Sail BVI Girls Snorkel Caves and Indians and Celebrate a Birthday at Sopers Hole

 The girls left Nanny Cay bound for Norman Island. After a snorkel at the caves, the girls headed over to the Indains. After leaving the Indians we enjoyed a long downwind sunset sail to Soper's Hole where we went onshore to celebrate a Birthday in the BVI!

 

Snorkeling the Caves

 

Snorkeling the Indians

 

Swim Through at the Indians

 Capt. Stuart telling stories to the girls at Pussers

 Celebrating a Birthday in the British Virgin Islands!

Sail BVI Girls Finish US Sailing Course on J24's

This morning the girls finished up the practical portion of their US Sailing Basic Keelboat Course this morning on the J24s. After the class we all went for a celebratory ice cream trip before heading out of Nanny Cay on the big boats, bound for Norman Island and Indians.

Rigging J24

 Ready to head out in Nanny Cay Marina

Finishing up the Practical and heading back to Nanny Cay

 Running Down Wind

Girls Begin US Sailing Course At Nanny Cay

We began the US Sailing Basic Keelboat Course today at Nanny Cay. The course began with an afternoon of classroom under the shelter at Nanny Cay's beach. After the classroom session we rigged the J24's and headed out into the Drake Channel. The girls will spend tonight on docks at Nanny Cay and head back out on the J24's tomorrow before sailing to Norman Island and on to Soper's Hole.

US Sailing Basic Keelboat Classroom Session

Rigging the J24's

Heading out into the Drake Channel

 

Sailing Back into Nanny Cay After a J24 Practical Session

Sail BVI Girls Snorkel the RMS Rhone

The girls dropped moorings early this morning and headed over to Salt Island to take advantage of the calm morning sea state. After breakfast underway they dropped right into the clear blue waters above the RMS Rhone for a snorkel.

 

Snorkeling the Rhone

The wreck of the Rhone is one of the most famous wreck sites in the world. Located off Salt Island, the R.M.S Rhone (Royal Mail Steamship) went down in 1867 in a hurricane. The Rhone lies on a reef in 20-80 feet of water. Awash in schools of friendly fish. The stern has a massive propeller (15' across) that lies in 25' of water. Her propeller is so enormous that it is more likely to be recognized by a snorkeler from the surface than a diver up close at depth due to its huge size.

After a downwind sail to Tortola, the girls were at the helm for there first docking of the trip. After a few attempts and getting the feel for the boats, all three boats docked nicely at Nanny Cay Marina, where we will begin out US Sailing Course. 

Seafarer Sail BVI Trip Snorkels the Dogs, Then Sails to Cooper Island

The group woke up on the moorings in Trellis Bay, just east of Bellamy Cay. After a quick breakfast aboard they dropped the mooring ball and headed into the Sir Francis Drake Channel. The day began with an upwind leg to the Dogs. We practiced tacking upwind and snorkeled the Chimney on the west end of Great Dog. After eating lunch on the mooring we sailed down wind to Cooper Island and practiced jibing. Once arriving at Cooper Island we headed over to Cistern Rock for another snorkel trip. The group cooked a progressive dinner: Isabella made Bruschetta, Best Times made Caribbean Rice and Beans, Sequoia made Brownies for dessert.

 Taking the helm

 Enjoying the clear Caribbean water

Hanging out in the sail bag on a mooring

Keeping watch on the way to Cooper Island

Sail BVI Girls Arrive in the British Virgin Islands

The girls from the Sail II BVI program have arrived in the British Virgin Islands and are safely aboard the boats in Trellis Bay. The girls spent the evening orienting themselves to their homes for the next 10 days, a matching pair of Jenneau Yachts. Captains Jim, Stuart, and Chris have divided the crew amongst the three identical boats and are ready to head out on our first sail in the morning. Our destination is Cooper Island, just across the Sir Francis Drake Channel from Beef Island. 

 

Captain Chris S.V. ISABELLA and her crew.

Captain Stuart S.V.SEQUOIA and her crew

 

Captain Jim S.V. Best Times and her Crew

Lundy Charters Team Gears Up for Seafarer SAIL BVI 2011 Trip

S.A.I.L II-BVIs, is designed to reinforce the traditional values that permeate all of Camp Seafarer's programs. The development of character and leadership skills will be the goal of these activities. We believe that this island/sailing experience will have a lasting impact as new challenges are explored,new skills are learned, more self-confidence is developed, and each crewmember becomes a team player on the voyage.