Park the cabbie on the left hand side
2005-03-14

Everything in the BVI's happens at a slower pace so it was no surprise that we spent 3/4 of an hour waiting to be transfered from the airport to resort where we were going to pick up the boat. There is an exception to this rule, cab drivers.
The cab drivers in the BVI's are all crazy. Maybe it is driving on the wrong side of the road that makes them that way, maybe it is the only way they can blow off steam, but man they all drive like the cops are chasing them. I can't tell you the number of times I honestly though we were going to crash, but we never did so life goes on I guess...
The resort was in Maya Cove and it was pretty nice. They obviously were right on the water, and had their own hotel, grocery and gift shops. The pool was first rate and the bar (except for the slowest service in the islands) was more than adaquate.
There must have been hundereds of boats at this base and we wondered which was ours. It turned out to be the one right in the front and was called Almarso. None of us could ever remember the name and most of the week it was called Omorossa from the obnoxious chick from the Aprentice.
The boat itself was in great shape and each couple had their own stateroom. There were two heads and all the bells and whistles, even an autopilot. We ate out that night and planned our adventure for the next day. i slept fitfully thinking abot what was to come.
In the morning, we awoke to the sound of roosters. By the end of the week, I would learn to hate them. We had breakfast, showered and then checked out all our supplies. We made note of the few things missing (Beer? where is the beer?) went to
While on the dock we heard that a charter party had just ben hit by a powerboat and sank. There damage deposit as well as the rest of the vacation was sunk also. Not a good omen. I was the only experienced sailor in the six of us. Dispite the heat I shivered a bit. sighed and got ready to cast off.
The channel getting out was really narrow, with reefs on both sides and driving this catamarin was like driving your house. 40 feet long, 24 feet wide, it drove like a bus. I really breathed a sigh of relief when we hit open water.
We put the sails up and bore off for Virgin Gorda. One of the folks brought me a glass of grapes. The water was as blue as the sky and we turned off on a reach, I said to no one in particular, I'm home. And I was.

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