Sixteenth blog from on board Perie Banou II - en route Panama

by Jon Sanders on 26 Apr 2017 Editor's note: Jon and Perie Banou II are on their way to Panama, and it looks like they will arrive on Monday morning. Sounds like he's loved the BVI's, and has such a long history of going there over the years. As usual, his inimitable style shines through...

Still here, parked day or two, Cane Garden Bay BVI. Wonderful Bay, nice beach restaurants and bars. On the main Island Tortola. ‘Road Town’, the capital of British Virgin Islands is on the other side of the Island. To get from Cane Garden to Road Town (by taxi) is over hills. Big hills. With much vegetation.

Steep winding road, ears pop as one nears the top. More than 1000 ft. (Near 1337 ft). Divide that by 3.3 & you have meters, if you must. View fabulous. Not just of the bay or Road Town, but of islands and islands in a blue sea. BVIs and the overlapping US Virgin Islands. Terrific.

From Puerto Rico (US) in the west, US VIs, & BVIs in the east are the 'Leeward Islands'. Like any other day, monitored by The United States Coast Guard, Puerto Rico. (On emergency channel VHF 16.) Give warnings and alerts. Viz. Securitay, Securitay Securitay (important warning). Ship in narrow channel, wind warning etc. Pan Pan Pan (individual or persons in danger). Probably overboard. And. Mayday Mayday Mayday (boat or ship in immediate danger) sinking, stranded, fire etc.

During Easter there was a self-charted yacht on a reef in the BVIs. Crew needed rescuing. Another in the BVIs was an upturned dinghy with outboard (from a charter Co.) where are the former occupants? In the US VIs an outboard power boat took a wave, dangerously full of water, 4 elderly people needed lifting. A cruise Liner had a 35 year old overboard.
Eventually the Liner found the body and recovered it. (Your guess).

All monitored and managed by the USCG. Great work USCG Puerto Rico. Many 1000s of miles away, similar done by Australian Maritime Safety Authority. (AMSA). 1000s miles of coast and 1000s square miles of ocean.

As with all other Sea Rescue.

And the French. Don't forget the French.

The French have massive maritime economic zones. Specially South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Forget the Globe Vendee. I see more French long range cruising the oceans than any other nationality.

Lots in suitable aluminium built boats. Many family. Mum, Dad and wee kids. Not with normal big national flags. Just a small tricolour at the back. And Mum, and Dad, and the youngsters.

I said goodbye to the 60 ft carbon fibre catamaran Gizmo, with Paul and Shiralee and motor boated my Perie Banou 2 around the west end of the island to Nanny Cay Marina on the other side of Tortola.

I like Nanny Cay Marina best. As the management would say 'is the best'.

Off and on I have been putting into that Marina (a long long way from my Western Australian home) over 27 years. It improves more and more. Marina and resort complex with services. Lift out. Hard standing. Big boat storage. Sail makers. Small supermarket. Electrical ( got B&G sign on the front). Good chandlery. Increasing the size of Marina and more. Cafe at one end. Breakfast and lunch. At other end, Peg Legs restaurant with good views. Open sided. Business people have lunch. The BVIs establishment dinner.

But yea for me, is the beach bar below. Not expensive. Food. A round island bar and within a few hundred feet a nice white sandy beach on the ocean to swim in, and separate, near-to, the Marina/resort swimming pool. Happy hour the beer is $2 a stubby. Whilst the Americans drink 'Pain Killers' (out of large martini glasses). Must be good for you! they put salt in it.
Miles Sutherland-Pilch is the General Manager for the whole complex. ' Natures perfect gentleman'. He is.

Enough, I must untie and sail for the Panama Canal.

Got a long way to go. Bye bye nice British Virgin Islands.

Regards to all. See you next week.

Jon