PR or BVIs

[NormanMartin]

Next week, I have a meeting with my old boss and will find out about what's up in the BVI. She runs a sailing school and charter company.
More to follow.
Norm

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by NormanMartin

Skipmac:
Good for you. Altho I grew up on the Cape and sailing here, I did most of my formative years in the Bahamas and Florida waters including the Keys. In time started being a pro in the Caribbean in the '70s and then full time in '04. Dry stints in NYC and Boston.

Where do you sail in Florida? I'd love to get off this sandbar and go back to the warm southern waters.

Trying to sell my boat and then pick out an old person's boat for cruising the ICW.

We have a house in Gainesville. Keep the boat in Green Cove Springs which is the closest deep water to the house. Don't sail that much in Florida, mainly use it as a base to work on the boat and then go places like Bahamas, VI, or New England though I would like to do the Dry Tortugas again.

Daughter moved to Martha's Vineyard and started a family so we're spending as much of the year as we can up here but when it starts getting cold it's time to head south.

[flee27]

From a sailing point of view IMO. PR is OK. Not great, Vieques about the same. Just OK except for the bioluminescence tour in Mosquito Bay. That was absolutely amazing. Loved Culebra, Culebrita and the little islands around them. Although not a lot going on for kids other than boat life and the water.

Hope you have an incredible time on you charter.

Foster

[contrail]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Anegada would be nice but a lot of charter companies place that out of bounds.

Not for quite few years, but ask to be sure.

[contrail]

Tonight, those of us who run charters in the BVI, will be part of a Zoom call with the Tourist Board, to get a better idea of the protocols, etc, to be implemented, and will have a much better perspective with which to advise guests and potential guests.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Originally Posted by contrail

Tonight, those of us who run charters in the BVI, will be part of a Zoom call with the Tourist Board, to get a better idea of the protocols, etc, to be implemented, and will have a much better perspective with which to advise guests and potential guests.

Any info? Any updates???

[contrail]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Luke

Any info? Any updates???

Not really. The call had 135 attendees, all in great anticipation of something solid. Instead, we got mostly a rehash of what the community had come together on and presented to the Tourist Board, except they were now telling us what we had said to them. There was something important, however, and that is that "nothing is final, nothing has been voted upon yet, in Cabinet, the people are being listened to, and the Government will have something more, soon." Going by my best sources, I think that is the case, and that entry by sea will be sorted out. The problem is, will it be sorted out in time for people to either stop cancelling their reservations, or to make new bookings, and that is a very good question. Sadly, the government just doesn't seem to understand. I am told that there had been reservations for 2500 people (!) to arrive in the first week, but they have been cancelling, in droves.



Since that meeting, the Premier has re-iterated that they are working on solutions, and I actually think they now have some private sector people involved with the pull and the understanding to make that happen. Will it be soon enough to be effective? We shall see. It may be that patience is the best strategy, at the moment, but that is a big ask.

[Global nomad]

I brought my two always-on-their-iphones daughters to BVI last January. I was a little worried about keeping them busy as well. Frankly, leaving the chilly northern US and being in the sun, sand, and seas of the BVI was sensation enough for them. They never got bored, and it was probably one of the best family vacation vibes the for of us have experienced in years - mostly because we all got back to basics: sunsets, swimming, dolphins, tarpons circling the boat at night, etc.

Let the kids take responsibility for a few things - even if its just finding ice, tying the dinghy up, whatever. We sailed as a family "team" for the week, dealt with inevitable small problems, and had a great time. I was really proud of them all!


FINALLY:
...We did go to Anegada from VG, and then sailed back to JVD. That was probably a bit too much sailing for my youngest, although she hung in there and is really proud of herself fo being part of that experience!

...We are headed to sail out of Fajardo PR in a few weeks, again as a family. I think we needed the first family BVI experience before we take on PR - much better navaids, 100% english language, mooring balls everywhere, lots of infrastructure for sailors. But I'll report back in mid December once we are back!