2012 Down Island with Gregory's

03-26-12 It didn't take long after the Rolex Regatta was finished to talk about going down island into the BVI's. kevin loves to cruise so Monday was quick provision day.peggy and I headed to Save-a-lot where we loaded up on tuna steaks and Heineken's. On the way back I stopped at Mango Tango to see Jane the Curator...great art gallery...bought two small Haitian oils of the animals from the jungle the way they visualize them...way to cool and great art to boot.
Odyssey left the dock at 13:30 with a an additional guest on board...a fellow friend from the yacht club, Peter Orshan from Long Island. Peter later told me he was in the gift and furnature business.Heading toward Trunk Bay, St John to anchor for the the evening and have Creighton and Janice Murch join us for dinner. We had a great Tuna dinner grilled by chef Kevin and said good by to the Murch's with a dingy ride into the beach.
Tuesday came early, flat calm so Peggy and Kevin and Peter went snorkeling off a small island nearby and we proceeded to Great Bay on Jost to check into customs.
Peter had not been on the island for twenty years so he enjoyed our walk on the road and a revist to Foxy's to look around. On the way out we run into Cyndy Oak and family, small world.
Off we go up the outside of Tortola past Sandy Cay to Giana Island and some great snorkeling off Treasure Point where there are two moorings. Beautiful corala nd skools of blue and yellow fish by the cave. Ending at Scrub harbor for the night and a trip into the new hotel for one cold one...it was a great sailing and snorkeling adventure.
Wednesday we headed over to the first island south of the baths called Fallen jerusalem where we snorkeled and explored the big bolders before taking a big downwind ride down the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Wing and wing past Roadtown and Nanny we finally turned and anchored off Caneel Bay for a trip into St John Cruz Bay to check into customs before returning Odyssey to her mooring at the St Thomas Yacht Club.I guess you would call that a three day whirlwind trip around the the BVI's.
Lots of fun and great times with Peggy, Kevin and Peter.
To top off the night we were invited to Peter's parents house on the north side of St John for dinner. Great house....Peterss dad is 91 and had been a major importer working with Department Stores back when. He knew all the managers and senior Bloomingdale people from when I worked there. He finally told me that he and a Japaneese partner created the Makassa line and were selling it to over 400 stores doing $400 million when it was sold. Now that is success. Facinating story and a wonderful night.
The trip ended too soon! Off to Erie the next day and a good bye one more year to the Caribbean. Captain JIm