The saga continues here in the BVI!

Following our disappointing outing at Foxy’s Full Moon Party, we set our sights on Pirate’s Bight, Norman Island. We had a beautiful sail around the west end of Tortola, through Soper’s Hole, and out into the Sir Francis Drake Channel.

Navigating Drake’s Channel

We arrived at our anchorage in the mid-afternoon and everyone jumped right in the water to cool off.

A sweet spot in Pirate’s Bight

Pirate’s Bight, our bay on Norman Island, is aptly named. Lookouts on nearby Spyglass Hill would spot Spanish treasure ships sailing east from Puerto Rico and signal the pirate fleets waiting in the Bight to give chase. It’s said you can still find Spanish gold when hiking the hills of Norman, and the island was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Now the closest thing to a pirate ship you’ll find in Pirate’s Bight is the William Thorton (Willy T for short), an old, two-masted ship converted into a floating bar and restaurant. The Willy T is known for its patrons’ wild and …er… slightly naked behavior. Don’t worry, our crew all behaved themselves.

The infamous William Thorton

In the late afternoon, Don and Adam were able to get out for their first dive of the trip at nearby Kelly Cove. It was a good warm up for the more serious diving they did the next day with local outfitters Sail Caribbean Divers.

Wednesday morning dawned and Don, Julie, and Adam headed out for scuba diving at a couple of the excellent spots around Norman Island. Highlights included 6 foot purple tube sponges, two spotted eagle rays, and a hawksbill sea turtle that joined our merry band for 10 minutes. Unfortunately, no one had a waterproof camera on them.

From Norman Island we sailed back around Tortola’s west end for the last time and into Cane Garden Bay. Upon reaching the beautiful white sand beach, we met our welcoming committee: not one, not two, but three different beach dogs! After an eventful day it was nice to kick back, relax, have a drink, and enjoy the sunset.

To be a dog on a beach

The sun sets on another perfect day

From here our cat and crew will sail around the north side of Tortola with stops at Guana Island, Marina Cay, the Dogs, Bitter End Yacht Club, and finally the Baths and Spanish Town. Be on the lookout for another update in a couple of days!