jgarvey

Crista, thanks for answering my questions so I can better advise you. I was also going to ask if your boat was a monohull or catamaran, but I think you have answered that by telling me that your family is into racing. Of course you already know then that a monohull will heel over, unlike a cat, and then you will definitely be more exposed to the effects of rougher water. I have never experienced seasickness on our cat, but others have (inexperienced sailors) though only on their first day out. Since you already a seasoned sailor, I would think that you would be all right in the BVI. Just take the normal precautions, stay top-deck and look straight out at the horizon as much as possible, don't drink too much liquid, keep some ginger ale on hand. we love the local "ginger beer, a little more intense and biting than ginger ale, non-alcoholic, carbonated, and really great for a queazy stomach. Take along some bonine just as a back up in case you need it.

This time of year, the waters tend to be rougher than usual from the North Sound. At Cane Garden Bay, normally very calm, there were even surfers enjoying the large swells, something I had never seen there before. Even my experienced DH made the mistake of taking our dinghy in too close to the beach one day and succeeded in getting us swamped and the dinghy dumped us both out on the beach. I'm still nursing a few bruises and sand in my ears from that one!! But when we were safely back on the boat, a nice Pain Killer (the local drink, you know) took care of all my ills, and I eventually forgave him.

Our favorite overnight anchorages: Norman Island (great snorkling in the nearby Caves), Cane Garden Bay on Tortola, Cooper Island also good swimming and snorkling, Saba Rock, and of course Anegada (the northernmost island, and a really different view from all of the other mountainous islands, plus fabulous reef snorkling on the ocean side of the island, and a great lobster dinner right on the beach.

Favorite romantic restaurant on Tortola--Brandywine--a little pricey by a killer sunset and very romantic.

Have to run now, more later. jg

cris2

jg,

Thank you! I will look into the Brandywine - sounds great!

I think I'll be fine concerning seasickness - I usually pack a few Bonine with me whenever we sail, just in case.
Thank you again!
Crista

aparker2007

I just returned from a week-long sail - my first - in BVI and loved it! I too was very nervous about getting seasick but my doctor (who's into sailing) prescribed the patch for me and it worked great. I put 1/2 of a patch on in SJU flying down, replaced it three days later with anothe 1/2 and let it run out through the end of the trip. I am normally very prone to motion sickness (got sick on a tour of Pearl Harbour) but this worked for me. It didn't make me sleepy or interfere with downing a few Pain Killers!

jgarvey

Crista, to continue with a bit more info for your trip to BVI. Great snorkling and rock-grotto exploration at The Baths on Virgin Gorda (but not an overnight anchorage; time there is limited to a couple of hours to allow for rotation of boats). When you anchor overnight at the Bight on Norman Island, you have to dinghy over to the Caves for a great snorkling experience, or you can anchor your boat there but not overnight. Great little restaurant at Norman, Pirates, which used to be Billy Bones before the island was sold and management changed. Other places for just a short time of snorkeling are mentioned in almost all of the guide books. Of interest are the Dogs, the Indians, Monkey Point, the Chimney, and of course the wreck of the Rhone (mostly you will find scuba divers around the boat wrecks, but still some good snorkling around them, since they attract a lot of sea life).

There are generally no Jelly Fish around at this time of year, but have a bottle of plain white vinegar aboard just in case, the best antidote around.

More about Tortola. Another one of our favorite restaurants on Tortola is Myett's; we especially like to have lunch there, but there is a great dinner as well. It is right on the beach, and at night there is a fantastic open grill/buffet that you can walk around and choose your grilled meat/seafood and sidedishes from. Not as fancy or pricey as Brandywine, but a good experience nonetheless. Go to Quito's for great live music and good food also. We don't like to eat at Quito's as much as we used to since he remodeled and moved his dining area upsairs instead of right on the beach first floor. ut Quito is a great local guy and a wonderful singer and musician.

Stanley's is comfortable casual, but has good ribs. This is the place where Jimmy Buffet ate, sat, and wrote "Hamburger in Paradise." Good local legend, but also true. He lived on the island for a while. Other friends on the island really like Coco Plum's and Bananakeet's for good food. Another classy place, though in Road Town and not on the beach, is Spaghetti Junction; don't miss the pasta jambalya--extraordinary!

Last bit for today, I forgot: Make sure you anchor, dinghy ashore, and have a Pain Killer at the bar where they were invented--The Soggy Dollar Bar, so called because you have to swim there from your boat (short and pleasant swim) and thereby get your money wet, soggy dollars, but not if you take along a zip lock baggie.

Well, have to dash out again in 0 degree weather and to get a hair cut as part of my to-do list before I leave for Rome next week.

Please post again if you have more questions. BTW, there is even great food at the AIRPORT on Tortola!

I know you will have a wonderful time. Please post a trip report when you return. jg

cris2

aparker - thanks for the advice about the patch - I will look into it!

jgarvey - thank you again, I've printed out your suggestions, they sound wonderful.

I will most definitely have a Pain Killer at the Soggy Dollar! My mother-in-law has been singing their praises!

Can't believe that in 10 days I'll be in the sunny Caribbean! An especially nice thought since it's only 15 degrees here!

Have a wonderful time in Rome, it's a great city, and Italy is my favorite place! I'm trying to convince my husband to go in October, for our anniversary - so far he's in the "thinking about it" stage!

Thank you again!
Crista

jgarvey

Crista, you will be singing even louder praises when you return to your winter weather and have to leave the Caribbean and all of its warm glory behind. This last time was the hardest transition I have ever had to make from there back to Chicago. But praise and thanks for our good fortune in being able to go at all.

Tnanks for your good wishes about Rome. It's not my first visit, but I am building up a lot of anxiety about packing, getting ready, and living there for a month. My daughter has been living in Rome for 2 years, teaches English, and is fluent in Italian, so this should be an even better trip for me. I will also enjoy a brief visit from one of my nieces and DH will be joining me for the last week. Maybe this visit will help ease some of the grief about missing the BVI.

I know you will have a wonderful trip and will probably return, as most of us do. Please write about your experiences when you return. All the best to you and your family. Soon you will be "lymin" and everything there will be "aerie" and fine. jg

escapetoo

jg-my husband and I are sailing out of Nanny Cay for 2 weeks on a friends sailboat right after the Spring Regatta .... looking for advice on provisioning the boat on Tortola before we leave and then while sailing around - looking for fruits, vegetables, snacks, water, rum, etc. any thoughts are appreciated!

Sharlene

I am planning a bareboat sailing trip for December. I believe the charter company is in Road Town. Do you have any suggestions for a place to stay the night before we depart. Thank you.

jgarvey

escapetoo: Hope I'm not too late with this reply; just returned from one month in Rome and still catching up on business. If you get this message and haven't left yet, just send me a quick note and I will give you all info you need about provisioning your boat before you leave and along the way. Actually, it's pretty easy and convenient.

Sharlene: We actually have never stayed in Road Town, even though our boat is in charter there. What we have always done is spend the first night on the boat at the base and then take off the next morning. Tell me the name of your charter company. If I know the location, I will be happy to get some info to you about places that are nearby.

Good sailing! Is this your first time sailing in the BVI? If so, I have additional info and helpful tips to provide. DH and I just spent two weeks on the boat this past January and getting ready to do a 5-week stay this coming May/June--one of the blessings of retirement!

Hope to hear from you soon, jg

LHarbar

Wow, hoping you're still interested in lending advice. I'm so stumped about our vacation this summer. Two familes, (4adults, 20, 18, 14 and 12 yr.old kids.) We've been to the Bitter End several times. We share your love for the BVI's. Our friends can't understand why we don't try someplace new, obviously they've never been. My problem is I am wanting to branch out. The last two trips the Bitter End didn't run their trip to Norman Island for one reason or another and it was our favorite snorkle spot. Very disappointing of course. Also because of Virgin Gorda being somewhat out of the way, we've never gotten to go to Jost. I would love nothing more than spending a day at Norman, a day at Jost, maybe even St. John (never been there)or Anegada-love the Big Bamboo. Just nervous about my creature comforts, and I love to be on the go. I guess I've never really thought about eating dinner on island. Do you not get board? (Don't get me wrong, I love chilling with a toddy, and it's not like we look for nightlife at all. At bitter end we always just went back to room after dinner, so maybe this wouldn't be that diffferent.) We do love being outside, big runners and everyone is very active. Just not big on camping, but at least we would have a bathroom I suppose. What about 3 or 4 days on a boat and then staying on island for luxury a few days. If we did this where would you suggest we stay on land? I know this is wordy and please overlook the punctuation. Hope Italy was great. My daughter is going for graduation trip in May.

Sharlene

jgarvey - I think we have decided to spend the first night on the boat. So I won't need a hotel recommendation after all. This will be my first bareboating experience. My husband loves sailing and has gone before with the guys. We are using TMM and taking a catamaran - (Bahia 46) out for a week. I'd really like to know some of the "harsh realities of life on a boat" that you mentioned in one of your earlier posts. We are planning to eat out for dinner each night But, I could definitely use some info on provisioning the boat and what stuff I should pack. We are not sailing until December. Do you know if the weather is chilly that time of year or if the water/wind is rough? Thank you.

jgarvey

LHarbar, sorry it took me so long to get back to your questions. I'll do the best I can. As far as going where YOU want to go, I would suggest that you choose one major base, such as Road Town or Cane Garden bay and then look into ferrying to the other islands to spend a day of snorkeling, sightseeing, eating, etc. In the late afternoon, just take another ferry back to your hotel. It is also possible to hire boats and guides to take you out for a day or half-day of snorkeling; I've even seen some preparing lunch on the boat for the swimmers and divers. I will ask my DH about whom you might call for this sort of service.

Personally, we would never stay at a high-priced resort like the Bitter End and be confined to just the choices presented there; we too like to have more mobility.

Are you sailors yourselves or would you need to hire a boat with a captain if you wanted to do it that way? That would be the only way to do it if you cannot "bare boat"--meaning do it all by yourselves. And don't forget: a catamoran has only 4 cabins, that's a total of eight people (not counting the captain sleeping aboard as well), presuming the kids would have to double up, which at their ages I can't imagine working out in such tight quarters!

Before I developed a greater love and tolerance for "living and sleeping" just on the boat (I also need my creature comforts), I would go ashore alone for a couple of days, stay in a nice hotel with AC and a pool, comfortable bed, hot shower, regular-flushing toilet, and dining on site. Thus refreshed, I would be willing to return and DH would sail in and pick me up on the beach for a few more days of sailing.

We have always stayed on Tortola, in Cane Garden Bay and Long Bay. It was also fun to rent an air-conditioned car and drive around the island for some variety and sights away from the beach. If this idea appeals to you, I could give you some exact info on places to stay. Just let me know.

A really convenient place we like for your sort of group is the Cane Garden Bay Cottages, very close to the beach and all of the action for the teens.
These are separate cottages, each with two units and a connecting front porch. I'm sure the adults would enjoy being in their own unit and, of course, so would the young'uns.

Sorry, it was a little difficult for me to sort out and categorize all of your questions. I hope this helped somewhat. If not, please feel free to write again. And of course, it takes one to know one. WE understand why you always want to go back to the BVIs!
In fact, this is the only place my husband ever wants to go on vacation, so it was a real stretch for him to join me in Rome for that one week. He's a smart man, though, and he knows the power of a little compromise here and there.

Hope to hear from you again soon. jg

LHarbar

jgarvey, with no advice to go on I went it alone and took the big step. We have chartered a boat (Catamaran sp?) with captain and cook. All 8 of us are going. It has four cabins for our use. (Don't know where crew sleeps.)Mercy, I hope we like it. We are very excited. If nothing else it will be an adventure, never a dull moment here. We're going July 5-12 so I guess we have a while to make plans. I may try to contact you and get advice on favorites of yours. (frequent traveler type stuff that's not in the travel books) although there's so much online. We'll try to eat ashore 2 or 3 nights just to avoid the same scenery and spend some time onshore exploring. We've never even been to anywhere fun on Tortola, always just landed there and flew right back out. I'll stay in touch. Thanks for the advice, what a fount of knowledge, lucky you. Lhar

jgarvey

LHarbar, sorry I wasn't there for you earlier. Let me get this straight: Are all of you, including captain and cook, going to be sleeping on the same boat? Quite frankly, I can't imagine in my wildest dreams how the logistics of all these people on one cat (including captain and cook), with only four cabins, is going to play out for the comfort of all involved.

Please write back and fill me in if you have arranged this already and how you envision it working out. jg

stthomassoontobe

Reading these entries are making me excited...leaving for the VI in 3 weeks for half land/half sailing vacation! Haven't been since 2002, so it's been WAY too long! Thanks for the stories.

tewels

My husband and I are heading to VG and Tortola in July. We will spend 6 days in Virgin Gorda first, and 4 in tortola.

Last year we went on a day sail out of Tortola and loved it. Is there such a thing as short term chartering? Say 2 or 3 days. Do you know anyone that might be interested?
It's probably cost prohibitive for just one couple, but never hurts to ask.

I tried to get a group large enough to charter a boat for a week, and just couldn’t get the committments out of friends. Would love to get out on the water for a few days, but are on a reasonable budget. Any ideas?

SharonDG

Hi, thank you so much for sharing all of this information. It is so helpful! My friend and I are chartering a small bareboat cat and a skipper for a week in early June (either a Lagoon 380 or Leopard 4000).

We have sailed a little bit, and are both experienced travellers (low maintenance). We have a lot learn about cruising.

I have some questions that I would love your opinion on.

Small cats without a/c - will this be hellishly hot in early June? What do people do to stay cool and sleep well?

How much should we budget for fuel for the boat and the dinghy? Do we need cash at marinas or do they all take major credit cards?

Do most of the restaurants take major credit cards or will we need cash?

What is the protocol for mooring in bays or in a marina? How much do we budget for this?

We plan on provisioning in Tortola before we leave, but understand that we should only bring 3 or 4 days of food due to the means of cooling not being the best. Where do we re-provision as we go, and are their things we should assume we just won't find? I assume we can get ice at any Marina?

We will look for good, casual restaurants as we will not be bringing dressy clothes. I assume there are lots of casual places? What should we budget for dinners/lunches ashore? What is the typical cost for a casual dinner? We are both foodies but have realistic expectations, we just do not want a lot of fried stuff. Some grilled fish, fresh veggies/fruit, or a good burger or BBQ chicken and a rum drink or cold beer and we are very happy.

Finally, what are some items we should pack that we might not think of? I am bringing a solar charger to power my phone and camera, and lots of things for sun protection. What are the things we need that we might not think of?

Thank you so much for any advice you can give to a newbie!

janisj

Welcome to Fodors SharonDG. You may have not noticed this thread is 10 years old.

It would be better if you started a new topic of your own.

RoamsAround

SharonDG - you may also want to post your questions on the BVI Forum at Traveltalkonline - there are lots of "bareboat sailing experts" on that forum who can give you specific answers to your questions.