April 3-April 18
Crew: 4 couples, 40-50 something, all sailors on Lake Erie.
Boat – 47’ Catamaran from Conch Charters

Day 1 – Travel day and sleepaboard. – All flights go well, actually land ½ hour early. Have to say I was impressed with Continental Airlines. They even give you a free lunch! Turkey sandwich, salad and a Kit Kat. Take the 3:30 ferry to Roadtown, short taxi to Conch Charters. When we arrive our Caribbean Cellars order is waiting for us in the office. All is good except they deliver 1 bottle of Absolute, we ordered 12. Bobby’s show up at 6ish as planned. Figure out the next day that we are missing a whole box of things and our 3 cases of Pepsi. A call to Bobby’s and everything is straightened out.
After all provisions are stowed (I have to apologize to my crew, I was busy chatting and did not offer much help) we head to Nanny Cay to watch Quito and the Edge. We all have a great time, although I think we are all a bit over served ☺ Seems to always happen on the first night on the islands.
Day 2 – Everyone up moving by 8:00, receive the missing items from Bobby’s, walk to the Rite Way to pick up more Absolute. Short briefing with Conch, leave the dock by 10:20. Everyone is starving, seems we forgot to eat dinner last night, sandwiches on the way before we hoist the sails. Stop for snorkel at the caves, then up to Pirates for drinks and appetizers. Dinner at the Willy T and then off to bed.
Day 3 – Motor over to Cooper to see if we can meet up with James and let him know that we will be back at the end of the trip. No such luck, motor up towards the Dogs, no mooring open so we hoist sails and go for a nice long sail. Sailing along Craig notices the dinghy is missing (he tied it on, so I think he was paying more attention to it) we tack around and begin the search. Don spots it pretty quickly, it must have been at least a mile and ½ behind and to leeward of us. Luckily it was yellow, made it much easier to spot. Head to Marina Cay for the night, but all mooring are taken by 2:00. Several have not seen Michael Bean and were really looking forward to it, so we take a dock at Scrub instead. Cost $100. with no water, no electricity. We enjoy the pools and grounds of Scrub, then head to the Michael Bean show. Things get a little fuzzy after the show, think we sang Karaoke on the back of the boat, good time!
Day 4 – After making some breakfast, we head back towards North Sound for a night at Leverick. I didn’t keep notes, so this report is by memory, well my memory is not working too good. Think we went sailing before heading to North Sound. We see a dolphin as we are heading into the cut. We take a ball at Leverick (docks where full). Went ashore for a swim and some lunch. Meet up with Canadiangirl and family. It was so nice putting a face to a name, delightful family! Spent the evening at the bar visiting with Nick & Monica, always fun to spend time with 2 of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
Day 5 - Sail to Anegada, nice broad reach, we are almost there when we hear a loud “bang”. Discover we broke the outhaul, oh well we are almost there so we drop sails and motor in, later we take the first reef line out and use that for a outhaul for the rest of the trip. Ashore we arrange for a rental safari bus for the next day, have drinks at AGH and Potters. Back to the boat for dinner, then back to Potters for dancing & drinking. What a night!
Day 6 – I wake about 2 am with the worst stomachache in years. Cold sweats and aching everywhere. I have the flu! I beg the rest of the crew to continue with their plans of exploring the island; I just want to be along. I never leave my bunk (except to go the the bathroom) all day. Rest of the crew said they had a great day at Loblolly, Flash of Beauty and Cow Wreck. The come back to the boat for a short time and then to Potters for dinner. They said their meal was fantastic. They returned to the boat about 10PM and I feel like I need something to eat, maybe some rice and ginger ale. My husband runs back to Potters to see if he can fulfill my request. Comes back a short time later with rice, open the container and Liston has included a ½ of a lobster too! It was so kind, but the smell of lobster made me want to loose it again. The rice and ginger ale really makes me feel better.
Day 7 – Still week and achy but at least my stomach is settled. Have a nice sail back to Leverick and grab a dock, Saildoggie comes in later and is right behind us out at the fuel dock. Mark & Marie just a dock over. Spend the day lying around the pool. As usual the BBQ buffet is delicious, too bad I can not eat my share, but I think the rest of my crew make up for it. Really nice meeting Marie and Mark, Saildoggie and crew, and others I’m forgetting. Early night for me, as I still don’t have my strength back.
Day 8 – Heading to JVD via Monkey Point – fantastic snorkeling – the best of the trip. Onto Great Harbor, Conch Charters no longer allows anchoring in GH, we must grab a ball. No balls to be had, decide to head to Little Harbor, but first a peak at White Bay. As luck would have it, there is an open ball in White Ball. Very calm day with no north swell. White Bay is pretty crowded as today is Saturday and there is a cruise ship anchored out front. Have some bushwachers at One Love, chat with Seddy and Rueben, back to the boat for dinner.
Day 9 – We want to spend the night in Great Harbor, so we decide to make it a shore day. Head to GH early and grab a ball. Bloody Mary’s at Corsairs are great, but kick your butt! Have a nice visit with Rudy and Ion, taking a look at his newest house/apt. It is absolutely gorgeous with a great view. There is a large 2 bedroom upstairs, a small 2 bedroom and a small 1 bedroom downstairs. All done very tastefully. The girls shop at all the little places, the guys stop at all the bars. Had a great time talking to Foxy as he put together lobster traps out back. Three of his grand babies were out back playing too, what cuties. End up back at Corsairs for more drinks and appetizers. Conch fritters, wings and fry’s are all very good. Back to the boat, some need naps; others keep drinking and have a great time. Cheeseburgers in paradise on the back of the boat. Spot the Southern Cross before we head to our bunks. Another great day.
Day 10 – I wake up feeling old, today is my 50th birthday. We plan on staying in Little Harbor tonight, so no need to get moving too early. Go to shore to pick up a few things, and say goodbye to our good friends Rudy & Ion. My husband tells me he has to stop and pick up a pizza he ordered from Corsairs the night before (it’s my birthday, I know what he is up to, but I don’t spoil his surprise). Drop the ball and head to Sandy Cay, swim to shore and walk the beach for an hour or so. Back to the boat everyone decides they don’t feel like sailing, they cannot wait to see Cynthia and have one of her bushwackers! Just as we remember them, they are wonderful. Do a little shopping at Sydney’s, then back to the boat to just chill for a while before we go back to Harris’ for lobster dinner. The lobster was wonderful, all but 2 have the lobster, and they both have the Mahi Mahi and say it is great. Later Cynthia brings out her toys and we all have some great laughs. Back at the boat everyone, except me, is in bed by 10:00. I stay up for the next couple of hours, just watching the stars and enjoying listening to another boat behind us laughing and carrying on. What a great birthday…I can think of nowhere else I would rather turn 50.
Day 11 - Last full day on the boat. Leave Little Harbor at the crack of dawn. We have one person on the boat that has never been to the Baths and really wants to see them. Long motor around and get one of the last available balls around 9:00. A couple go to shore, most just lounge around the boat, I do some snorkeling close the boat. After the baths we go for a long sail, knowing it is going to be our last for a while, we soak it all in. Headed in no particular direction, just where the wind takes us. End up back at Coopers for the night. Hope to see James, but he is still on Tortola, maybe next year. Have a great day snorkeling, playing in the water, beach combing and of course drinking up the liquor on the boat. Dinner on the boat more karaoke and off to bed.
Day 12 – Sad day – must turn the boat in by noon today. At least we have 4 more days on island before heading back to Ohio. Return to Conch in plenty of time, get everything off the boat, pick up rental car and head to Cielo Villa. Lovely villa on the hill between CGB and Brewers. Everyone enjoys the pool; we cook filet mignons, rice and salad with some great bottles of wine. Another good day in paradise.
As this trip report is getting way to long, I will not give day-to-day details of our 4 days on shore. We had a great time meeting all the TTOL gang several times in CGB. Great lunch at Stanley’s, wonderful dinner at Banankeet and the Elm, and a blast listening and dancing to Quito on Thursday night. Flight home was uneventful. Once again Continental arrived in Detroit ½ hour ahead of schedule.

Colleen

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