Sail BVI Girls Sail to Bitter End Yacht Club

The girls woke up on moorings in Soper's Hole and took inventory of the provisioning aboard each of their own vessels. After taking inventory they headed into shore to provision their own vessels with guidance from our captains and counselors. After provisioning we set sail up the Sir Francis Drake Channel toward the Bitter End Yacht Club. The breeze was heavy and the girls practiced sailing with reefed sails. When we arrived at the Bitter End we picked up a mooring and headed in to the yacht club for a hike.

 View from atop Bitter End Yacht Club Hike

 Hiking up the hill

 The Girls on the Way Up

On the Beach at Bitter End Yacht Club

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. 

Seagull Sail On Heads to Norfolk

Yesterday morning we made our way across the Albemarle sound and up the Pasquotank River to Elizabeth City where we spent a quiet evening before our motor up the Dismal Swamp Canal where we have tied up below the Deep Creek Locks for the evening. Tomorrow we hope to spend a little time in Norfolk before heading south to Manteo for the Fourth of July. We hope to post pictures as soon as cell phone service allows!

Seagull Sail On Trip Arrives in Belhaven, NC

The Camp Seagull Sail On trips enjoyed a sail through the Pamilico Sound and up the Pungo River into Belhaven, N.C. There the crew will take on fuel and water for a long motor through the Pungo River-Alligator River Canal. Once through the canal the boys will head up the Alligator River and stop for the night outside the Albemarle Sound.

Seagull Sail On Trip Departs Camp Seagull

The Camp Seagull Sail On Program Arrived at camp on  Sunday and pulled off of docks early on Tuesday Morning, bound for Belhaven, NC and on to the Alligator River. The boys used Monday to familiarize themselves with Jeanie B and go over important navigation and safety drills.

          The Boys going over final plans for pulling off docks with Captain Alex Sell

Sail On Program meets up with Sail Program

        Siriuslee and Stella et Vella under full sail

Siriuslee and Stella et Vella under full sail

The boys from the SAIL program passed by Jeanie B while we were crossing the Neuse River and we were able to snap these pictures.

Seafarer Sail On Departs South River and Anchors off Camp Seafarer

The girls enjoyed an easy morning and a pancake breakfast in South River. Having only a few miles to sail up river, the girls decided to spend the day sailing in the waters off Camp Seafarer. We met up with the SAIL program on their 37 ft boats and sailed together for a bit in the middle of the Neuse River. After sending our regards to the SAIL program, the girls brought the boat into Camp Seafarer and anchored just off the pier. Tonight is our last night aboard and the girls are enjoying their final night aboard by fixing a steak taco dinner and swimming.

Sailing Across the Neuse

Seafarer Sail On Departs Oriental and spend the night on anchor in South River

After our required break the girls decided to head across the river and anchor in South River. We headed out the channel in Oriental, NC and made it into South River as the sun was going down. 

Taking down our sails at sunset.

Seafarer Sail On Program Arrives in Oriental

The girls struck their sails and motored into the harbor in Oriental, NC this morning around sunrise. Thanks to the webcam at Town Dock.net we were able to see that the spot on the town docks was clear. This was essential because of how tight the Oriental Harbor can be to turn around. If you catch the webcam in the next few hours you will be able to see the Jeanie B. sitting proudly at the town dock. Our plan for the evening is to pull off of docks after our mandatory 12 hours off after 12 hours of sailing (USCG regulation) and anchor across the river in South River. The girls are excited to spend a night out on anchor away from civilization.

                                                        Sunrise on the Pamlico Sound

Pulling into Oriental at Sunrise

Seafarer Program Prepares for Night Sail Across the Pamlico and Pulls off Docks in Ocracoke

The girls decided to take on the challenge of night sailing across the Pamlico Sound back to Oriental, NC. Before they could  They planned to exit the Ocracoke channel as the sunset. We went through a few drills to prepare for the trip and pulled out of the channel at sunset.

Abandon Ship Drill Conducted on Docks in Ocracoke

Tied into the Jack Lines and watching the sunset as we cross the Pamlico

Seafarer Sail On Program Goes Clamming for Supper

The girls decided to take a sunset cruise and invite some of the local guide from the surf show that had been showing them how to kayak and surf. They wanted to also offer their guests a meal. After some brief discussion it was decided that they would go clamming and make clam chowder. We grabbed a hold of one of the Captains from the Ocracoke Working Watermens Association and he ran the girls over to Portsmouth Island for a few hours. The girls clammed for dinner and made a delicious chowder for the sail. They also managed to navigate back into the difficult channel after dark with ease.

 Clamming on Portsmouth Island

The Days Catch

Seafarer Sail On Program Learns to Surf in Ocracoke

After an exciting Kayak around silver lake the girls decided the next day to go back out with Ride the Wind Surf Shop, but this time to learn to surf. The girls woke up early and headed out to the ocean with the surfing instructors and learned to surf.

                                                 The Girls Learning to stand up on the beach

                                                         The Girls Ready to Hit the Surf

                                                                  Catching the first wave!

Seafarer Sail On Program Kayaks around Silver Lake

The first activity the girls decided on was kayaking around Silver Lake. We would like to thank Ride the Wind Surf Shop for taking us kayaking.

                                                Getting Ready to Kayak around Silver Lake

                                                Kayaking around the Harbor on Ocracoke

Seafarer Sail On Program Arrives in Ocracoke

After sailing all day down the outer banks, the girls pulled into the channel and then onto docks. The girls docked at the Ocracoke Community Store with a plan to stay for a few days. The girls lined up surfing lessons, a clamming trip, and a kayak trip for their time on the island.

Pulling onto docks at the Ocracoke Community Store

Emma at the helm navigating  the mooring field

Seafarer Sail On Program Sails past Cape Hatteras on our way to Ocracoke

At 2pm, the girls calculated that they were 12 nautical miles away from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. We are sailing on a beam reach across the Pamlico Sound and making good time. They expect to arrive in Ocracoke around 5pm. The girls have taken part of the sail to tend to a few maintenance issues onboard. We have been cleaning and oiling the teak around the deck.

                                             Raising the Sails as we pull out of Ocracoke

                                                 Cleaning and Oiling the teak during the sail

Seafarer Sail On Program Departs Manteo at 5am bound for Ocracoke

After looking over the chart and the cruising guide, the girls decided to depart for Ocracoke early this morning. They woke up around 4:30am this morning and completed their boat duties and began pulling off docks around 5:30am. We exited the Manteo channel as the sun was rising over the outer banks. Jeanie B is currently southbound and passing the Oregon Inlet, bound for Ocracoke.

                                      Pulling off docks as the sun rose over the Outer Banks

                                                       The Manteo Waterfront at Sunrise

Seafarer Sail On Program Visits the NC Aquarium at Roanoke Island

After Jockeys Ridge and swimming in the ocean, the girls decided to head over to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The aquarium is the largest aquarium in the state  — a 285,000-gallon ocean tank complete with sharks, sea turtles and hundreds of fish. Throughout the aquarium are exhibit tanks filled with fishes of North Carolina coastal habitats, including sharks and rays. They saw eels, sea turtles and more than 200 fishes in a shipwreck habitat displaying a 1/3-scale replica of the USS Monitor. They even enjoyed the hands on area of the aquarium in which they were able to pet sting rays.

                              The girls were able to touch sting rays at the NC Aquarium

                                           The Girls in the Mouth of a Great White Shark