Our farewell sail in paradise in March 2024 until our next trip to the BVI. We slipped the lines at about 9am then set sail from the North Sound of Virgin Gorda back to the Moorings base at Wickham’s Cay in Roadtown, Tortola British Virgin Islands. It’s about a 4+ hour sail given the forecast for light winds.
We raised our mainsail while we were in the middle of the sound and away from all the other boats in the area. We motor sailed our way through the channel by Anguilla Point by Mosquito Island and Virgin Gorda. Once we were about halfway between Mountain Point and the Seal Dogs, we unfurled our jib as well and set sail for our destination.
It was a very gentle sail with very light winds ranging from 6-10 knots mostly sometimes gusting to 11 knots. It would have been nice to sail our last day with 20 knot winds but a fun sail was not to be. Instead we had a gentle and relaxing sail with Liz planted on a bean bag at the bow enjoying the gentle rocking of the boat while soaking the peace and tranquility of paradise. I did the same at the helm though we did visit each other through the day. At about noon, Liz prepared egg salad sandwiches paired with some cantaloupe, chips and salsa. Then washed it all down with some ginger beer.
Once we were in Roadtown and near the cruise ship dock, I hailed the Moorings’ Dockmaster on the VHF’s channel 12. James, who has been with the Moorings over 39 years, came on the radio and instructed us to place the fenders on the port side and to move our dinghy to the forward starboard cleat.
By the time we reached the marina, he was waiting for us in his dinghy then boarded our vessel to help guide us to our slip. Inwas able to back us into position within a couple of feet of the dock but he wanted me closer to it’s a million dollar vessel so I asked him to do the honors of moving the boat the last 12 inches.
After securing all the lines, Liz and I packed up everything then headed off to relax by the pool. Liz planned ahead by setting aside a swimsuit. I packed everything so I paid a visit to the HIHO store, which I seem to always visit and purchase stuff from every time we are here. They carry some wonderful stuff. This time my mission was to purchase a swimsuit. I’m not into earth tones nor bland colors so I went straight for the green and orange suits. I wanted the orange but they only had my size in green so that’s what I went with. Too bad as I likely would’ve gotten both. I also walked out with a new baseball cap and a new sticker for my Pelican case.
Our minds and appetites wanted to go to Omar’s Fusion for dinner. We really enjoy the fusion of Caribbean and Indian cuisines. They have the best chicken tikka masala that rivals anything I’ve had from an Indian restaurant in Dallas, New York, Toronto and London that are great cities to enjoy some curry. It was not to be. We were just too tired to hop in a cab to head over to Simper’s Hole where the restaurant was located. Instead we planted ourselves at a waterfront table at Charlie’s which is right on the Moorings Base. The food is pretty good though not great. Liz had a rare tuna steak and I went with a meat lover’s pizza. Since it was after 6pm on Good Friday, we enjoyed a couple of cocktails. Liz with a gin and tonic and of course I went with a bushwacker.
For dessert, we enjoyed a pint of ice cream aboard West Ender, the Leopard 42, that was our home for the last 14 days 10 of which was shared with our cruising buddies. It was a wonderful and slow paced two weeks where we would alternate staying at an anchorage for a day then two days at the next with our friends, then just staying at the same place up in the North Sound for the remainder.
So farewell British Virgin Islands. We’ll be back later this year for a workcation for a few weeks. Next stop…the Exumas this summer. See all y’all on the water.