We have been receiving a lot of inquiries through our site recently about the customs and immigration issues associated with bringing our Cocker Spaniel “Patton” along with us as we have cruised throughout the Caribbean. As such, we have updated Patton’s page to include a compilation of helpful contact details and information for various island nations that we have visited in the Caribbean over the last year and a half (2014 – 2016). For those interested in cruising the Caribbean with their four legged friends check out Patton’s page under the “About Us – Patton – Customs and Immigration” on the header above or visit: https://pilotsdiscretion.com/about/patton/customs-and-immigration-issues-specific-to-bringing-patton-along/ or send us a reply message below.
We had a great time in St. Lucia, we got a lot accomplished and look forward to returning in the future. Unfortunately, the various delays that we encountered in St. Lucia, waiting on parts and technicians left us with our scheduling backs against the wall. We had plans for meeting our good friends Mike Cleary, Bridget Finnegan, and Mike’s daughter Madison in the BVIs. They had a Sunsail sailboat chartered in Tortola beginning on February 19, so when we literally dropped the solar panel technician on the fuel dock in St. Lucia on the morning of February 13th, we knew we had some serious real estate to cover to be 350 miles north in just six days. During our dash north we cruised through the territorial waters of St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Nevis, Statia, St. Marteen and finally the British Virgin Islands. Wow, I am tired just writing about it.
Sunrise departure from Martinique
Cruising past the active volcano in Montserrat
Sunrise departure from Deshaies, Guadeloupe
Ryan & Patton at the helm
Cruising past the active volcano in Montserrat
R&R hoisting the courtesy flag in St. Eustatia in front of the Quill volcano
Sunrise departure from St. Marteen
Cruising past Richard Branson’s Necker Island, BVI
Cruising into North Gorda Sound, Virgin Gorda, BVI
R&R hoisting the BVI courtesey flag
Most of the trip was run in seas of 4-6 ft, with a few periods of 8-9 ft, and even a day with the Caribbean Sea as smooth as a small mountain lake. Our speed averaged 8-10 knots but when we had the opportunity, we ran as high as 25 knots to keep the scenery moving. We have visited all of the countries we just mentioned during our trip south last year so although we are disappointed that we had to hustle through these countries to meet our friends, it was worth it to get to be in the BVI with friends that are virtually like family to us.
Norman Island (The Bight) and North Gorda Soud
Bridget, Madison & Mike, Bubbly Pool, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Once in the BVI we began our trip by heading off to the Bight on Norman island. A mandatory stop at the infamous Willie T floating bar and grill was followed by a trip to Gorda Sound, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke.
Pirates Restaurant, The Bight, Norman Island, BVI
Pirates Restaurant, The Bight, Norman Island, BVI
Mike, Madison & Randy, Saba Rock, BVI
Full Moon Part at Foxy’s Taboo, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Bridget, Madison & Mike, Full Moon Part at Foxy’s Taboo, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Full Moon Part at Foxy’s Taboo, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Mike, Bridget & Madison underway
Madison picking up the mooring
We followed that up with a two day trip to Anegada, then over to Marina Cay and The Baths.
Anegada
Welome to Anegada, BVI
Patton relaxing in the sand at Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada, BVI
Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada, BVI
Patton, Loblolly Beach, Anegada, BVI
Mike, Madison & Bridget snorkling, Loblolly Beach, Anegada, BVI
Madison, Mike & Bridget, Anegada, BVI
Mike, Patton & Randy, Loblolly Beach, Anegada, BVI
Loblolly Beach, Anegada, BVI
Randy & Patton, Anegada, BVI
Anegada, BVI
Anegada, BVI
Anegada, BVI
Marina Cay
Marina Cay, BVI
Marina Cay, BVI
Marina Cay, BVI
Marina Cay, BVI
Scrub Island Resort, BVI
Scrub Island Resort, BVI
Izzy R at Marina Cay
The Baths
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, BVI
After that whirlwind, we capped the Cleary clan’s trip to the BVI by meeting our cruising friends Jeff and Izzy Rogers for an evening of good food, conversation and music in one of our favorite spots in the BVI, Cane Garden Bay.
Cane Garden Bay, British Virgin Islands
Our friends have gone home and it is time for our adventure to continue. It occurs to me that this nomad lifestyle works well for our family. I have an idea, I think we should keep this trip going. We will discuss it at dinner tonight and I will get back to you. For now, keep following our progress as our life adventure continues …
It has been truly amazing watching the boys develop and hone their mariner skills, and what better place than the BVIs to sharpen their mooring abilities. In the British Virgin Islands, many, if not most bays have mooring balls as the preferred method of securing your boat. Capturing a mooring ball and securing a 50′ boat to it require close coordination between the helmsman and the deck crew. Since we have been in the BVIs for over a month now the boys have become quite proficient at line handling and getting us on and off the moorings.
They are equally adept tying up in the marinas. Both boys have become fastidious about keeping their lines neat on the docks!
Flemish
Cool knots
They are developing great situational awareness driving the dinghy and glide into the dock with ease.
Ryan docking the dingy, Nanny Cay
Ryan docking the dingy, Nanny Cay
Ryan docking the dingy, Nanny Cay
It is all hands on deck at all times and we are fortunate to have such willing and capable crew.
We have thoroughly enjoyed cruising the British Virgin Islands, and are grateful for the maritime lesson opportunities they have provided for the boys. Alas, weather, time and immigration restrictions have us pressing on. At the next appropriate weather window we will be continuing our Caribbean journey and heading on to St. Martin where we will post additional updates.
Six months into our journey finds us in the British Virgin Islands (BVIs). We have so enjoyed cruising around the BVIs that we applied for, and received, an extension from immigration to lengthen our stay here.
The BVIs are a veritable paradise for cruising yachtsmen. Since most of the islands are within eyesight of each other, one can easily motor (or sail) from one island, or adventure, to another, with each island serving up a different flavor of local culture and quaintness. Below are a few highlights from our adventures in these beautiful islands thus far:
ANEGADA:
Randy and I have visited Anegada on two prior occasions in bareboat chartered vessels and on both occasions were in awe of its clear blue waters and pristine white sandy beaches. On our last trip chartering in the BVIs, Randy purchased the Anegada Approach chart, which we then had framed and hung in the Pilot’s Discretion galley. We have looked upon that framed chart for the past several years dreaming of returning in the Pilot’s Discretion. We experienced yet another surreal moment in our journey when we arrived at the Anegada Approach in our own boat!
In terms of seamanship, Anegada is the furthest island away from all of the others and requires more time on open waters to reach. The island is completely surrounded by reefs (home to the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world), however, with careful navigation, and GPS, the approach is easily manageable. The beachside dining at the Anegada Reef Hotel and the snorkeling at Cow Wreck Beach and Loblolly Bay make it well worth the trip.
Anegada Reef Hotel
Cow Wreck Beach
Patton, Randy, Ryan, Ronan, Cow Wreck Beach, BVI
Cow Wreck Beach
R&R, Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada, BVI
Loblolly Bay
The Big Bambo, Anegada, BVI
Loblolly Bay, Anegada, BVI
Loblolly Bay, Anegada, BVI
Loblolly Bay, Anegada, BVI
Departing Anegada
Anegada departure
Anegada departure
JOST VAN DYKE:
Jost Van Dyke has several harbors on the south side, all offering good anchorage, mooring fields, protection, restaurants and amenities. While moored in Little Harbor, we hiked the trail behind Sidneys’ Peace & Love to the top of the island and were rewarded with spectacular vista views.
Jost Van Dyke hike, BVI
Jost Van Dyke hike, BVI
R&R, Jost Van Dyke hike, BVI
Jost Van Dyke, hike, BVI
Pilot’s Discretion, Little Harbor, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Jost Van Dyke hike, BVI
During our stay in Manchioneel Bay, we hiked the trail behind Fox’s Taboo to the infamous “Bubbly Pool.” At The Bubbly Pool, the Atlantic Ocean presses through a crevice in the rocks creating a natural bubbly whirl pool.
Jost Van Dyke, Bubbly Pool hike, BVI
Jost Van Dyke, Bubbly Pool hike, BVI
Jost Van Dyke, Bubbly Pool hike, BVI
Jost Van Dyke, Bubbly Pool, BVI
After a long day’s hike, we availed ourselves of the various restaurants on the island. While on Jost Van Dyke, the boys declared the pizza at Corsairs beachfront pizzeria in Great Harbor, the best in the world. Although I thought the pizza was excellent, I found it improbable to note the pizza and ignore the fresh lobsters that they serve that are the size of a small pony.
Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
Little Harbor, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
VIRGIN GORDA:
Virgin Gorda, BVI
In Virgin Gorda, we picked up a mooring ball at Biras Creek in North Gorda Sound (aka Gorda Sound). Biras Creek has fewer mooring balls than other parts of Gorda Sound. As such it tends to be lower key, all the while providing easy access to all that the Sound has to offer.
Our top three favorites in Gorda Sound:
Hiking the Biras Creek Resort trails
Biras Creek Resort, Virgin Gorda, BVI
Biras Creek Resort Pool, Virgin Gorda, BVI
Pilot’s Discretion, Biras Creek, Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Rotti (a Caribbean curry dish) at the fat Virgin Café
Patton, Fat Virgin, Biras Creek, Vigin Gorda, BVI
Biras Creek, Vigin Gorda, BVI
Fat Virgin, Biras Creek, Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Bushwackers at Saba Rock
Saba Rock, BVI
Saba Rock, BVI
Randy, Saba Rock, BVI
Saba Rock, BVI
TORTOLA:
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, BVI
Tortola is is where most people begin their visit to the BVIs since the main airport is located here and the largest town, Road Harbor is also on the island. One of our favorite places on Tortola is Cane Garden Bay, a beautiful harbor with lots of dog friendly beach front restaurants and shops. It is very family friendly location, and as this past week was spring break for many schools, the mooring balls filled up quickly.
Picnic table pontoon, Cane Garden Bay, Tortola,BVI
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, looking towards Jost Van Dyke, BVI
We are currently staying at the Nanny Cay marina both because it is a very well kept marina with several very good restaurants, a pool and beach as well as easy access to good provisioning. In addition, Nanny Cay has a full service boat yard, and marine vendors of every description. It is here that we are attending to our open maintenance issues before departing for St. Martin, the next leg of our journey.
We have been remiss in posting updates lately, partially because we have been busy running the boat, partially because we have had limited access to internet, and mostly because we have been enjoying the company of friends & family that have flown in to visit us.
El Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico
Prior to departing the mainland of Puerto Rico, we had the opportunity and pleasure of travelling inland to visit El Yunque National Rain Forest where we spent the day hiking and swimming.
El Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico
El Yunque is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System and was well worth the day long exploration.
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When the next appropriate weather window presented itself, we set a coarse east stopping first in Ensenada Honda, Culebra, in The Spanish Virgin Islands; next in Francis Bay, St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands; and then on to Sopper’s Hole where we cleared immigration and customs in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
USVI
St. John, U.S.V.I.
Sun setting over St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
Looking west from St. John towards St. Thomas
Having bareboat chartered in the BVI on two previous occasions, we experienced yet another surreal moment after clearing in to the BVIs in our own boat. Familiar with the islands from prior visits we immediately set off for some of our favored destinations.
Pilot’s Discretion moored in front of The Last Resort, Bellamy Cay, Trellise Bay
Trellis Bay, Beef Island was our next stop as it is a 5 minute easy access walk from the airport for visiting guests. Of couse no stop in Trellis Bay would be complete without visiting The Last Resort on Bellamy Cay in the middle of the Bay.
Next we crossed the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Great Harbor, Peter Island. Great Harbor is less frequented by charter boats and we enjoyed a quiet evening at Ocean’s Seven restaurant ashore, and the solitude of only a few other boats moored around us.
Crossing Sir Francis Drake Channel
Ocean’s Seven, Great Harbor, Peter Island
Peter Island
No trip to the BVI for visiting guests would be complete without stopping at The Bight at Norman Cay. From there, we snorkeled the Indians and the caves at Treasure Point, and also visited Pirates and the infamous William Thorton’s (a.k.a. Willy T’s).
The Indians, British Virgin Islands
Randy & Patton in front of the Indians, British Virgin Islands
The Indians,B.V.I.
Theresa free diving The Indians,B.V.I.
Theresa free diving The Indians,B.V.I.
The Indians,B.V.I.
The Caves, Treasure Point, Norman Island
Snorkeling The Caves, Treasure Point, Norman Island
Patton enjoying the sunset from The Bight, Norman Island, B.V.I.
We are currently tucked in at Nanny Cay Marina which is headquarters to several large charter companies. As such, it is a full service marina with a hotel and resort-style amenities on premises, making it another good spot for meeting visiting guests. It’s mid-island location on the south side of Tortola also makes it an ideal location for island hopping.
Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola, B.V.I.
Nanny Cay Marina pool, Tortola, B.V.I.
Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola, B.V.I.
Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola, B.V.I.
We still have much more of the BVI to explore and are looking forward to sharing additional updates on our journey as time and internet access allows.
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