Glady's Journal of the Sailing Trip with Wayne and Sue DeWitt

Prior to sailing we spent a week in Charleston, SC and the surrounding area. Then we went on the Amelia Island and spent two days with Wayne and Sue prior to going down to the BVIs. Ameila Island is the last island on the northeast Florida coast before getting to Georgia.

Wayne & Sue DeWitt. At the end of a sailing day.

Friday, April 16 - Amelia Island, FL to Tortola, BVI

Wayne & Sue DeWitt, Larry and I leave their house in Amelia Island, north Florida, and fly via Miami to San Juan and then to Tortola. We spend longer standing in line in immigration than the flight from San Juan. Glad's first impression - flower contrast. Just left beautiful azaleas in South Carolina to bougainvillea here. Took a taxi from the airport (on Beef Island) to the Prospect Reef Hotel in Roadtown. In the car, Wayne was very carsick. He even borrowed a garbage bag from Larry, but fortunately did not have to use it. Later, he revealed that he had not eaten before taking medication. From the hotel, we walked down the road to the Conch Charters Marina to eat at The Pub.

Saturday, April 17 - Betelgeuse

Next AM, pulled our suitcases back down the road to Conch Charters. Wayne and Sue got their chart briefing from Emma at a table in The Pub. Walked to grocery store to get provisions for the first few days of sailing.

We chartered a Beneteau 352 sailboat named Betelgeuse. It is 35 feet long and has two cabins, a galley, and one head. It was a "bareboat" - no crew.

Cast off! Sail to Norman Island. Glady saw a tortoise. We named Larry Blindbeard the Pirate. Skies cloudy. Moored, and had our first Happy Hour with rum drinks. Took the dinghy to go to dinner at Willy T's. I had been worried about getting Larry into and out of the dinghy. He had no problem. At Willy T's bar, we saw MANY very drunk young women in scanty clothing. A man named Ashley, from South Africa, bought us a round of drinks. Ashley is sailing around the world. We did not figure out which was his vessel. When we left our boat, there was not a cloud in the sky. Mid-dinner, there was a DOWNPOUR. We had left the hatches on the boat OPEN. It continued to rain. We got into the dinghy in the pouring rain, and found our bed soaked, since there was a porthole right above the bed. No problem... turned the foam mattresses over and slept on the dry side.

Sunday, April 18 - Norman Island

Motored the short way along the coast of Norman Island to The Caves, some indentations in the cliff and a spot known for good snorkeling. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy and windy and the water choppy, not good for snorkeling.

Set sail toward Tortola. Larry took the helm for the first time as we sailed to Cooper Island. "Captain Blind." He could feel the wind for direction, and hear the sound of the sails if he was a bit off sailing into the wind. Each time we set sail or took the sails down, Larry assisted with the sheets under Wayne's direction. Susie usually took the helm at mooring time, and was great at getting the boat right over the mooring buoy so Wayne could tie us up.

Arrived at the picturesque bay of Soper's Hole this evening. It's a sizable bay surrounded by homes with flowers on the slopes, and a bay filled with sailing vessels. We had lunch at Pusser's. Wayne was still not feeling well, so we stayed the night.

Our boat - Betelgeuse.