BVI Yacht Guide September 2010

BVI YACHT CHARTERS

BVI YACHT CHARTERS: www.bviyc.com

“Your service was superb… from my first call to book a charter to our last contact when we headed home from the marina.”A satisfied BVI Yacht Charters guest

T: +1 888 615 4006 or +1 284 494 4289 or E: [email protected]

BVI Yacht Charters is the first port of call for all yacht charters and sales in the BVI. Whether you are looking to charter or to buy, looking for Bareboat or Crewed yachts, a Catamaran or a Monohull, a week or just a few days, our professional team is on hand to make it work, your way.

Tailored and Personal ServiceYacht Brokerage service availableBeneteau Fractional ProgrammesMonohulls from 31’ to 52’Catamarans from 36’ to 47’24 Hour Emergency Call Out

BVI YACHT CHARTERS... THE BOATS. THE SAILING. THE EXPERIENCE...

Whilst we have been monitoring trends in the traditional low season out here, we are starting to notice that several trends seem to be coming along quite nicely to the BVI. In light of recent downturns in the US economy, sadly many St Thomas companies have had to head back to the mainland in search of bigger volumes. David brings us the full report of how some of the USVI tourists, seeking adventurous attractions that are now missing from the USVI, are making their way to the BVI to enjoy the facilities we have to offer. We would like to refer to that as having the best of both worlds. Keep it coming! Other industry insights tell us that they are having a busy summer, too, which means that the season ahead looks even more promising. In other insights, our local boy Alec Anderson did well abroad this season, and his coach Chris Watters has been providing us with some excellent updates of his progress. We hope you enjoy the star fruit recipe from Susie Younkle, and as we continue to enjoy some sunnier weather between torrential downpours, we take some heart that like many of you travelling this summer, that as good as it is to get away, there really is no place like home and that being an island is pretty special all round for everyone. Enjoy the summer winds and explore while you can, with smiles.

See you out on the water.

Owen Waters

letter from the editor

Ow

en Waters

Welcome to the September issue of the BVI Yacht Guide

aLookingGlass Ltd., publisher of BVI Yacht Guide, assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the content placed in its publications. For the avoidance of doubt, aLookingGlass gives no warranty or guarantee in regards to any information placed in its publications.

BVI Yacht Guide and its contents are the intellectual property of aLookingGlass Ltd. Neither this magazine nor any part of it may be reproduced without written permission from aLookingGlass Ltd.

Managing EditorOwen Waters :: [email protected]

Copy ProductionOwen Waters, David Blacklock & Traci O'Dea

Advertising ProductionColin Rathbun, & Nick Cunha

Advertising SalesOwen Waters :: [email protected]

Graphic DesignAkiya Brewley & Nick Cunha

Executive ProducerColin Rathbun, aLookingGlass Publishing [email protected]

For additional information contact Nick Cunha or Colin Rathbun at aLookingGlass or visit www.bviyg.com

aLookingGlass#7 Road Reef Plaza, P.O. Box 3895Sea Cows Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islandst 284.494.7788 f 284.494.8777www.alookingglass.com | [email protected]

THE CREW

On the Cover: Veritas

Cover photo by YachtShotsBVI

4 AUGUST 2010 BVI YACHT GUIDE ALOOKINGGLASS PUBLISHING | www.bviguides.com

BVI Yacht GuIde Is OnlIne!>> Read current and archived content at bviyg.com>> Become a fan on >> Follow us on >> Print out our latest

Provisioning: A Stellar Fruit Salad 6Carambola, better known as star fruit, is in season this month. Chef Susie enlightens us to the difference between the two types of the fruit and offers up some serving suggestions for both.

Skipper's Tips: Radio Active 7How do you test your radio? And what's the proper response to someone who's trying to test their radio? Our skipper tells you what to do.

Reef Check: To Catch a Lionfish 8The BVI Conservation & Fisheries Department has joined forces with the Caribbean Lionfish Response Program in an attempt to eradicate the lionfish from our waters.

Shoreside Review: BVI Inside Art Gallery 10Carol Vanterpool, artist and owner of BVI Inside Art Gallery, hopes to break the stereotypes about Caribbean art by introducing abstract art into the range of styles offered by BVI artists.

Spreading the Net 12Dolphin Discovery scoops up cruise ship tourists from the USVI and brings them over to the BVI for an adventure that benefits their business and BVI tourism in general.

How a BVI Airways Pilot Spends His Day Off 15BVI Airways pilot and CEO Luke Smith takes his family on a daysail to Norman Island aboard Veritas, an impressive, classic yacht.

EDGE: Sailing on the Road 17What happened when sailing coach Chris Watters and BVI sailor Alec Anderson spent 45 days travelling together? You'll be surprised.

BVI Yachting Directory 19Look here for the most up-to-date yacht charter and broker listings. It's a great place to start if you're looking to buy or charter a yacht in the BVI.

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c O n t e n t s

People often think of mangoes as the quintessential fruit of the British Virgin Islands. The massive and easily identifiable trees are prevalent throughout the BVI and few fruits are more delicious than a mango at the peak of ripeness. When it comes to aesthetics, though, mangoes are no match for this month’s in-season fruit: carambola.

Provisioning A Stellar Fruit Salad

The gorgeous but much lesser known carambola, also called star fruit, has a three- to five-inch long elliptical shape with five ribs running lengthwise. When sliced crosswise, the ribs form the tips of a five-pointed star, hence the alternate name of star fruit. A carambola has a waxy appearance and nearly translucent flesh. The entire fruit is edible, although occasional large seeds should be removed. Look for firm fruit with light brown ridges but no brown spots. If the fruit has a greenish tinge, allow it to ripen until fully yellow with a fruity aroma. The fruit’s simple beauty belies a surprisingly complex and hard-to-describe flavour, variously described as a combination of plum, apple, papaya and grape with hints of citrus. I first sampled carambola during my teenage years in the States where star fruit was, and still is, an exotic fruit. That first taste was of a sweet fruit, and thereafter I assumed star fruit was always sweet. Upon moving to the BVI, I rented an apartment on a lush property with a variety of spectacular fruit trees. When September arrived, the carambola trees were filled with enticing offerings. Though they looked and felt ripe when I picked them, the fruits I sampled

were so tar t that they made my mouth pucker. I was disappointed by the lack of sweetness and assumed that the trees were producing inferior fruit. For the rest of the season I ignored the trees and watched as birds ate the fruit. As I’ve since learned, there are two types of carambola: sweet and tar t. Distinguishing between the two can be difficult, although the sweet variety typically has ridges that are thicker and more widely spaced than the tar t variety. Sweet carambola can be eaten straight out-of-hand and used as a garnish for foods and beverages. My preferred use is in fruit salads, where the stunning shape creates a beautiful and festive addition to a mélange of fruits and berries. The tar t carambola are better suited to savoury salads or salsas and pair well with fish or shellfish. What a shame that I didn’t know about the sweet-tar t distinction when I had tar t star fruit trees in my backyard and local fish in my freezer from some good days on the water. Perhaps carambola is truly the “quint”-essential fruit of the BVI! YG

Tropical Fruit SaladServe this colourful salad with a variety of local pastries and strong coffee for an impressive but easy breakfast.

2 small carambola, sliced 1/4” thick2 kiwis, peeled, halved lengthwise, sliced 1/4" thick1 C red grapes1 C papaya, peeled and diced in 1/2” pieces2 C pineapple, peeled and diced in 3/4” pieces2 Tbl lime juice1 1/2 Tbl honey1 Tbl rum (optional)1 banana, sliced1/3 C fresh grated coconut

Combine all ingredients except for bananas and coconut in a bowl and stir gently. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Add bananas immediately before serving then grate coconut on top. Serves four.

by Susie Younkle

Riteway Food Markets provisioning service offers a number of services to help your visit to the British Virgin Islands be a fuss-free, enjoyable experience. Time is of the essence for you and our 20 plus years' experience in provisioning has enabled us to tailor our services to suit the needs of all concerned by providing a wide selection of choice foods, beverages, liquor and dry products. So, whether it is your private getaway schooner, or a Super Mega yacht, each order, no matter how large or small, is given the same amount of detailed attention and delivered directly to you. After all, it's the Riteway way of doing business!

Sponsored by


5050

Skipper's Tipsby David Blacklock

Radio Active

“Any vessel, any vessel, Titanic looking for a radio check. Over.”

“Titanic, hearing you loud and clear from Benures Bay.”

“Any vessel, any vessel, Titanic looking for a radio check. Over.” So goes the plaintive cry echoing over a thousand VHF radios—or the three that happen to be turned on and tuned in to channel 16 at any given moment. Sometimes there might even be a response—“Titanic. Loud and clear.” It's a step in the right direction since you now know that the comms are working. The VHF is a wonderful instrument, but the operator's need-to-know is dependent upon someone answering his or her call. The best response, the most informative, to a call for a radio check is: “Titanic, hearing you loud and clear from Benures Bay.” There is an easier way to get a radio check, one that involves a dinghy, a handheld VHF

and a fellow crew member. If you are in a marina, you don't even need the dinghy, just walk up the dock. When out on the water, though, the trick is to put the crew member in the dinghy, point off in the distance and ask them to monitor their radio. Send them a half-mile away and call them up. If they hear you and respond, Titanic's in business. If they can't hear you, or if they can, but you can't hear them, there's an obvious problem. But there's a solution. Take the handheld VHF from the crew member and repeat the first sentence: “Any vessel, any vessel....” Someone's bound to answer—eventually. If they don't, just turn off your radio—you might be breaking regulations, but you won't be missing much. YG

www.bviguides.com | ALOOKINGGLASS PUBLISHING BVI YACHT GUIDE AUGUST 2010 7

On July 14, 2010 the Conservation & Fisheries Department hosted Joe Gulli and Jonathan Brown from The Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education (CORE) Foundation, home of the Caribbean Lionfish Response Program whose motto is: “One Caribbbean, One Problem, One Solution.”

The Caribbean Lionfish Response Program (CLRP) is designed to curb the impact of the lionfish invasion in Caribbean waters by raising awareness of the fish, distributing lionfish markers to anyone who goes into the sea, and training first responders to retrieve marked fish. The presentation was attended by dive operators and members of government. To address the issue of raising awareness, Conservation & Fisheries officers have taken a real lionfish to schools and businesses “to show and

explain the importance of getting rid of this particular fish,” said Shannon Gore of the Conservation & Fisheries Department. She informed me that the department has made presentations on local radio and television stations.

“Posters have also been given to the local dive shops as well as various businesses,” she told me and added that the CFD is ordering postcard-sized flyers to distribute to the public and local businesses so that everyone can identify the lionfish in the water. Since Yacht Guide’s May article on lionfish, which was

printed just after the first lionfish was caught in BVI waters, six more lionfish have been caught in the territory. Lionfish markers (made from a wine cork, survey tape and a 3/4" washer) play a key role in the capture of lionfish because they allow those that aren’t trained in lionfish retrieval to mark the spot where a lionfish is spotted so that a trained diver may come and collect the fish. Joe Gulli of CORE reported great success with the lionfish markers, but some of the dive operators at the meeting expressed concern

To Catch a Lionfish By Traci O’Dea


about the lionfish markers littering the water. Mr. Gulli responded that the markers are always collected with the lionfish, and another diver recommended that each diver should write their names on the cork so that they are held accountable for their markers in the water. Every diver and snorkeler should carry a lionfish marker with them each time they enter the water. In the BVI, the fish have been spotted in depths as shallow as two feet and as deep as ninety plus feet.

Once spotted and marked, the lionfish can be recovered by one of the trained first responders—a team of BVI divers, mostly from local dive shops. Jonathan Brown from CORE, who has extensive experience capturing lionfish in St Croix, demonstrated methods to the divers on how to catch the

generally slow-moving fish. Since every situation is different, he advised that divers should have a small cache of nets and tools at their disposal. Once the diver reaches the marked spot, he or she should cautiously approach to assess the location of the lionfish then retreat and devise a plan for capture. Attempting to seize the fish without a plan could result in it hiding or escaping. The CFD has purchased kits for the first responders that include two clear vinyl collecting

nets, puncture-resistant gloves, a large dry bag, lionfish markers and heat packs which work to break down the proteins in the venom in the case that a diver contacts a lionfish's venomous spine.

For more information, contact the Department of Conservation and Fisheries at 284.494.3429 or visit the CORE Foundation’s website: www.nolionfish.com. YG

Every diver and snorkeler should carry a lionfish marker with them each time they enter the water.

Jonathan Brown from CORE demonstrates how to catch a lionfish. Photos by Traci O'Dea.


Shoreside Review: BVI Inside Art Gallery

A massive tableau filled with strokes and splashes of yellow, blue and green with dashes and dots of scarlet greeted me when I entered the front room. This is the type of artwork I’m more accustomed to seeing in boutique galleries in Brooklyn or Lille, not the BVI. “There’s a conception of ar t in the BVI that it must be concrete,” ar tist and gallery owner Carol Vanterpool said. She mentions the paintings of palm trees, beaches and sunsets that you see in many Caribbean art galleries. “If we continue to give [visitors] the ar t that they like when they come to the Caribbean, I truly believe they’ll never respect that we have good artists,” she said. “I’m not criticizing ar tists who were here before me,” Ms. Vanterpool added, “I applaud their style. I can’t paint the way they do. I don’t have the patience to do it.” Still, I understood what she meant—many similar paintings in the region results in all ar t from the Caribbean being lumped together without recognition for individual ar tists. One way to distinguish the BVI ar tists from those in other Caribbean nations is by having “a diversity of ar t,” Ms. Vanterpool said, then added that her goal is to educate BVI residents about abstract ar t, mainly because that’s the ar t she paints. “You have to bring a new perspective to the young people and the older people because there’s a lot of people here that were born here, grew up here, who don’t understand abstract ar t.” And she’s willing to take her time to educate people about abstract ar t in her gallery, including students from the local schools who have visited to see a different kind of ar t than what they’re accustomed to. Ms. Vanterpool has been creating masterpieces since childhood. “We’d paint the calabash and the things that came off the coconut tree,” she told me. Later, she went

to volunteer at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. “Everybody can’t go to Washington from here,” she said. “I can bring a little bit of what I learned on that side to this side. That’s why I have a gallery. Somebody has to give somebody that exposure.” In addition to exposing BVI residents and visitors to abstract ar t, Ms. Vanterpool also embraces the concept that everything is ar t by turning practical items from her past into contemporary sculpture. She showed me a killie wang—a pyramid of stacked, alternating sticks held together with wire—and explained its original use. “We used to make these traps to catch birds, the mountain dove—the bird that’s the official bird of the BVI right now—we used to catch them when we were kids because we used to eat them,” Ms. Vanterpool said. “So now I’ve turned them into ar t, and I know people from the BVI all the way to Germany who collect them.” She mentioned being criticized for displaying the brightly painted killie wangs. “The first time I put them up as ar t, one of the local people asked me, ‘What you wanna bring that back for?’ I said, ‘So you wouldn’t forget who you are or where you come from.’ You gotta preserve your history. A lot of people don’t

want to look back on yesterday, but how’re you going to get to tomorrow if you

don’t remember what happened yesterday?” Looking to tomorrow, Ms. Vanterpool hopes to secure funding for a project in which she’ll commission local ar tists to paint portraits of all the athletes participating in the 2012 Olympics in London. “I want to do a fundraiser here [at the gallery] for them,” she said and added, “We gotta cheer on our athletes.” The project would simultaneously promote BVI ar tists and BVI athletes, and Ms. Vanterpool would like to take the show to the BVI House in London after displaying the work in Road Town.

"I can bring a little bit of what I learned on that side to this side. That's why I have a gallery."

“A country without art is a country that has no history.”—Carol Vanterpool

by Traci O'Dea

Vibrantly coloured and detailed with gingerbread-style ornamentation, the outside of the BVI Inside Art Gallery is one of the most photo-worthy, traditional-looking buildings on Main Street. But inside, the ar twork is far from traditional.


Inside BVI Inside Art Gallery on Main Street.

BVI Inside Art Gallery on Main Street.All photos courtesy of BVI Inside Art Gallery


I had to rush off after my interview with Carol Vanterpool, but for the next two days as I wrote the article, I’d felt that I’d missed the whole point of being in her gallery; I didn’t spend time with the work. I returned a few days later to fully experience the abstract art that she has assembled. First, I approached the piece that had attracted me on my initial trip. The colours completely aligned with my tastes and seemed plucked from my closet—matte black, dusty brown, creamy ivory and mossy green with a few dashes of red and yellow. The piece also seemed to move—especially two strokes of ivory that flashed a hook across a dull brown background. My brain connected the hook to a column of ivory next to it and turned the grouping into an abstract jug at first, but then I clearly saw the ivory as smoke, the flecks of red and yellow below it were sparks and flames, the black beside it was the

night sky, the green below it was grass and the brown beyond it was the space illuminated by the fire. It was an abstract painting of a bonfire. I instantly cursed my brain at making the associations it had made. My intention hadn’t been to discern what I was looking at; I’ve never seen abstract ar t as a puzzle that must be solved. Rather, I prefer abstractions that encourage introspection, and while the piece still attracted me, I became disappointed that I’d determined what the ar tist had painted. I even tried

to “un-see” the bonfire, but I couldn’t convince my brain that it could be anything else. It was a somber, erratic, empirical interpretation of a bonfire, but

it was still a bonfire. I had to move on to another piece. Next to the first painting were hung three parallel oblong canvases, a triptych. Each panel had autonomy and traits the others did not share, but the three were still clearly related with elements connecting them—like siblings. So I instantly thought of my two sisters and me. And smiled. That, to me, is one of the most amazing things that ar t can do—elicit love. I could easily identify which sister fit with each panel and why, and I

became comforted at having visions of my sisters in the room with me. This is what abstract ar t does when it’s at its most

effective—it unlocks emotions inside each viewer that the ar tist never could’ve imagined when she painted the piece. It is infinite. YG

An Abstract Experience

It was a somber, erratic, empirical interpretation of a bonfire, but it was still a bonfire.

Hours vary during the off-season, but starting in October, the gallery will be open from 10am to 5pm, Monday through Friday and alternating Saturdays and Sundays. Hours also depend on the cruise ship schedule. For more information, call 284.544.0213.

Explosive by Carol Vanterpool.

Bond by Carol Vanterpool.

On a recent weekday afternoon, the ferry BVI Patriot, inbound from Tortola, eased its way into the Charlotte Amalie ferry terminal. Crowding around the bow, a group of about thirty tourists clutched their Dolphin Discovery souvenirs and chatted excitedly about the events of their day.

Spreading the Net: Defying the Downturn, One BVI Business Chases Customers

By David Blacklock


Striking a pose. All photos courtesy of Dolphin Discovery.

The group proceeded through customs and immigration and waited on the dock to re-board the ferry along with a couple dozen BVI-bound passengers. The ferry left the terminal and, rather than proceeding straight out to open water it headed across to the Havensight cruise ship terminal where the group disembarked and proceeded to board their ship as the ferry continued on towards the BVI. One man stayed aboard to return to Tortola—Carlos Guerrero, the manager of the BVI branch of Dolphin Discovery. Faced with reduced tourist flows through the summer, Guerrero and his company decided to act aggressively and pursue business from

across the international divide. Through the summer months, the trickle of BVI-based customers for the landmark dolphin-swimming experience is augmented by the flow of passengers from the cruise ships that, whilst they don't stop in Tortola, now provide a good part of Dolphin Discovery's business.

“These guests help keep our revenue flowing,” says Guerrero. The dolphin business has its own special needs—you can't lay off

the dolphins, after all. Consequently, you need the trainers and the cleaners and the entire infrastructure to stay in place. “We hope to make our profit,” Guerrero says, “in the winter when the cruise ships return to Tortola. Then we'll still bring the guests from St Thomas as well as servicing our BVI customers.”

The demise of two of the USVI's prime attractions—the submarine Atlantis and the match racing experience of On deck Sailing—left an opening in the entertainment schedule for cruise ship passengers. Dolphin Discovery reached out to

ferry owner Bobby Hodge who helped put in place a service that picks up passengers from the dockside in St Thomas, clears them

Faced with the reduced tourist flows through the summer, Guerrero and his company decided to act aggressively...


Cruise ship passengers choose to spend their Virgin Islands time with the dolphins.

through US Customs and Immigration, transports them to the BVI and clears them through to the BVI. Once cleared in, they join buses that take them to Dolphin Discovery's facility. Later in the day, the

process is reversed, and the guests end up back on the cruise ship dock in Charlotte Amalie. It's clearly a lot of work and effort on the part of all parties, but it's paying dividends—now that some cruise lines, such as Disney, no longer stop in the BVI, their guests are still able to enjoy the attractions the country has to offer. Creatively dealing with the challenges of the moment is the essence of business acumen. Whilst not every business can

deliver their own customers in the way that Dolphin Discovery has, many are capable of using aggressive means to boost revenue and attract new customers. The BVI has always been a destination for

USVI-based companies such as power boat rental company Nauti Nymph. The restaurants and bars that benefit from the flow of

customers from the US side, such as the beach establishments in White Bay, JVD, or at Norman Island have been mostly passive beneficiaries of this flow. Dolphin Discovery has clearly rewritten the playbook for getting new customers and, in an economic downturn that shows little sign of abating, such creativity will become an essential tool for any business that wants to survive. YG


Creatively dealing with the challenges of the moment is the essence of business acumen.

The Dolphin Discovery representatives head to the ship to pick up USVI passengers.

Dolphin Discovery offers USVI visitors a trip to the BVI that they might’ve otherwise passed up.

The dolphins are far from camera shy.


How a BVI Airways Pilot Spends His Day Off: Sailing Veritas to Norman Island

By Owen Waters

I can tell you each time I interact with BVI Airways, I’m impressed. I flew from Beef Island to St Maarten in order to catch a connecting flight to France and was only in air for a short 25 minutes (23 as Captain and CEO of BVI Airways Luke Smith told me).

Having extra time to get a croissant and a coffee in St Maarten before my connection was a plus, and it made the start of my European experience, which was a lot of traveling from there on in, pretty painless. Luke knows the importance of that extra time, that down time, those precious, relaxing minutes or hours. And he knows how to make the most of them. His last down time was spent sailing to

Norman Island with his family aboard Veritas—a 57’ classic yacht based out of Nanny Cay skippered by Todd Patterson. SV Veritas was built by the famed Abeking & Rasmussen yard in Germany in 1962 but now makes it home in the BVI. Whilst Luke with wife Adrienne and daughter Olivia spoke of their day out snorkeling and sailing with Todd as one of their most relaxing days yet, the elegantly styled Veritas also enters classic yacht

Veritas in its standing glory in the BVI. All photos courtesy of YachtShotsBVI.com.


Tortola to St. Maarten fares as low as $99

284 494 2347/8 and 284 340 2347 [email protected] Place, Admin Drive, Road Town, Tortola BVI. VG1110

284 495 5580 and 284 340 5580 Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, BVI VG1150

Summer Special

Booking Agent

racing and does day charters for corporate events as well as private charters in the Caribbean—travelling fur ther afield. When I look at it, I feel it's built for adventures on the high seas. Boasting a spacious teak deck, Sitka spruce spars and a mahogany coach house, Veritas is style from a day gone by and offers

the classic yacht experience to those who can only savour it. Below decks, oversized portholes and pale wood accentuate the

bright and airy living quarters and separate dining area. The interior layout and decor is a testimony to the luxury of a bygone but fondly remembered era, complete with lamps, brass compass and sextant. As we sip coffee at Nanny Cay, Todd told me that he is no stranger to modern

technology and makes sure that Veritas, though classic in appearance, has every technological asset on board to facilitate

longer journeys on the ocean, including air conditioning to which he smiled and asked,

“Hey, why not have it all?”

This attitude seemed to correspond with Luke and family’s experience. “You know I landed a flight from St Maarten,” he said,

“we went sailing for a day and had the best experience ever and would have been able to fly back if I was scheduled, but wanting to enjoy the experience to the max, we made a full day and night of it. It’s one of the experiences we encourage visitors to the BVI to have.” With a flight time of 23 minutes, I’m not going to argue with that. And now I’m thinking that I could be in St Maarten tonight and back to the office for work in the morning…with croissants for everyone of course. YG

Veritas is style from a day gone by and offers the classic yacht experience to those who can only savour it.

Salute to Norman Island, a day sail from Veritas berthed at Nanny Cay


EDGE Sailing on the Road

BVI sailor Alec Anderson, coming off a successful college sailing year, would pick and choose his events just right, to time 45 consecutive days sailing on the road. Timing of events often foresees how the summer will run, while events are staggered to allow a dinghy racer to use smaller events early on in the summer to prepare and peak at the big ones. Kicking off with Laser Gulf Coast Champs and then Laser Radial North Americans, both in Texas, and throw in a quick stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia for training, and you have Alec’s first half of the 45 days. These act as preparation events for the Laser Radial Worlds in Largs, Scotland, two ISAF Grade 3 match racing events in Chicago, and this year, marking the last year before the Olympics, sailors from the Central Americans and Caribbean got a chance to race against each other in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Using the first two events as preparation for the big ones, Alec showed he was ready by placing first in both. Being crowned the Laser Radial Gulf Coast champion, then seven days later the Laser Radial North American champion would leave Alec confident and fast going into the second half of his

summer. With a quick stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia, home of some of the fastest Laser sailors in the world, Alec got three days of top-notch training just to make sure everything was up to speed. Arriving at the Worlds, Alec teamed up with three sailors from the USA and in arrived in not only the oldest camper van there, but by far the coolest (see photo).Worlds proved to be tricky not only for the competitors but also for the race management with only six of the planned twelve races being able to be sailed over the six days. Alec started the event with

a “Black Flag” which scores as a last plus one point for being over the starting line early. This didn’t keep him from boasting some top results and capping it off with a first in race six to leave him tenth overall at the Laser Radial Worlds.

Twenty five days down, twenty to go. Off to Chicago to link up with BVI sailors Colin Rathbun and Chris Brockbank. Alec and I capped off the remaining two sailors needed for the Tom 28’s, to compete in two International Sailing Federation Grade 3 match

race events. With Colin at the helm, Alec on mainsheet and tactics, yours truly trimming and Brockbank on the pointy end, we finished with an even record of

wins to losses, and had a near second, overall slip to a fifth, in the very last race. Great action and by far the best-run event of the summer. So that brought us to day 31. By now the novelty of sailing on the road had worn off. I no longer

Summertime for dinghy racers is the peak in the sailing-year calendar. It brings out the big events—the worlds, continental championships and given the right year, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, Pan Am Games and the Olympics.

by Chris Watters

Dinghy racers start their day in Largs, Scotland at the Laser Radial Worlds. All photos by Chris Watters.

That didn't keep him from boasting some top results and capping it off with a first in race six to leave him tenth overall at the Laser Radial Worlds.

Chris and Alec enjoy some down time on their trip (top).The VW camper van the boys called home (above).


had any clean clothes, so Alec and I found ourselves washing clothes in the sink and hanging them out to dry. I have perfected, and I mean perfected Tiger Woods ‘08 for Nintendo DS which infuriates Alec who

spends more time in the sand than David Hasselhoff. But we do have it in us for one last event, the CAC games. Did I mention they

give medals? Gold, Silver and Bronze. Amongst us in our villas are 6’6 female beach volleyball players from Mexico, archers who actually have arrow holders with arrows on their backs, judo players waking us up with "hi-yahs,"

and the handball players using our picnic tables and villa steps to run training exercises which often end in

loud Spanish cheers. What they were saying, no idea, but we got excited to race, and being surrounded by athletes, all at the peak

of their fitness and strength, got us excited. Again tricky conditions left the race officers with only seven races out of the schedueled twelve over the five days. This marking Alec’s first big Laser full-rig regatta, a very respectable sixth overall out of the 25 sailors leaves him with a taste for next year’s Pan Am games, and a desire to hang more gold around his neck then Ludacris. That was day 45. Then one brief night back in the BVI for the Jolly Roger's closing party and Festival Village, and I was shipped back to Halifax. Until regatta season, BVI. YG

284.540.1117 www.oceans7online.comGreat Harbour, Peter Island

Restaurant, sports bar and water park

Upcoming RacesPete Sheals Match Racing 2 - 3 OctWilly-T Virgins Cup Race 9 OctBVI Schools Regatta 30 - 31 OctDrakes Channel Treasure Hunt 6 NovRound Tortola Race 20 NovO'Neal & Mundy Commodores Cup & Prizes 18 Dec

And if that's not enough, check out the forum on www.

IC24.org for more weekly beercan racing action right off

the southern end of Nanny Cay. IC24s are the new fad in

racing and spreading fast to the rest of the Caribbean and

North America.

That didn't keep him from boasting some top results and capping it off with a first in race six to leave him tenth overall at the Laser Radial Worlds.

Results:Laser Radial Gulf Coast Champs: 1st out of 67 racers

Laser North Americans: 1st out of 94 racers

Chicago Match Racing record: 11-13

Laser Radial Mens Worlds: 10th out of 98 racers

Laser Central America and Caribbean Games: 6th out of 25 racers

Stats:Total flights between myself and Alec: 23

Total countries visited: 5

Nights in a camper van: 12

Days on the water : 34 out of 45

Number of first place finishes in a race: 16 (including the match racing)

Hours spent playing Tiger Woods Golf: 123

Alec hauls his craft.

RTRoad Town

NCNanny Cay

TBTrellis Bay

EEEast End

SHSoper's Hole

SBSea Cows Bay

WEWest End

VGVirgin Gorda

DIVING & ANGLING

Dive Tortola (RT) 284-494-9200

MARINAS & YACHT CLUBS

Nanny Cay Marina & Hotel (NC) 284-494-2512

Royal BVI Yacht Club (RT) 284-494-3286

Manuel Reef (SCB) 284-495-2066

REPAIRS & SUPPLIES

Doyle Sailmakers BVI (RT) 284-494-2569

Marine Depot (BVI) Inc (RT) 284-494-0098

Quantum Sails (BVI) Ltd. (NC) 284-494-1124

RESTAURANTS & PUBS

Pisces Restaurant (SH) 284-543-6724

Jolly Roger (WE) 284-495-4559

bvicrewedyachts.com (RT) 284-494-6017 Representing the finest selection of luxury crewed charter yachts in the BVI.

bviyactcharters.com (RT) 284-494-4289 est. 1974 | Fleet size: 45 Sells Boats: Yes Charters Boats: Yes Brand(s): Beneteau, Lagoon, Leopard, Fountaine Pajot, Seawind Year Make: 2000 - 2009 Type(s): Sailboat Monohulls and Catamarans Website: www.bviyachtcharters.com

Charterport (RT) 284-494-7955

charteryachtsales.com (RT) 284-494-4868 est. 1986 | Fleet size: 46 Sells Boats: Yes Charters Boats: Yes Brand(s): Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Leopard, Norseman, Island Spirit, Athena, Hunter Year Make: 1996-2004 Type(s): Sailboat Cats and Monohulls

Double D Charters (VG) 284-499-2479

Footloose (RT) 284-494-0528

Racing in Paradise (NC) 284-494-6781

Sail Bravura (RT) 284-443-2586

Southern Trades (RT) 284-494-8003

Sunsail (EE) 888-416-8420

The Moorings (RT) 888-416-8420

TMM (RR) 800-633-0155

Tortola Yacht Sales (RT) 284-494-2124

BVIYa c h t i n gD i re c t o r y


YACHT CHARTERS & BROKERS

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Documents

BVI Yacht Guide September 2010