BVI's Rash

[Ducati]

Just back from a BVI's bareboat charter.

Perfect weather, great sailing and plenty of cheap rum.

Question?

We all used sunscreen, none of us got sunburned however we are all now dealing with itchy bumps on our arms and legs. When we swam at the Caves on Norman Island we all were complaining of something biting our legs and arms. And no, its not a STD (joke).

I am suspecting heat rash (it was hot) and I did hear someone say something about possible sea lice. Anyhow, we are all safe at home quite itchy and taking antihistamine to reduce the effects.

This is our second trip to BVI's and the same issue happened the last time we were there.

Any hints?

 

[Terry in Naples]

no see ums...tiny little biters that are all over in the tropics. We have them here in SW Florida. You do not see them or notice the bites until the next day. The feel like you are being lightly pin pricked as they bite you. Found along beaches, rocks and coastlines early morning and evenings mostly. Repellent will keep them off but their bites look like measles after a day or two.

 

[Winkfish]

Also, there may have been microscopic critters in the water itself. Used to happen to us a lot in the Caribbean on scuba trips. They would leave tiny, tiny bumps. almost like a rash. (No-seeums were more the size of small bites.) Antihistamines and cortizone cream would help us.

 

[kczach]

sunscreen

I'm sure it's probably critters of some sort. What strength of sunscreen were you using? I've seen people get a'bumpy' dermatitis using the 70+ stuff and do fine with something in the 35-55 range.

 

[Ross]

Re: sunscreen

The sun is higher in the sky in June in Maryland than it is now in BVI. Therefore the sunscreen that you use in Maryland is adequate now in BVI. jellyfish can get busted up in the surf and their tenticles will still sting. We encountered it in the Phillipines it would feel like a hot wire had touched the skin and then there would be a little red welt.

 

[Chuckbear]

Ducati, These are indeed from sea lice, we have encountered this problem all over the Caribbean. It will go away and no harm done. Chuck

 

[bruce1309]

This is a great thread as we're leaving for Tortola next friday for bareboat thru Provalor Charters. Willl take along cortisone cream and bug repellant. Thanks all.

 

[RichH]

Could also be a less commonly encountered bacteria, especially in very WARM water.

Along the east USA coast a rarely encountered bacterium can cause this when the water is very warm and the 'bottom is purging' (aka: 'Marine TB') ... some such species can be lethal but are fortunately are very rare. I got it this year in the Upper Chesapeake --- looked like I had almost total body poison-ivy and it took 3+ weeks to subside. A friend of mine got the 'more serious' form in the lower Ches. and was hospitalized.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ducati

Glad to hear you had a good time. Where did you go on your trip? Was the input you received helpful?

 

[Ducati]

My BVI Charter Comments + Suggestions

Glad to hear you had a good time. Where did you go on your trip? Was the input you received helpful?

Thanks for all of your feedback as it was a big help. I have a few comments about our trip for anyone thinking of going there.

The Sunsail boat (Beneteau 393) was a bit tired and both heads caused headaches. Not a big enough genoa, probably a 130 and it sailed like a pig. We motored alot. What the hell, we got a really good deal so I shouldn't complain too much.

We took a couple who had never sailed anywhere. It was more fun for me watching them take in the beauty as it was for them experiencing the BVI's for the first time.

The winds were great and we had really big sea swells which were fun to ride.

Anegada navigation was a snap. Stick to the charts, GPS and keep crew on the bow spotting the green/red. Cow Wreck Beach is the most beautiful place in the BVI's. Lots of wild cows all over the place and I wish we spent more time there.

Willy-T's was outrageous! Stories on the road stay there. Sorry no photos.

Never provision for more than 2 days because the fridge/ice cannot keep up and meat spoils quickly. Funny smells from the fridge are not a good thing. (Martha)

Avoid departures from St Thomas. Short of a full body search/cavity check (not your teeth) the process time takes forever. Homeland security has a burr up their butt and you never want to mess with them at the best of times.

Don't get talked in by Sunsail to rent the cell phone. $45 was a waste of money in my opinion.

Low season provisions from the various companies can be questionable. You may get old food. eg:Rasin Bran with a herd of bugs that scared the crap out of my wife. Check the best before dates carefully. Boxes that look beaten up should be avoided because it may be recycled food from previous charters.

Get a boat with air conditioning. We didn't and the cabins are freeking saunas. I never had one good nights sleep.

Going back next year!

 

[PKFK]

Thanks for all of your feedback as it was a big help. I have a few comments about our trip for anyone thinking of going there.

The Sunsail boat (Beneteau 393) was a bit tired and both heads caused headaches. Not a big enough genoa, probably a 130 and it sailed like a pig. We motored alot. What the hell, we got a really good deal so I shouldn't complain too much.

Hey Ducati - I can relate to lousy Sunsail maintenance from Tortola. We chartered twice from them, and I would strongly recommend going with the "club" or "exclusive" newer boats.

The first time, we paid for the newer boat, and it was a beautiful Gib-Sea 51. New boat, genset, air conditioning, and everything worked.

The second time, we went with the "regular" fleet (not an el-cheepo charter by any means - this was not footloose - it was $un$sail ) and got a very tired, beat-up 5-6 year old Beneteau 50 - that had a partially working fridge, non-working autopilot, non-working speed-log, and a gear shifter that on a couple occasions would not go into Forward. Oh yeah - the deck shower was only plumbed into the HOT water supply - nice scalding shower off the back.

We lost 1/2 a day twice for repairs to the shifter, and after talking to one of the repair guys, determined that the shifter problems were a "known" issue. Not impressed.

So my $0.02 would be to either find a company that does good maintenance, or make sure you are booking a new boat.

Regards,

Paul

 

[Ducati]

Hey Ducati - I can relate to lousy Sunsail maintenance from Tortola. We chartered twice from them, and I would strongly recommend going with the "club" or "exclusive" newer boats.

Yup I would agree with you. Next time we get a newer boat or we may switch to The Moorings as I understand they are possibly a better company to charter with.

Our boat was not equipped with a traveller. The topping lift was not properly rigged and I had to swap out one of the reef lines from the block at the mast and re-feed the topping back through and back to the rope clutch. Otherwise the boom was ridding on the bimini. The speed was not working, no bid deal as my hand held GPS gave me that data. We got exactly what we paid for, a 40' (393) for $2600.00 "all in" including cancellation insurance, park fees etc.

I could complain, write Sunsail a letter but it would probably fall on deaf ears.

Regards,

 

[SamLust]

It is SAND FLEAS. Common in Florida and we discovered, the Caribbean. My wife is allergic to them and blows up. Not a pretty sight. Less fun to be around. She ended up popping Prednazone to fight the inflamation.

 

[JVB]

Sand flea is a term applied to several different critters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_flea

 

[SamLust]

OK. They all suck.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Our boat was not equipped with a traveller. The topping lift was not properly rigged and I had to swap out one of the reef lines from the block at the mast and re-feed the topping back through and back to the rope clutch. Otherwise the boom was ridding on the bimini. The speed was not working, no bid deal as my hand held GPS gave me that data. We got exactly what we paid for...

"The once was a time"... When this was the norm. All the fancy stuff we've gotten used to on our own boats was something we either had to bring with us (HH GPS for example), or we'd go without. It was exciting enough to simply sail a 32 foot sailboat (Roger's Endeavor 32, not HIS boat, mind you) all on our own while all we had was a C22 on San Francisco Bay at home in 1986. We'd had a few years anchoring under our belts, so that wasn't much of an issue, and mooring balls weren't even a pipe dream then. We wrapped the topping lift around the spreader off Cruz Bay, holed up in Leinster Bay for two days to wait out Xmas Winds when even the ferries weren't running! Great trip, got all around (not to Anedgada - they wouldn't let you go there back then) and had a ball.

Then there was the trip with the engine that wouldn't start, day after day...

Yogi was right: "no one goes there anybody 'cuz it's too crowded."

Ahh, finally I'm getting around to writing those "back in the olden days" stories I thought I'd never ever do. It's like hearing yourself say to your kids exactly what your mother used to say to you, and you swore...

Glad you had a good time, Ducati.

 

[yellowdog]

If you are tired of bad maintenance on so-so boats check out Island Yachts based out of Red Hook, St. Thomas. Their fleet is comprised entirely of Island Packets that are very well maintained. The pricing is comparable, you provision at better stores with much better selections, airfares are cheaper, first class boats,customs was no problem and if you just want be quiet and snorkel, St. John's is the best.
My wife and I spent ten days there this past May and had a terrific time on a new Estero. Check them out.

http://www.iyc.vi/

 

[Deadhead]

I friend of mine kept his Morgan Out Island 41 in Nanny Cay on Tortola for about 10 years. Every year he would go down around the time of the Super Bowl. And EVERY year he would come back with what he thought was poison ivy. He would scratch for at least a week afterwards.

I went with him the year the Steelers beat the Seahawks. I gotta say it was way cool watching the Super Bowl at a bar in Soper's Hole on the West End of Tortola. At any rate, we flew back on Wednesday and by Friday he had his annual poison ivy rash. I did not get the rash despite having been in all the same places. Go figure.

 

[Hermit Scott]

The sea lice I saw weren't lice sized at all. They were as big as shrimp and were sold as a substitute for them. However they are an abomination. If you ever see them you may agree.

 

[NotCook]

Still sounds like sun poisoning to me...