Jost Van Dyke to Norman Island to Trellis Bay

After a great night sleep moored to Sydney's House of Peace and Love in Little Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, we got an early morning start and left docks at 7:30. The girls all sailed on Mary Jewell together for their last day on the water. They made a quick motor over to Sopers Hole to provision at Harbour Market for dinner. After they had provisioned they headed downwind to snorkel the Indians off of Norman Island.

 Provisioning in Sopers Hole. We miss you Delaney

Trimming the jib after tacking

After snorkeling the Indians and making lunch on the mooring ball, we departed for our final destination of the trip, Trellis Bay.

Snorkeling through the swim-through at the Indians

Raising the main sail for the last time as the girls sailed towards their last anchorage

With 15- 20+ knot winds, we made good time sailing up the Drake and the girls entertained Captain Stuart and Lucy with countless songs.

We are now moored in Trellis Bay, with all our bags packed, ready for the 5:00 am dingy ride to the airport. Thank you to the parents, Camp Seafarer, and the girls for making this a great program! If you know anyone who would be interetested in next years program, please have them contact Leigh Longino at (252) 670-7190 or download the 2013 application by clicking on this link. 

Sydney's House of Peace and Love

The girls Mediterranean Moored the boats side by side at Sydney's House of Peace and Love around 6:00 pm. They had the opportunity to get some showers on shore and relax on the dock with the proprietor, Strawberry. Sad to see Delaney go, they wrote a note in the sand for us to email to her while she sat in the Miami airport. We settled in and enjoyed a great meal ashore, our boats tied just feet away. The girls are heading to bed early in preparation for their last day in the BVI. We plan to head around the south side of Tortola and get a full day of upwind sailing in to finish up our fantastic trip.

Sending a Picture to Delaney ...we miss you!

Mediterranean Mooring at Sydney's House Of Peace and Love

 Lizabeth Reflecting on the Trip on the way into Sydney's House of Peace and Love

Putting a Trip Shirt up at Sydney's House of Peace and Love - We put this years shirt right next to the Seafarer BVI 50th anniversary shirt from last year's trip

The girls on the transom of Wind Whisper after Dinner at Sydney's House of Peace and Love

Trellis Bay to Little Harbour Jost Van Dyke

The girls headed to shore to see Delaney off this morning. We enjoyed a cup of coffee on shore and said our goodbyes. We were sad to see her head back for school. We set sail late morning for the southern end of Guana Island to snorkel monkey point and its large schools of bait fish. After lunch on the mooring we set out downwind for Jost Van Dyke and the shelter of little harbour. We practiced our downwind sailing skills and really enjoyed the sail. The girls have learned so much so quickly that it now all comes naturally to them and the sailing has become second nature. The girls docked at Jost Van Dyke in a maneuver called a Mediterranean mooring. The docking is difficult and the girls showed what they have learned and breezed through it. It is great to see the girls applying their newly acquired skills.

Jumping off the boat to explore Monkey Point

Setting the Preventer for Downwind Sailing

Adjusting Sail Trim on the Downwind Sail 

Downwind Jibe just North of Brewers Bay

Spotting Good Points for Dead Reckoning on the North Side of Tortola

Anegada to Trellis Bay Sail

After the service project the girls headed back over to the anchorage in front of Reef Hotel and started washing paint off from they day in the clear waters of the mooring field. Once the girls had finished their ocean showers, they set out from the mooring field and once again navigated the tricky channel out of Anegada. Once underway they strapped into their harnesses and sailed downwind to Beef Island where we are spending the night on mooring resting after a long service project in the sun and a 16 nautical mile ocean sail.

Checking Navigation on the way down from Anegada

Grinding on the Working Jib on the Sail from Anegada

Triangulating our position on the way out of Anegada

Service Project at Methodist Church on Anegada

The girls headed to shore at 8am this morning and headed into the Settlement on Anegada and met up with Romalia Smith, the minister of the church. The girls brought paint up from Tortola that we had picked up prior to their arrival for the project. We helped Romalia paint the new fence that they had just put up at our last visit to Anegada. Romalia told us that she had been praying for help and had been having trouble getting the fence painted. The girls were happy to help her and give back to the community that has been so receiving of them on their visit to the British Virgin Islands. The girls were also able to see how the people of Anegada live in the Settlement, a sharp contrast from their own lives.  After we finished painting, the children we painted with gave a steel drum recital for us in the Church.

The girls carrying the paint down the dock at Anegada Reef Hotel

Painting the fence with the local children from the Church

The girls with Romalia Smith and the children after painting

Steel Drum Concert in the Church

Delaney Reflecting on the Service Project

Kaite and Shaina painting the base of the fence 

Katie  Reflecting on the Service Project during the 16 nautical mile ocean sail