5/15 - Took a 6:00 AM US AIRWAY flight to Charlotte, then Charlotte to STT. Mango Rum shot at 2:38 STT time! Lunch and painkillers at the Pump Room and took the 3:30 ferry to West End. Thought the Dog was on board with his Air force crew, these guys started early, but were asleep by the time we passed St. John. We were on Galeaux by 4:45. There was a lot of activity, 7 boats were leaving the dock on 5/16, so there were LOTS of folks around. Tico’s order was already delivered, they are not open on Sunday, got it put away and did dinner at Pusser’s. Star of the night was a Yellow Crowned Night Heron coming very very close to the table.
5/16 - Coffee at Omar’s place, refills are not free, and then Harbour Market for rum and wine cooler fixings. Bobby’s was on time at 9:00 with the food, so we spent some time off loading all the goodies and getting them stored. Kimo working his tail off trying to get 7 crews checked out. We let him take care of the charter guests first and then grabbed him for a short check out and a coke. Finally off to Norman in a great wind, 17 to 20 knots. Being Sunday the Bight was already packed so we picked up a ball at Treasure Point for the evening and hit the water, staying away from the crowds. On a late afternoon snorkel saw the rays starting to come up out of the deep water to feed. That night watch a Bulldog Bat fishing off the stern and got some pictures. Then the Storms hit and had us swinging 360 around the ball. I decided to take a watch or two just to make sure it was good. No Worries!
5/17 - Up at 5:30, well not up awake. I wake up every day when the sun gets everything bright, at 5:30! Coffee at 7:30 and then back into the water. Turtle! My daughter saw her first turtle. Nice to hear a 19 year old giggle. Read, swim, dozed until we had to go back to West End to pick up the in-laws. Squall came up as I was putting her on the t-dock, 30 knot winds coming through that slot were not fun! Greeted the in-laws to the island in the rain. Got them squared away, drinks made and drank and headed off to dinner at Pussers, but this time upstairs. We had never been upstairs. Had the fish chowder and it was great, daughter had to get a bowl after she tasted mine. Then night caps and bed.
5/18 - Back to Treasure Point to get the in-laws some snorkeling. Still good winds 17 to 20 knots for the sail. Mother in-law took to the water like a fish. And a reminder out there, full mustaches and goatees make for leaky masks for father in-laws. Motored around to the Bight to grab a ball for the night and cooked burgers on the grill.
5/19 - Sail to Salt to see the salt ponds, set the hook and watched a big barracuda come from under the dock to see what we were. Took the dinghy ashore and walked the graveyard and around the big pond to the south shore. Ponds were very full, so no salt on the edges, but you can see it out in the middle. Chickens put on a show by the house and then we went back to the boat. Sailed to Marina Cay for the night cooking chicken breasts on the grill. With our fish light out we saw 25 Tarpon at once at the edge of the light on the surface!
5/20 - Sail to Leverick to see Nick, went around the Dogs to the North. The winds starting to shift to the South and dropping down to 10 knots average during the sail. Took her in between VG and Mosquito and backed her in at slip 19 right next to Blue Bayou! Met Walt and Ruth, met Doug and Wendy of Mustang Sally fame, waved at Nick(he was real busy with guests), and arranged a taxi to the Baths. The taxi ride - WOW – if you take a taxi up and over the mountain the views are worth the trip. We could see St. John and all the other islands after we made the crest. Had lunch at the Top of the Baths, some issue with very cold water on food stains, and then we hiked the tail to Devil’s Bay and swam. And of course had to hike back. Got to love the fresh water pool at the Top of the Baths. Hitting the pool was great, got the salt and sand off and cooled us down. Well the drinks helped too! Taxi was back at the requested time and we took a detour into Little Dix Bay to show off the resort. Got to use the real showers at Leverick, Nick rocks! And then had a GREAT dinner at The Restaurant at Leverick Bay. The group had grouper, a huge mussel appetizer with 20+ on it, bisque, duck, tuna YUMMMMMM. Good service, good food.
5/21 - Toured Blue Bayou, what a great boat and great hosts. Thanks Walt and Ruth. Started our sail to Little Jost Van Dyke. Winds dying, averaged 4 knots speed, so it was a nice 4 hour sail along the North coast. Anchor at Sandy Spit for a swim and then into Little Harbor for a ball. Got the normal dinner sales speeches but we cooked pork tenderloin on the grill. No wind, so lots of flies and mosquitoes. Group of 5 boats and a larger motor yacht were having a GOOD time. Dinghies full to the brim - well, over full. Whole load in one of them was dressed in Pirate garb and went to a motor yacht for pictures. Crew of Holoholo wanted to buy our fish light after they came back from the Honor bar - no sale!
5/22 - White Bay! Got there early, 9:30 and caught a ball by Ivan’s and we were drinking painkillers by 10:30! Met some nice folks from Texas that were on RipTide and heard some of their trip stories. Went down to One Love for lunch and of course BUSHWHACKERS! Spent a lot of time at One Love, we just love to sit under the sea grapes and people watch. It was a busy day in the bay, lot of boats came in. Ran into Captain Rick at the SDB, ran into the proprietor of Corsairs, chilling on the beach in a chair. Great White Bay day. Knowing that 5 boats were heading to West End we headed out, after waving at Blue Bayou, before they did and tied up to the dock at 4:00. After a clean up in the bathrooms, we took a taxi over to Jolly Roger for dinner. Great food! – Make sure you sit by the water if you can. We had lobster, swordfish, and seafood pasta (great leftover btw) then we decided to walk back (wife’s idea, after no decision from the crew on a taxi). Well, it was dark, there was mud, and some discussions about a beating. But, we made it home.
5/23 - Put daughter on the ferry to STT and home. Two new guests arrived and hit the vodka and cranberry juice – because they were about 14 hours late. Weather sent their plane to St. Croix instead of San Juan. Had ended up spending the night in San Juan. Took a taxi to CGB, headed to Callwoods but had to stop for lime coladas on the way. Callwoods is closed on Sunday, however the lime coladas store was not, so stopped in for another! Walked the beach and planned on eating dinner at the Elm, but it was only 2:00 and then we lost our way having 2 for 1 painkillers and rum punches at Big Banana’s. For some reason we decided not to eat at the Elm and made our way back to the boat and a huge cheese tray and an early evening. 2 for 1 will do that to you……
5/24 - Put in-laws on ferry to STT and home and set sail once again for Norman and Treasure Point. We never get tired of snorkeling that reef. This time see squid and brown moray eel and one member of the team saw a nurse shark! Into the Bight for a ball and dinner. Caught up with Soul’s Calling and got to talk to Captain Alex for a while – Roxanne!!!! Happened to see a wild Red and Green Macaw flying over the island – Really. Dinner at Pirates, ribs good, roti good, pasta not so much. After dinner we had a smaller spotted eagle ray circling our fish light for about an hour.
5/25 - Sail to Salt, well motor sailed to Salt, wind left us, this time to snorkel the Rhone. After seeing her we spent time exploring Lee Bay and saw a large barracuda and our first scrawled filefish. Headed over to Cooper as the wind really left us and got a ball. HOT! Went over to the Club for drinks and some shopping. We loved the redone Club, it is very well done. The “drink” tables in the surf are a great idea. Back on the boat it was Earth, Wind, and Fire night and grilled pork tenderloin.
5/26 - Sailed to Fallen Jerusalem. Tied up to ball itself as the painter was too long and had us swinging over the other ball. Had a great snorkel with more turtles and squid. After lunch we did a lazy jib sail over to Marina Cay as the crew needed a nap. We took the last ball, boats were pouring in looking for a ball. Went to walk the island and have drinks, Grog, Painkillers and Caribs. Flowers were in full bloom in the top and very beautiful. Watched crabs coming over the sea wall for a hour or so while the sun set, then back to the boat for burgers. Later the wind started to shift and we about got a Cat up the aft from the ball west of us. We had turned, but they had not. Good thing they were on the tramps and got her started up and moved.
5/27 - Trellis Full Moon Party, well the day started out with rain, but more on that later. Motored over to Trellis and got a ball at 9:00 near Last Resort and ferry channel. Glad we did, because all balls were gone by 10:00 and boats started anchoring everywhere, including the channel (told to move later.) Lazy morning and then finally decided to go ashore to hit the shops. Just as we did VERY dark clouds coming from the South came over Beef as we tied up the dingy. Into the Cyber Café and Aragon’s, rain very heavy now. We decided to hit the bar and wait it out. By now it is a toad strangler, trash, then leaves, then sticks, then limbs start washing down into the bay. Order another round, cannot see the boats in the bay. Order another round, repeat. Found out that Aragon’s sell’s Salt Island salt and got a couple of bags right when the rain let off. Well the dingy has 8+ inches of water in it so it takes awhile before I can get it all out. Still raining by dinner time so the crew decided to stay on the boat and watch the show from here. By the time the fire balls get lit at 9:30 I am the only one awake.
5/28 - Take guests to dock for their flight home and that leaves just me and the Admiral on the boat. Decide on a jib only sail as the weather is gusty and stormy. Head towards Cooper to see what the bay looks like and note whitecaps. Decide to see what Peter and Norman look like and end up on a ball in Soldier Bay. Couple of storms sweep over and we go for a snorkel and see a sleeping turtle. That night we got more shots of Bulldog Bats fishing and Tarpon. Chilled and had an early evening.
5/29 - Hung out in the bay until there was a gap in the storms late afternoon. I was getting ready to put up the main when I noted the back line coming from the Southwest. Squall hit and we motored back to West End getting there about 4:00. Dock was full, 5 boats going out in the morning and two boats on the fuel dock, so we took a ball and waited. Kimo called about 5:30 and we tied up at the fuel dock. More rain, this time coming from the West. We did dinner on board, packed, and crashed.
5/30 – 9:15 ferry to STT, god I hate to leave. Once in St. Thomas we decided to go ahead to the airport since Craig and Sally’s is not open for lunch! Hit the bar and did beer and lunch, they had a nice cafeteria spread, yummm Mac & Cheese. Got on the plane at 4:00 and were home by midnight.
