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The Baths on Virgin Gorda
We got the last mooring at the Baths. Made a short pit stop at the Baths. The attraction is the formation of huge boulders along the beach. The form caves where you can squeeze through crevices as the sea sloshes around your feet. It’s actually pretty scary and I couldn’t help thinking what would happen if any of these boulders shifted.
— Post From My IPad
From the Bight to the Baths
After a breakfast of bagels, cream cheese and fruit on the boat, we set sail for the Baths at Virgin Gorda still trying to shake the cobwebs from the William T. Thornton. Here’s a view of the bar from a distance.
We’d all developed what Iron Davy called an “ear worm” from Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. Our efforts to get rid of it were thwarted by Captain Jean periodic outbursts of “GOOD TIMES NEVER SEEMED SO GOOOOOD!” His hopes that the rest of us would chant “So good! So good! So good!” were disappointed. Instead he heard grumbling, at best and, at worst, “Will you shut the @#$#@ up!”
The trip from the Bight to the Baths was fast. I’m told that we made it on a beam reach and didn’t have to tack once. Sails up, straight shot to the last available buoy at the Baths. We were heeling pretty good to where the port rails were almost in the water. Again, I’ve got video, but here’s a still shot that gives a sense.
The beam reach thing is nice, but for a lowly seaman like myself, the no tacking is the best part. Sailing involves long stretches of relaxation, interrupted by intense effort and lots of orders being barked when it comes time to turn the boat. Our trip to the Baths was pure relaxation and I fell dead asleep. However, my slumber was broken when the Captain screamed “Furl the jib, furl the jib!” I stumbled around, burned my hands the rope, stubbed my toe on some immovable object and got a leg cramp.
Got a ways to go before I’m a sailor.
— Post From My IPad
The Bight in Norman Island
Not sure what time we got in from Willie T’s, but it was too late. We awakened to another beautiful day. We motored in to a near by beach to explore and watch huge pelicans dive bombing for fish. Here’s a view of the bay from the beach.
I went for a brief snorkeling tour of the edges of the bay called The Bight. Quickly spotted a stunning stingray. I got a very good underwater video, but can’t post it off the IPad, so that will have to wait until after my return.
I did get some good still pictures, though.
— Post From My IPad
BVI – The William T. Thornton
We moored in “The Bight,” a harbor on Norman Island. It’s famous for a bar, that is actually an old fishing boat called the William T. Thornton or Willie T’s for short. It’s a floating restaurant and you can only get there by dinghy.
Before visiting Willie T’s we had a fine dinner of steak on the barbecue with many vegetable sides, thanks to chef and first mate, Iron Davy.
By the time we got to Willie T’s, the place was rocking and there was very little room on the dock to tie up the dinghy, but we found a place. It’s a run down bar that is clearly a playpen for the idle rich. It’s pretty small, so was packed with people. They run a video slide show of activities that occur there, many of which are not suitable for family discussion.
Above the bar, there hangs a water ski with five holes bored into it that hold shot glasses. The tradition is to fill the shot glasses with liquor, insert them into the holes and five people down a shot all at once.
I met a man named John who owns a pizza place in Old Orchard Beach in Maine named Bill’s Pizza Parlor and a bizarre family from Colorado who own a family restaurant. Mother, Father and 24 year old son were partying together. Didn’t seem healthy to me.
The highlight of the evening was when they played Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. The singalong was robust. I mentioned to John, a Red Sox fan, that it felt like Fenway Park during the 7th inning.
— Post From My IPad
Location:Fortsberg Rd,,US Virgin Islands
First Stop Dead Man’s Bay
We set out from Nanny Cay on Tortola for our first stop at Dead Man’s Bay, so named because it sounds cool. It’s on Peter Island and is popular destination for yachtsman, where you can get close, drop anchor and shuttle into the beach. Good snorkling and, like everywhere else in the BVI, there’s a bar.
The crew overlooking the beach.
— Post From My IPad
The Crew of the Livin’ Wright
From left to right: David Durkin (Iron Davy), Bill Black (Boston Blackie), Jim Duys and Captain Jean Gaetjens.
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Briefing on the Livin’ Wright
We had our briefing on the boat. Lasted an hour plus. Shocking how many things can go wrong a boat. The engine, the bilge pump, the electrical system, the head (God forbid) and on and on. We were briefed by Giles, a very young man who sounded like he was from Australia, but actually is a native and was educated in Southampton.
— Post From My IPad
Livin’ Wright – Day One
Awakened by roosters at about 4 am.
It’s a beautiful day in Nanny Cay. We’re still getting aquatinted with the boat. The challenge is organizing your life in a whole different manner. It’s hard to keep track of where things are. And I have to get used to this obsession with protecting resources, water and electricity, mostly. Lots of gadgets to keep going.
Here’s another view of the boat. That’s Captain Gaetjens at the front filling one of our fresh water tanks.
— Post From My IPad
Pictures of the Livin’ Wright
Here’s a view of the Livin’ Wright from the dock. It’s bigger than it looks.
And here’s my bedroom, I mean “quarters.”
