Monday, November 24. 2008
Great Thatch Island, BVI
My guests that are coming in a couple weeks, Swim Vacation, who swims around the British Virgin Islands...Really...!!! emailed me today and asked me if I could turn off the wind before they got here. They have about ten days, so it hopefully will be fine for them! I would dearly love to turn off the wind for a bit though, I get "wind stress" quite easily. I guess I am not a true sailor then!
We were up at the crack of dawn to move the boat so they could snorkel before breakfast, and I thought them jumping in in the middle of the bight in 20 plus knot winds was not the best idea, so we moved to Water Point. The wind was not too bad this AM. We had a snorkel and a dive, and then it was time for Bazza to give a sailing lesson to a few of the guys so they could sail the boat.
Our turn to drink pina coladas on the back deck I guess! I asked our helmsmen Crae where we were going and the shrug says it all I think, however, he did tell me we hit our hull speed sailing at 10.3 knots, so that was impressive.
We sailed down to Great Thatch in short time and watched all the monohulls leaned over like crazy tacking back and forth across the channel. The gap in between great Thatch and Tortola must have been running 6 foot seas today! Very gusty this afternoon.
I felt like Susie Homemaker or Martha Stewart today with all the trays I had lined up to go in the oven! Quite enjoyed it (did not have to do sails!)
We anchored at great thatch so bazza could take most of them on the hike up to the fort to find the geocache of ours. We waved them goodbye, and promptly felt like we were in a wind tunnel. Good thing we are so wide and stable, otherwise, quite frankly, it would have been hell sitting there.
They found the geocache and signed our book and all enjoyed the trip up there immensely. give teenagers anything to do with a machete and they are straight on it I guess.
They found a few treasures up there, and I cannot believe they found another flat iron. I think that is half a dozen that have been found there now. I cannot believe that people pressed clothes so much back then!
We tucked into a nice quite cove nearby for the evening and about the time I put dinner on the table, the tarpon started jumping on the line left and right. 3 strikes and large jumps in a row, our fishermen just have to learn a little patience with the Tarpon though, as unless you let them run and play them in and out and tire them out for 45 minutes, you lose them very quickly! I did a fruit crumble with homemade ice cream tonight and one of the guests pronounced it one of the best desserts he has ever had in his life and I think that is high praise! 9 pm and except for the fishermen, it is bed time on the yacht again...
I would think Richard and Lisa would be getting close to getting across the Atlantic by now and here, they thought early this week they would sail in anyways...
We were up at the crack of dawn to move the boat so they could snorkel before breakfast, and I thought them jumping in in the middle of the bight in 20 plus knot winds was not the best idea, so we moved to Water Point. The wind was not too bad this AM. We had a snorkel and a dive, and then it was time for Bazza to give a sailing lesson to a few of the guys so they could sail the boat.
Our turn to drink pina coladas on the back deck I guess! I asked our helmsmen Crae where we were going and the shrug says it all I think, however, he did tell me we hit our hull speed sailing at 10.3 knots, so that was impressive.
We sailed down to Great Thatch in short time and watched all the monohulls leaned over like crazy tacking back and forth across the channel. The gap in between great Thatch and Tortola must have been running 6 foot seas today! Very gusty this afternoon.
I felt like Susie Homemaker or Martha Stewart today with all the trays I had lined up to go in the oven! Quite enjoyed it (did not have to do sails!)
We anchored at great thatch so bazza could take most of them on the hike up to the fort to find the geocache of ours. We waved them goodbye, and promptly felt like we were in a wind tunnel. Good thing we are so wide and stable, otherwise, quite frankly, it would have been hell sitting there.
They found the geocache and signed our book and all enjoyed the trip up there immensely. give teenagers anything to do with a machete and they are straight on it I guess.
They found a few treasures up there, and I cannot believe they found another flat iron. I think that is half a dozen that have been found there now. I cannot believe that people pressed clothes so much back then!
We tucked into a nice quite cove nearby for the evening and about the time I put dinner on the table, the tarpon started jumping on the line left and right. 3 strikes and large jumps in a row, our fishermen just have to learn a little patience with the Tarpon though, as unless you let them run and play them in and out and tire them out for 45 minutes, you lose them very quickly! I did a fruit crumble with homemade ice cream tonight and one of the guests pronounced it one of the best desserts he has ever had in his life and I think that is high praise! 9 pm and except for the fishermen, it is bed time on the yacht again...
I would think Richard and Lisa would be getting close to getting across the Atlantic by now and here, they thought early this week they would sail in anyways...
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as
(Linear | Threaded)
Hello,
Wow, I am really enjoying reading your blog.
I have two questions:
1) Is this a private geocache or can I find it on www.geocaching.com ?
2) I'm hoping to catch some tarpon and yellow tail on my trip next week and was wondering if your fishing expert could share some pointers?
Thanks so much!
Drew
Wow, I am really enjoying reading your blog.
I have two questions:
1) Is this a private geocache or can I find it on www.geocaching.com ?
2) I'm hoping to catch some tarpon and yellow tail on my trip next week and was wondering if your fishing expert could share some pointers?
Thanks so much!
Drew
Hi Drew:
you won't find our geocaches on geocaching, but I shall remember to find the coordinates and put them up this week. I used to have them up on my website, but it appears in a cleaning frenzy I have removed them somehow!!
Please do go search for them, they are very interesting, especially the one on Great Thatch I think.
We also have one on Salt Island and Ginger Island as well.
Fishing for Tarpon: Turn on lights at the back of the boat! Best places for tarpon are Marina Cay, Watermelon Cay on St John, West End (Sopers Hole), Muskmelon Bay on guana island and North Sound. By turning on the lights at the back of the boat you get the bait fish around and then the tarpon come in and feed on them. We often just scoop up some of the little bait fish to put on our hook for the tarpon.
tarpon when on if you try and bring them in without tiring them out first they will get away, about every time. Average time to tire them out is 30-60 minutes, and every time they spy the boat they will run. Let them, and tire them out. They are smart and try and wrap themselves around anchor chains, rudders what have you, so we always try and steer them away from touching anything, otherwise PING!
tarpon are actively feeding just after sunset on, more likely then later.
Yellow tails are easier, we can pretty much get those with anything from chicken to steak to squid or whatever we have in the freezer for bait. We often bottom fish at sunset to get bait fish and then use live bait for sharks or jacks or larger things!
you won't find our geocaches on geocaching, but I shall remember to find the coordinates and put them up this week. I used to have them up on my website, but it appears in a cleaning frenzy I have removed them somehow!!
Please do go search for them, they are very interesting, especially the one on Great Thatch I think.
We also have one on Salt Island and Ginger Island as well.
Fishing for Tarpon: Turn on lights at the back of the boat! Best places for tarpon are Marina Cay, Watermelon Cay on St John, West End (Sopers Hole), Muskmelon Bay on guana island and North Sound. By turning on the lights at the back of the boat you get the bait fish around and then the tarpon come in and feed on them. We often just scoop up some of the little bait fish to put on our hook for the tarpon.
tarpon when on if you try and bring them in without tiring them out first they will get away, about every time. Average time to tire them out is 30-60 minutes, and every time they spy the boat they will run. Let them, and tire them out. They are smart and try and wrap themselves around anchor chains, rudders what have you, so we always try and steer them away from touching anything, otherwise PING!
tarpon are actively feeding just after sunset on, more likely then later.
Yellow tails are easier, we can pretty much get those with anything from chicken to steak to squid or whatever we have in the freezer for bait. We often bottom fish at sunset to get bait fish and then use live bait for sharks or jacks or larger things!
Hey Kerry!
Thank you for the reply, I've printed it out and will try all of your fishing tips and let you know how I make out.
I'll also keep an eye on your website for the coordinates post back some pictures if we are able to track any of them down!
Thanks,
Drew
Thank you for the reply, I've printed it out and will try all of your fishing tips and let you know how I make out.
I'll also keep an eye on your website for the coordinates post back some pictures if we are able to track any of them down!
Thanks,
Drew
SailDiveBVI- Kerry's personal blog
Calendar
|
February '12 | |||||
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | ||||
Quicksearch
Syndicate This Blog
Powered by
