Abtnoski Adventure in the BVI: Day 5

The Bight, Norman Island to the Indians to Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island

Our first morning on the boat set the pattern for the rest of the trip. Ed and Bob were up by 6am, and we left the mooring to motor over to the Indians and Pelican Island. These are reputed to be wonderful snorkeling, but the moorings were completely filled when we came by on Thursday. We were the second boat there, and we had the morning refrigerator hour done by 7am.



Coffee, bacon and eggs for breakfast, then into snorkeling gear. Lydia stayed behind, helping us meet the National Parks Trust requirements to always have someone on board. Abby and Allison chickened out, but Bob, Ed, Kevin and I snorkeled through some wonderful areas, including millions of minnows, and coral gardens and walls. After we got back I took the two girls back using a float because I thought it was worth it dragging them along.

Back in the boat, after showers and dry clothes, we then we headed off to Manchioneel Bay, Coopers Island, which was dead downwind. It was only 10am. The trades were blowing strongly from the east, right where we were headed, so we tacked through 15-20 knots and 4-6 foot seas. Lydia and Kevin both got seasick, and while I gave them meds, it was a little late. After that, Lydia took charge of the meds and we didn’t have any trouble for the rest of the trip.

By the time we got to the Cooper Island Beach Club, it was past lunch. As always, the anchorage was hotter than the open water so we didn’t want to cook. Unforutnately, again as always, shore was miserably hot, but the food was quite good. We made plans to come back there for one of our scheduled dinners out.

Abby and Allison wanted to snorkel at the reef to the east of the mooring field, so Ed took them over. We saw the blue mooring balls indicating a dinghy mooring line, so off they went. Again, a barracuda scared the girls right out of the water.

Bob took me, Lydia and the girls over early to shop in the little store where Abby actually found crocs in her size and favorite color and a necklace she wanted. I think both Lydia and Allison bought gifts as well. We headed to the bar and our dark’n stormy’s, joined by the boys in time to make our reservation.

The mooring fields were not packed, but neither were they empty, yet the resorts felt almost deserted. We stuck to making reservations for the rest of the trip, but it didn’t feel like we needed to. It was hard to imagine just how these places will feel during the season—would there be lines at the bar? Reservations needed? Boats anchored beyond the mooring field? Hopefully it wouldn’t be so hot.

Ed has found a cooler spot in the cockpit, but again it was a miserable, rolly, hot night for the rest of us. Kevin retreated to the cockpit as well when he couldn’t sleep.

Things I like about our 505 so far include the twin wheels, the normal sized berths, the narrow hallway outside our head (a great place to change clothes while underway), that it’s fairly dry in a seaway, that the genoa winches not in the seating area. Things I don’t like are the lack of a bimini over the helm, the peculiar dodger, the stinky heads. I love my composting toilet! Mostly, it is a lot like our boat only newer, while at the same time crudier and more worn out (it’s a charter boat, after all).