BVI questions and answers
My wife and I have done the BVI charter about 7 times. We'll be going again in a couple of weeks. CELL PHONES: The rental phones in the BVI will cost $2 per minute for out of area calls. I don't remember if the cost is the same for local calls, but it might be. I took my Cingular phone down there, after registering for BVI roaming before leaving ($5 per month). Cellular calls were still $2 per minute (would have been $3 otherwise!). It will be better next year, as the government has finally agreed to allow competition in the market. If your cellular plan includes nonlocal calls when at home, it will also allow them with no extra charge if you can pick up the towers in the USVI. You will probably be able to do that in Cane Garden Bay, Soper's Hole, perhaps Jost Van Dyke. TRAIL: A nice trail leads to the top of a high hill/ridge on Norman Island, with a great view. PROVISIONING: We've tried various ways. Letting Sunsail do it is the easiest, but will cost more. Doing it yourself, if you will have time, is now more possible since the Sunsail base moved to Wickam's Cay at Road Town. Or, there are online companies from whom you can order in advance, such as at amplehamper.com. Expect them to make a few substitutions if what you asked for isn't available. FAVORITE RESTAURANTS: Try Eclipse at Penn's Landing in Fat Hog's Bay. A bit more expensive, but the food is more interesting and better quality. Also nearby is Fat Hog Bob's, which is famous for ribs and such, but has a good overall menu and a wonderful nighttime seaside view. If you are lucky you will be able to watch the moon rise over the southern islands of the Drake Channel. In Cane Garden Bay, Myett's is dependable and a bit above the average for the BVI. Foxy's Taboo is better than Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke. At Anegada, try Neptune's Cove for freshly caught fish instead of lobster. GENERAL ADVICE: I will underscore what has already been said about getting to your daily destination no later than about 3 p.m. The mooring balls get taken up quickly, and some of the anchorages have little room or poor quality seabed for anchoring. Besides, you want your wife to enjoy a night's sleep instead of having to get up and check things every time the wind comes up. Weather in March should be very good, but that doesn't mean you won't encounter a short squall or two. Try out your reefing gear before you need to use it. Get your sunscreen on early, as it doesn't take long at all to start a sunburning. Finally, the local people in the BVI often find Americans rude, because we often just start out a conversation by asking for what we want. In the BVI, the way to do things is to say hello, how are you today, comment upon the weather, etc., and THEN start your transaction. This will make a big difference in how you are received. Have fun!
