Post

Sunday March 18, 2012

Beautiful day! Sunday morning coffee and Captain Cabbage drops by to share with us. He seems so relaxed and satisfied. The Italians managed to place third without breaking more equipment. Racing means you push your vessel. On a 120 foot yacht like Billy Bud II, it is not uncommon to break rigging that can cost $10,000 or more to replace.

After Captain Cabbage has to leave, we decide to take a dinghy ride in our new Nautica, tender to (T/T Bella Donna). We first head to the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club where are the mega yachts are preparing to leave. There goes Billy Bud II, good bye Captain Cabbage. Next we swing by the Bitter End fuel dock to top off our fuel tank. You never trust a fuel gauge on anything that floats or flies. While fueling we discuss Charles Branson's large catamaran, Necker Bell, that is anchored nearby. Branson owns Necker Island which is just north of Bitter End.

Next we take the channel to Oil Nut Bay (ONB) which is on the other side, east side, of Bitter End. ONB is a gated community (88 lots on 200 acres), marina (88 slips), private white sand beaches and Beach Club. Lots start at 1 million dollars and the most expensive is 10 million dollars.  ONB just finished construction last year and not too many houses have started yet. We stop and ask permission to come ashore and look around. It turns out it is only us and 2 sales people. You can imagine how it went. Although they had a huge party Saturday night for the mega yacht regatta, the bar and restaurant were closed. Too bad, we wanted to try it out. We did bring home a brochure and business cards.

We are at the end of the BVI and Tuesday night we need to collect the rest of our party in Saint Thomas at the other end, a distance of about 40 miles. We are on our way to Marina Kay which is right next to Scrub Island and Beef Island which houses the Tortola airport. The reason for this destination is to catch Eric Stone's, www.boatstongs.com, show at the bar at the top of the Island. Eric has a good crowd for a Sunday night, but as he says the 1 bottle was not as big as the 2 bottles of complementary Pusser's Rum shots he served last Thursday night. On a table next to the stage Eric has placed a bottle of Pusser's, some shot glasses, a large tip/donation jar and various CDs and stuff. 

Arriving back at Bella Donna, we decide to eat tapas in the flybridge. Nice warm breezes, music and conversation - a perfect night.

God Bless Bella Donna