Sailing in Sir Francis Drake Channel & Ashore at Jost Van Dyke
After sailing all night, we had arrived at the British Virgin Islands. Sea Cloud II entered Sir Francis Drake Channel between Ginger and Cooper Islands. The waters calmed immediately as we gained protection from the open sea. Crew went aloft to set sail, and what a perfect day for sailing! There were other, much smaller sailing vessels in the channel, and several of them came close by to have a close look at our square-rigged bark, by far the prettiest ship in view.
As we sat comfortably on the Lido Deck, Lennox Honychurch spoke about the history of the Virgin Islands. We sailed past Tortola, and the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John to our west. Sea Cloud II turned around the west end of Tortola at Soper’s Hole, and left Drake Channel. We went around Great Thatch Island and headed towards White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke.
We spent the afternoon at two adjoining white sand beaches on Jost Van Dyke. A couple of people went for a hike across a steep headland, but most of us stayed by the water. We snorkeled in the shallows among millions of tiny, silvery fish. It was beautiful to watch the school magically part whenever a larger fish (or a snorkeler) swam through. Several large, silver tarpon swam within inches of us, and through the vast clouds of small fish. We found a cleaning station, and watched small, yellow wrasses groom large parrotfish. Moments after one parrotfish swam off, another parrotfish would approach and signal its desire to be cleaned.
At the adjoining beach, there were more treasures to be found underwater - a hawksbill sea turtle, a stingray and schools of blue tangs. Many in our group relaxed on the beach, while others sampled locally famous refreshments from the beach bars, such as The Soggy Dollar. As I swam ashore from a reef off the beach, she made an unusual find: sitting on the white sand, ten feet underwater . . . a dollar bill. Yes, a soggy dollar just 100 yards from the Soggy Dollar. Hard to believe, but true!
After sailing all night, we had arrived at the British Virgin Islands. Sea Cloud II entered Sir Francis Drake Channel between Ginger and Cooper Islands. The waters calmed immediately as we gained protection from the open sea. Crew went aloft to set sail, and what a perfect day for sailing! There were other, much smaller sailing vessels in the channel, and several of them came close by to have a close look at our square-rigged bark, by far the prettiest ship in view.
As we sat comfortably on the Lido Deck, Lennox Honychurch spoke about the history of the Virgin Islands. We sailed past Tortola, and the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John to our west. Sea Cloud II turned around the west end of Tortola at Soper’s Hole, and left Drake Channel. We went around Great Thatch Island and headed towards White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke.
We spent the afternoon at two adjoining white sand beaches on Jost Van Dyke. A couple of people went for a hike across a steep headland, but most of us stayed by the water. We snorkeled in the shallows among millions of tiny, silvery fish. It was beautiful to watch the school magically part whenever a larger fish (or a snorkeler) swam through. Several large, silver tarpon swam within inches of us, and through the vast clouds of small fish. We found a cleaning station, and watched small, yellow wrasses groom large parrotfish. Moments after one parrotfish swam off, another parrotfish would approach and signal its desire to be cleaned.
At the adjoining beach, there were more treasures to be found underwater - a hawksbill sea turtle, a stingray and schools of blue tangs. Many in our group relaxed on the beach, while others sampled locally famous refreshments from the beach bars, such as The Soggy Dollar. As I swam ashore from a reef off the beach, she made an unusual find: sitting on the white sand, ten feet underwater . . . a dollar bill. Yes, a soggy dollar just 100 yards from the Soggy Dollar. Hard to believe, but true!
