BVI Wanderings 2015 -- Week 2

July 10, 2015 • 1 Comment

Week two of our BVI Adventure continues with an exploration of remote Anegada Island (the "drowned Island") the 2nd largest of the BVI islands at 15 square miles. This low lying flat limestone and coral island is know for some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, offering miles of beautiful, uninterrupted white sand shoreline surrounded by Horseshoe Reef, one of the world’s largest reefs and responsible for over 300 shipwrecks, it is not surprising that snorkeling and diving are some of the top activities in Anegada, followed closely by dining on fresh Caribbean lobster, conch and seafood. Much of the island is a nature reserve, home to flamingos, donkeys, goats, cattle, and Anegada’s unique and rare rock iguana. Bird watchers will also enjoy viewing flamingos, terns, ospreys and herons. Bone fishing enthusiasts will appreciate Anegada’s fishing grounds while sports fishing charters are available for wahoo, tuna, kingfish and swordfish.

Anegada dingy dock

Day 8; Anegada Island

This morning we headed to shore to pick up a rental car to explore the island. For $60 we got an old junkie Jeep Liberty (with a/c!) for 24 hours. We headed east towards the Settlement on pretty much the only paved road on Anegada. We stopped a few times to go off road to the salt ponds to track down the local Flamingo flock. We only got to see them from a great distance. Next we stopped at the Anegada Rock Iguana conservation center and snuck thru the fence as no one was around. The Anegada Rock Iguana is an endangered animal and the center is breeding them for reintroduction, unlike Key West where we take BB guns to the invasive and destructive Green Iguanas. With an island population of only 250 you don’t see many people when you drive thru the Settlement. Next stop was the north side of the island and an afternoon at “Flash of Beauty” on Loblolly Beach. Nice bar restaurant and beach with a cool coral reef with grottos and reef canyons only about 10 meters off the beach. Excellent snorkeling spot and a relaxing beach with only a handful of people.

Headed to shore to pick up the car

Critically endangered Anegada Rock Iguana

As you wander about Anegada you will see many wild donkeys, goats and cattle.

Flash of Beauty Beach Bar on Loblolly Bay

Anegada hair style

Linda snorkeling the reef with a Butterfly Fish

Blue Tang

Smooth Trunkfish

Snorkeling video of reef near Flash of Beauty on the remote north shore of Anegada CLICK TO WATCH

On the way back to the boat we stopped at Big Bamboo and Cow Wreck beaches for some more beach time and cocktails. We dropped off the car before returning to the boat early evening. Dinner tonight will be Anegada lobster at “Potters by the Sea” an Anegada icon lobster restaurant run by “Capital S -- SAM the Man” . Excellent dinner followed by a wild fun Disco dancing and limbo pole evening. Sam sure knows how to throw a party.

Big Bamboo Beach

Cow Wreck Beach Bar flip flop tree

Potters by the Sea beach bar / restaurant

Should I try a Parrot Fish or maybe a Lion Fish for dinner? nah, Got to go with the lobster

Preparing tonight's Lobsters

Anegada, it's all about the Lobster

Wow! a 7.5 pound Caribbean Lobster

Capital "S" Sam the Man, the personality behind Potters by the Sea

Yummy!

Sam the Man rocks the house all night long

Key West's Conch Republic flag prominently displayed

Day 9-11: Anegada Island & Cooper Island

We left Anegada early for a long bouncy cruise south west (190’) for a couple of nights at Cooper Island one of our favorites. Our first night we spent in the south west corner of the bay and spun back and forth all night. We also had some yahoo boater anchor way too near us (not supposed to anchor in a mooring field) causing us to keep an eye on him. In the morning we moved to the north east corner of the bay and it was much more protected. Today we grabbed some beach chairs and lounged ashore all day. Excellent lunch and dinner at the newly renovated Cooper Island Beach Club. They even added a Rum Bar and ice cream shop.

Picking our spot at Cooper Island

Headed to shore at Cooper Island

Cooper Island beach Club

Our boat Rhona in the background

Cooper Island dingy dock

Shopping time

Cooper Island

Our boat Rhona in the background

Day 11-12 (6/20): Trellis Bay, Beef Island

Today our 3 guests; Erin & Greg Spivak and sister Tina arrive at Beef Island airport. So we cut loose early on Saturday to head across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Trellis Bay on Beef Island. By the time we tied off and got in the dingy our three amigos had dragged their luggage the 100 yards from the airport and were waiting on the dock all ready to be picked up.

Our new crew awaits us at Trellis Bay, Beef Island

Somebody doesn't have their sea legs yet

Change in Plans:

It’s been pretty windy all trip with steady 14-18 knot winds from the east and southeast making certain anchorages and crossing a bit uncomfortable. The forecast is for the winds to continue and to pick up later in the week as a “Tropical Wave” hits the BVIs from Africa. Our plan was to head up to the North Sound of Virgin Gorda to position ourselves for another Anegada crossing the next day. We we called in to Virgin Traders for a weather report they said we needed to head to Anegada asap or forget about it as the winds are picking up in a few days. So off we went to Anegada again for the next 2 nights. It was actually a pretty smooth ride. Upon arrival we had a lazy day exploring the shoreline, having a floattilla then dinner at a new place called “Wonky Dog” (excellent food with more expansive menu). Day 2 had us again renting a car for a ride out to the beaches. First stop “Flash of Beauty” for some snorkeling although it was a bit rough. The restaurant was closed and our car battery died stranding us there for an hour. The rental folks traded us an old pickup and off we went to Big Bamboo beach for lunch and the Cow Wreck beach for a late afternoon lounging, swimming and of course cocktailing. The group headed to Potters for the Greg's BDay dinner and late night festivities.

Greg taking the helm on the way back to Anegada

Anegada, notice the lobster pens in the foreground

Floating with a Carib beer

Lunch time at Anegada Reef Hotel

An appropriate place to spend Fathers' Day

Back in the water for some snorkeling

Diver Greg

Stingray foraging for food

Wrass & a Conch

Celebrating our 15 year wedding anniversary at Flash of Beauty beach

Our vehicle

Sea Grapes

Erin & Greg at Big Bamboo beach bar

Cow Wreck beach

Chilling at Cow Wreck Bar

Greg's Birthday lobster at Potters by the Sea

Linda in the middle of after dinner entertainment

Day 13: Anegada Island to North Sound Virgin Gorda

After a leisurely morning we set sail straight south for a rocky ride to the North Sound of Virgin Gorda. One of our guests fed the fish while we made the crossing. About ½ way across the seas and winds picked up substantially as the skies got darker and darker. We were now in an 8 knots per hour race against the arrival of a big squall headed our way. We didn’t make it, a mile or so off Virgin Gorda we got hit hard. The boat rocking pretty dramatically as the cold rain poured down making visibility tough. We zigged and zagged and finally made it into the North Sound and headed straight for Leverick Bay to get a mooring. The rest of the day was overcast with periodic showers so it was a game day inside the boat. The weather cleared for a nice dinner on shore at Jumbies.

Entrance to the North Sound of Virgin Gorda during good weather, Richard Branson's new resort on Mosquito Island

Game day aboard Rhona

Tina taking us to shore at Leverick Bay Marina for supplies

Leverick Bay Resort & Marina

Dinner at Jumbies Beach Bar, Leverick Bay

Our route for Week #2

Tomorrow we head east for a long cruise to Jost van Dyke

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Comments

Erin Spivak(non-registered)

Such a fabulous trip!! Thanks for keeping the memories alive!!

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