British Virgin Islands - Beautiful landfall

After island hopping since we crossed the Atlantic we now had a 90 mile passage which would involve an overnight crossing to ensure we arrived in daylight.  We left from Oyster Pond and sailed to the west coast of St Martin for a lunch stop, as we started the engine to anchor it cut out, so our first challenge was to anchor under sail, thankfully Grand Case is a big bay and we did so successfully.  Thankfully Mark then managed to resolve the problem with the engine, so we were ready to leave that afternoon.

Grand Case Bay

Started off with Force 3-5 bit gusty but sea state good so were having a nice sail, as the sun went down we had our chickpea curry and prepared for the long night ahead.  

Saying goodbye to the sun and getting ready for a long night

Unfortunately the sea grew along with the wind and we both started to feel a bit dodgy, funny after only a week in the marina and our tummy was not used to being at sea.  We then avoided near disaster when a large Cat decided to tack straight in front of us, in the pitch dark as we ploughed along at 6 knots, Mark took avoiding action as Amanda who had been resting jumped up and turned all the lights on, some boats are such a danger to others!  Not long after we were hit by a number of squalls the rain so heavy the visibility is completely destroyed and then once these had passed the wind died and it was engine on – so much for a relaxing little sail! The wind did return and we continued to sail but neither of us rested much and we were both shattered on arrival at Virgin Gorda, but the landfall is amazing with lots of little islands dotted around in the distance – the landscape is different here with granite boulders scattered along the shoreline.  Arriving into BVIs - it is a little grey and windy.

We anchored, checked in at Spanish town and then we were off again.

The masts in the marina at Spanish town, plus the rolling waves that help your arrival at the marina!

7 miles along the coast is Gorda Sound where you can head in between the reef and again shelter.  We could see Necker island on the horizon, yep this is the place of the rich and famous, the island belongs to Richard Branson.

Sneaking in behind the breaking reef

Necker Island

Anchored and finally able to relax again.