Sailing! We woke up on the boat today docked in Hodges Creek Marina. First order of business was breakfast and then a boat briefing from Jean Olivier, the Catamaran Company technician who runs their boating operations. How many water, fuel, electrical and running rigging systems are there on a 45 foot catamaran?! A lot!
One hour and 73 valves later, we were fully briefed on the operations of Peace Out. Then we met Captain Sam, the gentleman who will spend two days with us making sure my monohaul sailing experience translates smoothly into sailing a Lagoon 450 catamaran. With Sam on board, the boat provisioned and our stuff stowed away, we cast off our lines with yours truly at the helm and started motoring out of the tight marina.
Hodges Creek was hit very hard by Hurricane Irma and still has a lot of lingering wrecked boats. It was a sad sight, still, 5 months later. Sadly the Catamaran Company, our charter company, lost their entire fleet in the hurricane (including "Fin & Tonic", the boat we originally chartered).
After clearing the marina, we sailed across the Drake Channel to Peter Island. Once there we picked up a mooring ball and settled in for a fun filled and relaxing afternoon. We snorkeled, swam, and I took the girls for a dingy tour of the bay.
Before the sun went down Laura found time for some yoga on the bow of the boat.
We cooked a great dinner of coconut rice, black beans and a salad made from local organic greens we got from our friend Aragorn from Good Moon Farm.
All in all it was a great first day in BVI. In spite of the wreckage from the hurricane it is encouraging to see the progress and the determination of the people to recover. And BVI is still as beautiful, serene and peaceful as it was when we started coming here 16 years ago.
Tomorrow we will sail around Tortola to one of our favorite islands, Jost Van Dyke, to White Bay Beach.
Peace Out for now!