels of all shapes and sizes and the waters and beaches were alive with holiday fun under the hot, blues skies. Our after lunch options were to ‘chill out’ on the beach with some sun bathing, an occasional dip in the beautiful blue waters or a spot of snorkeling. Some chose to spend this last full day ashore by taking a Zodiac to the end of the bay and the famous Bitter End Yacht Club. This has developed in the last thirty years from a simple yacht clubhouse to an island-wide yachting resort with every facility you could imagine.
Our final recap with Emma, Helen, Steve and Tom was followed by dinner served, for a change, on the Lido Deck in order to take advantage of the warm Caribbean air and the bright stars above so clearly visible in the unpolluted skies.
The brisk wind blowing from astern was perfect for the early morning rigging and sail maneuvers to add more canvas as we headed for Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Isles. As we sped along at a steady rate of knots we were accompanied by squadrons of silvery flying fish and the air around our billowing sails was punctuated by several boobies keenly observing the fish below.
Mid morning Tom, our Expedition Leader, gave a stem-to-stern tour of the ship’s complex lines, sails and rigging. By the end of this fascinating tour the spaghetti-like miles of ropes and lines started to make sense and we could understand why it was so important for all deck-hands to ‘know the ropes’.
Being St Stephen’s Day (or ‘Boxing Day’) it was a holiday in Britain and, hence, also in the BVI. The little bay was filled with yachts and motor vessels of all shapes and sizes and the waters and beaches were alive with holiday fun under the hot, blues skies. Our after lunch options were to ‘chill out’ on the beach with some sun bathing, an occasional dip in the beautiful blue waters or a spot of snorkeling. Some chose to spend this last full day ashore by taking a Zodiac to the end of the bay and the famous Bitter End Yacht Club. This has developed in the last thirty years from a simple yacht clubhouse to an island-wide yachting resort with every facility you could imagine.
Our final recap with Emma, Helen, Steve and Tom was followed by dinner served, for a change, on the Lido Deck in order to take advantage of the warm Caribbean air and the bright stars above so clearly visible in the unpolluted skies.
