26 January 2013 | ST THOMAS – US VIRGIN ISLANDS (USVI) AND JOST VAN DYKE – BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (BVI)
IMAGE – Sue, Patti & Vibeke - christmas 2012 together
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CHRISTMAS PHOTOS
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CHRISTMAS WITH SUE.ABRIE AND CHRISTOPHER – PHOTO LINK
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After a good passage from Martinique we arrived off St John – USVI in the late evening of Saturday 15th December - 5 miles off St John we were visited and boarded by the US Coastguard. They wanted to know our passage details and inspected our paperwork and safety equipment (flares, life jackets waste notices) to ensure that we met the US requirements – we got a clean bill of health with no infringements and cleared to enjoy our stay in the USA. Fortunately we knew exactly where we were heading, and returned safely into Lincster Bay, and took up a mooring ball with the aid of the moonlight at approx midnight.
Sun 16. Back in the USA – our check-in at St John all went well using our Australian passports with our visas obtained in Trinidad, and our cruising permit was still valid until Feb next year. We telephoned Sue from St John and again were welcomed back with – ‘when you get to Honeymoon Bay we will be waiting for you – come up to the house for dinner and bring your laundry’. Great to be back!
Mon 17 – 20th was a busy week with odd jobs around the boat and town getting ready for CHRISTMAS! We were preparing for our Danish visitors and helping get the goodies needed for the Offshore Christmas Party and our 24th Christmas dinner.
Fri 21 – Offshore Marine Christmas Party. Christopher stepped in as Santa for all the little kids and Sue and Abrie hosted an excellent meal – we were privileged to join them and all the staff for a great event.
Sat 22 – Hals Birthday Party – it was great to see how the millionaires live here on St Thomas – and what a party- the food was amazing!
Sun 23 - Abrie had arranged a Christmas helicopter flight over the island for Sue, and James & I were offered to take up the other seats – just fantastic. We bussed over Christopher out sailing, La Aventura in Honeymoon Bay and their house – as well as around St Thomas Island.
Vibeke, Mikkel, Jonathan and Clara arrived as planned and we all had burgers, beers and their 1st rum and cokes at Heidi’s Beach BBQ at Honeymoon before they moved into their cabin accommodation on Water Island for the 1st week of their holiday.
Monday 24 – Danish Christmas Day. Frank flew in to join us and his family for their 3 week Caribbean holiday .I took over Sue’s kitchen from lunchtime and Vibeke and I cooked, chatted and dressed the table as we prepared for our Traditional meal. We cooked a Danish Christmas meal for 14 people – cold smoked herring, prawns with duck eggs and smoked salmon starters, Duck and roast lamb with red cabbage and potatoes and the traditional dessert riz a l'amande. It was a great event of food, drinks, and a little fun - thoroughly enjoyed by all of us . If you can’t be with family for Christmas – it’s great to be with good friends. About midnight I spoke with Mum via Skype – all the Connelly’s had had a wonderful Christmas day also.
Tue 25 – on Christmas morning Santa arrived on La Aventura. We all enjoyed a light breakfast and swim before going to the Cilliers home for a late lunch – and then another Christmas party – at Boel, Clark, Emma and Cody’s home, in a beautiful spot overlooking the surfing beach at Hull Bay.
Wed 26 – we had Sue’s car for a tourist day out and around the island. Christopher guided us out along Peterborg peninsular where we could enjoy a swim in the natural whirlpool.
Thur 27– Frank and Clara had a diving Day, everyone was keen for Clara to get her PADI certification completed whilst she was here on holiday. Bolongo Bay was a lovely sport for us to relax for the day – the barman gave Vibeke some food for thought – Education is overrated!!
Fri 28 – shopping day for the Danes – boat jobs on La Aventura and the evening Mexican train challenge began on La Aventura.
Sat 29 –all the Danish family went off diving for the day – and Clara is now a certified diver.
Sun 30 – Mikkel and Jonathan went off sailing with Christopher, so Vibeke, Frank, Clara and I enjoyed an easy day relaxing on Honeymoon Beach. Unfortunately the boys ran out of wind in the late afternoon and need Abrie and James to tow them into Christmas Cove for the night – sadly therefore our planned evening BBQ became a non-event.
Mon 31st – NEW YEARS EVE – we had a great day-sail over to Jost Van Dyke (BVI) to meet up with Christopher and the boys on his yacht and Sue & Abrie tried alongside us for a great time together. After drinks and dinner onboard we all went ashore and were ready with our champagne to toast the New Year. Great Harbour was a mad scene. The anchorage was full to overflowing – up to 150 yachts plus a few mega yachts and mega power boats – all full to overflowing with people – all out for a good time! Foxys dock was 3 and 4 deep with dingys and all the bars along Main Street were a throng of locals and us blow-ins all in party mood. The air was thick with ganga and various music themes.