Didn't have to wait too long to get back to Tortola! Susan and I returned for a great week of exploring places we had not yet been, like Anegada and the north side of Tortola, as well as Benures Bay on Norman Island and Manchioneel Bay on Cooper Island. So with a minimum of narration, here's a photo tour of this week's counter-clockwise circumnavigation of the BVI's the week of December 7-15.
Starting from Penns Landing, we returned to the Bitter End Yacht Club. Some spectacular views from our hike up to the top of Biras Hill and then down into Deep Bay and Biras Creek Resort:
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| Last stop before the trail starts! |
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| Saba Rock from the BEYC |
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| Kite boarder up in the air |
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| North Sound and BEYC mooring field |
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| Deep Bay |
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| Biras Creek Resort, Deep Bay Beach |
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| Friendly iguana at Biras Creek getting some sun |
Once we realized it was a short hop, skip and jump to the new Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, we dropped the hiking shoes back at the boat and had lunch there. Not a bad place to keep an eye on Pratique, moored in the distance!
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| YCCS, with EVOO in foreground |
The next day we sailed up to Anegada. We grabbed a mooring off of the Anegada Reef Hotel, where we later had our first Anegada lobsters
Next day was a beach and t-shirt shopping day:
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| Anegada: 10 more shopping days until Christmas! |
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| Loblolly Bay Beach |
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| Cow Wreck Beach |
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| Cattle Crossing |
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| Donkey Crossing |
On Thursday we left Anegada and set out for Cane Garden Bay on the north side of Tortola.
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| Approaching Cane Garden Bay |
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| Local greeting |
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| Cane Garden Bay--Jost Van Dyke in background |
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Sailor's Rest, Cane Garden Bay
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| Best sunset of the week! |
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| Boat neighbor fishing off his paddle board at dusk |
Next day, we rounded the West End of Tortola and headed upwind to Benures Bay on Norman Island:
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| Passing Pelican Island and the Indians |
There was nice snorkling at Benures, but the memorable event was the squally night at anchor. Susan spent most of the night on anchor watch, and here was the track the boat recorded:
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| "What a drag!" |
Final stop: Manchioneel Bay on Cooper Island. After the last night, we happily took a mooring in front of the Cooper Island Beach Club.
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| Passing Buck Island |
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| Cooper Island Beach Club |
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| Looking towards Tortola from Cooper Island |
Returning to Fat Hogs Bay, we had a few squalls, but that didn't faze Susan!
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| Susan steers around the squalls |
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| We outrun the last one, entering Fat Hogs Bay |
OK, well that isn't such nice weather, but once again, it's a lot better than the following week at home:
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| Back in good c-old CT |
Back to thaw out again in one month!!!
