July 3 – Spent the night in Atlanta at the Springfield Inn and Suites, connects to ATL airport via monorail. Direct flight to STT via Delta. A short cab ride and $100 (9 people, 4 parents and 5 kids 20 year old +), we arrive at the ferry dock. The 2:30pm ferry is cancelled, so we opt to take the 4:30 fast ferry (clean, cold, even has a movie playing). Lunch and drinks in the Pump Room, we are on island time. Long ferry line in RT, but finally through and Conch charters has a cab waiting. Of course we are now so late, the office is closed and no evening checkout is possible. Our 4700 cat is cool and ready however. We relax a bit, then head to Bobby’s for provisioning. A major freezer/refrigerator is broken at Bobby’s, so selection is very poor, but we still manage to spend $350.
July 4 – Everyone up early to do the checkout, but this was not to happen. Another cat is blocking us and no one is in a hurry. We are told no ice is available on Tortola due to an outage, but Conch manages to secure 4 blocks and 2 bags of cubes (we still have lots of block left 12 days later). By 12:00 we are off and headed to the Caves for first snorkeling. Evening at the Bight where the kids explore the bar scene.
July 5 - Left the Bight early and headed to the Indians. Great snorkeling around the island and almost everyone made it through the tunnel. Next to Deadman’s Bay, Peter Island for beach time. Overnight at Great Harbor, Peter Island.
July 6 – Enjoyed morning at the rocky beach, great snorkeling (saw moray eels, stingrays, lots of fish), best Bushwackers of the trip from the beach bar. Had planned to go to Savannah Bay, but Conch doesn’t allow, so sailed to the bay outside Spanish Town. Some went ashore for grocery, souvenire, showers, etc).
July 7 – Up early to head to the Baths, 2nd boat there. Jelly fish were really bad, so mainly climbed rocks, enjoyed beach and did a little snorkeling. Walked to Top of the Baths, in 10 trips, never did this. Loved the pool, bar, lunch, etc. A favorite for everyone. Back to the boat and we find the pulley block is jagged and has sheared the main sail sheet, so we sail under jib only to Marina Cay. A call to Conch, ice cream and drinks ashore, windsurfing, exploring the island. Chase boat arrives by 7:00 pm to fix the pulley and new rope 120 ft 1.4 CM dia.
July 8 – Guys up early to go ashore for free wifi (yes our homes are still standing). Go to Trellis Bay to check out the local artist shops. Discover a large cat from CYOA stuck on the reef surrounding the Last Resort. Leave for Leverick Bay and a longer sail. On arrival pick up a mooring and hunt for Nick to see if he has a slip available. We arrived a day early and had reservations for Friday. When he hears we are TTOL readers, he assigns us a great slip. Drinks, pool time, showers, we are in heaven.
July 9 – Love being at the pier, everyone can do their own thing. Wash clothes, shop, play. After lunch we dingy to the reef around Mosquito Island. Try to find the submerged sailboat (the mast is now gone), but are unsuccessful even with directions. Back for showers get ready for the BBQ/Jumbies. Nick assigns a great table, close to the action. Food is fantastic. Jumbies great and there is even a fire show. 5 of our crew are newbies and this was so special.
July 10 – Out early so we can get to Guana Island in the am. Wonderful snorkeling, swim with a huge turtle for 10 minutes, lots of fish, stingray, squid. Head to Cane Garden Bay in the afternoon, dinner at Quitos. Humid, rainy night, so used the generator & air (only the third time this trip). Awoke at 0300 to a loud clunk and no generator running.
July 11 – Call Conch, they send a chase boat, so we stay at Cane Garden longer than planned. What a beautiful place. By 2:00, they determine they don’t have the parts to fix, so we give them an extra day and plan to meet at Sopers Hole in 2 days. We head to Sandy spit and overnight at Little Harbor. Dinner at Harris. Cynthia is great and the lobsters are so huge, we bring back enough for lobster rolls for lunch.
July 12 – We leave Little Harbour early and head to White Bay. Loved the reef, water, beach, windsurfing, Soggy Dollar. I favorite spot for all.
July 13 - Leave White Bay early to meet Conch with parts to repair generator at Sopers Hole. Grocery, shopping, clear customs, and wait for repairs while waiting at the Pussers bar. Finish around 2:00 pm and leave for St. John. Late start means we can’t get to Cruz Bay to clear customs, so spend the night at Cinnamon Bay, snorkel, windsurf, etc. Turn the generator on for blender use, doesn’t work again………..
July 14 – Up early to go to Cruz Bay, clear customs and then head to Caneel Bay for snorkeling, then to Hawksnest Bay for overnight. More time snorkeling, beach time, discover 2 butt beach, lots of turtles spotted.
July 15 – Up early to head to Leinster Bay, hear a noise and realize we have cut the dingy rope with the prop. A quick dive and nothing is wrapped around the prop and engines are fine. After 30 years of sailing, this is a first for us. A rousing sail brings us to Leinster, onshore Annaberg sugar mill exploration, snorkeling around Watermelon Cay (spotted a small shark, octopus, ray and wide variety of fish). Humid, rainy night – we really would like to have our generator working for air.
July 16 – It’s time to turn the boat in. Up early, sail to Road Town, check in with customs. Drop the kids off for shopping while we return boat. Meet up with kids at Pussers for lunch and then catch the 2:30 pm ferry to STT. Hertz meets us on arrival to STT and we pick up cars, then to Frenchman’s Reef to unwind for 2 nights.

Next trip reminders:
- Don’t pack snorkel gear if charter company provides, just something else to pack.
- Do bring more food. Food is very expensive in the BVI. Grocery at Sopers Hole is wonderful, good selections, clean, cold and no more expensive than Bobbys.
- Lots of boat issues, unable to get the generator fixed, probably wouldn’t use Conch again.
- Try to fly direct to EIS. We really don’t mind San Juan, especially if you don’t check a bag. We wasted a lot of money and time waiting for ferry.
- Best snorkeling Monkey Point, Guana Island and the Indians.
- White Bay was wonderful
- Leverick Bay Friday night BBQ/Jumbies. Do meet Nick and Monica and stay on the pier.
- Top of the Baths a lot of fun.
- Do put some money together as a group (we did $400 total), to pay for moorings, ice, etc.
- Do bring a collapsable cooler – great for carrying ice and cold and heavy items.
- Flip flops are the only shoes needed, no bulky tennis shoes

Hope this helps others.