Guest appearances from the Director, the Count, the Teach & the Virgin.... We eventually found ourselves legally in the USVIs by taking a ferry over from the BVIs, they hand out the visa waiver and your passport is stamped, sound easy.... Our ferry was an hour late to start, then when we went to go back to Tortola, we were told that the 11.30AM had been cancelled and the next would be at 4.30PM, our faces must have been a picture as we had to pick up the Disco and take her to St Thomas to meet Dave and Nikki who were arriving at 3PM. The lady managed to persuade another ferry company to come pick us up and take us back. We eventually rocked into St Thomas Yacht Club at around 5PM, with many apologies for Dave and Nikki who had been left to drink the bar dry and sample some food. The following day we cleared the Disco in with customs and spent the evening in Caneel Bay, St John. The following day we headed back round to Christmas Cove on Great St James Island where it was a short dinghy trip across the channel to the Yacht Club, this time we were properly prepared for that wet journey home!! There was no sign of Bob or Duncan by 7pm so we got a bite to eat and left a message on the YC message board for the boys. After dinner still no sign, so we headed for Bonnie's Bar which was just by Bob's hotel, Sitting at the bar was Duncan, who had read our note but still no sign of Bob. At 11pm I wandered back up to reception to find it locked up with still no Bob, luckily the receptionist saw him as his taxi came through the gate and told him we were in the bar. A few welcome drinks later we all headed off to bed.
Wednesday morning was time to unload the Disco into a locker at the American Yacht Harbour where we were staying for the Regatta. Once sorted, time for the practise sail ready for the practise race, all went well, although Duncan was looking a little frazzled from the sun. On thursday we spent many hours out under the blazing sun, waiting for the postponment to be lifted eventually they sent us home. Duncan decided he would abandon us Friday to keep out of the sun. Skippers briefing that night was an event in itself as they introduced everyone and called each skipper up separately to collect their class flag and scratch sheet, it was a real friendly atmosphere.
We had heard rumours that Duffy's Love Shack was the place to go, so we ventured there for dinner, Bob ordered a Bushwacker in a parrot glass and then the waitress brought out the toys!!! Their cocktails were all amazing in their own individual speciality glasses to keep.
Friday brought further fears of no racing as again we were left with a postponement, luckily we sat on a mooring in the bay and cleaned the bottom on the boat with two turtles watching us from the bottom. The flag was taken down and out we went but again we were heading for disappointment, although the snorkelling was great! That night we went to the Yacht Club for a BBQ and it was great although we headed back for an early night.
Saturday, Duncan, now known as the Count due to his hiding from daylight decided to sit out again, I think he thought we'd be cancelled again. Can you imagine the excitement when they gave the warning signal for the first race, we were beside ourselves. They managed to get us 3 action packed races and we were looking on good form other than a little mishap that I'm sure Matt won't let me forget, but its all to be learnt from! We went into the YC after the racing desperate to see how we did. after 2 hours they only had 1 race up, we decided to head back to meet Duncan and settled for a quiet night in Sopchoppysin Red Hook Bay.
Sunday morning a rather pleased Bob boarded the boat with news of a 3rd, 1st and 2nd from yesterdays racing, Yeah Baby... They only managed to squeeze in 2 races Sunday and we managed to pull a 2nd and 3rd from the bag. The racing was first class and thoroughly enjoyable although the Director did raise his voice a few times. That night it was off to Windham Sugar Bay Reef Resort to collect our prize. All dressed up the crew enjoyed the open bar and buffet which gets a 10/10, much better than the Cowes Crew Ball idea of a party. We managed to get the Count's Birthday mentioned, and I believe only one word came out repeatedly 'bas***ds'. Unfortunately the speeches went on a bit, and ooops I fell asleep in one of the front tables and also got a mention by the speaker along with a girl on the next table who also could take no more!!!
To round up the perfect week it was time for a famous Matt & Fluffy BBQ. The prawns were scrumptious on kebabs, garlic bread was dreamy and the steak was to die for. The pimms was flowing freely with 2 bottles gone, and then a stack of beer, the Count and Bob had also been Bushwackering ashore before heading back to the boat and there was alot of activity on the VHF as they headed across the channel with the Teach in the dinghy, Bob's first Burn Rubber experience.... So a fun evening was had by all, I was first to bed and missed 2 funny events. The first spotted by Dave the Teach as we swung round in the wind and had a full view into a cabin of the boat next door, when Teach said 'Is he shagging?' they all turned round and started laughing at which point the victim promptly looked out of the porthole and quickly turned off the light, his face was a picture. After Matt had dropped Bob ashore, he came back to hear a lot of shouting, as the boat swung round the other way, we got quite close to a catamaran with Swiss holidaymakers aboard, suddenly all the lights went on and they all ran on deck shouting with pure panic, they then hurriedly fired up the engine rammed it into forwards and motored themselves streight onto the beach! Not content with this they rammed the engine into reverse and backed off the beach and into a perfectly positioned rock running themselves hard aground! They were obviously completely disorientated but that didnt stop our laughter. After about 15 mins of pure comedy shagger man (his moment spoilt) with his big dinghy went and pulled them off.
The following
morning was not without action as somebody noticed a boat was dragging and rushed
out to the boat as it was drifting out into the channel. We dropped Dave and
Nikki safely ashore after goodbyes, picked up Bob and headed for the BVIs.
What else could possibly happen???
Revised -- Wednesday 10th April 2002
Carry on to BVI Spring Regatta
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