On Sunday after clearing customs in Virgin Gorda, we sailed to Peter Island in the afternoon just to spend the evening at anchor and get close to Coral Bay in St John where we were to meet with our friend Susan and her new husband Jerry. Susan and Jerry were spending their honeymoon sailing in the islands and the captain of their boat had suggested we meet at a restaurant called Skinny Legs for lunch. The seas were fairly large by Sunday and we knew that the tropical storm, now named Olga, was beating Puerto Rico and was getting close to us. We spent the night in Peter Island in a mooring ball rocking most of the night from the high winds (high 20s-Low 30s). Monday morning we shot across the line that divides the US from the British Island and reached Coral Bay in 1 hour.

Coral Bay was packed with sailing boats, many of them were "live aboard" vessels and others that appeared just abandoned. Therefore, anchoring room was only available on the outside of the bay. We intended to sail around St. John and anchor in a more secluded area later that afternoon. However, in the afternoon, Susan and Jerry's captain, Charles, got word that the storm was going to blow winds as high as 50 knots - nearly hurricane levels. He recommended that we go around Coral Bay into a hurricane hole where there were only 3 moorings maintained by the National Parks Service. In the 14 years that he had been in this area, this was the 2nd time that a storm of this caliber had developed in the non-hurricane season time. We immediately started our engine and headed toward the "hole". Our hope was that the moorings were still available as many boats were scurrying to find shelter. Fortunately, only one other boat was rushing for this hole and so we anchored on our own little island as the moorings were fairly apart from each other.

Our stay at hurricane hole would be unforgettable. The "hole" is surrounded by St John's National Park and in front of it was a little cay which blocked all wind from coming it. The water was flat as the winds will every so often come rushing down from the peaks around the hole and would create sort of a "push down" effect. The mangroves around the land are used by boats to anchor when true hurricanes have hit this area. Charles said that he hid his boat in this hole when hurricane Lenny stroke the island with winds of over 100 miles/hour and his boat was safe. Being here made us realized the importance of having hour-to-hour information about the weather when it turns bad and also having someone tell us where to go!

The next day we sailed around St John with high winds and waves 10-12 feet high. As we left the "hole" we were heading into the waves and wind and it was very rocky. Fortunately, most of the trip was downwind with the waves behind us so the ride was not as bad. We past Cruz Bay and anchored in nearby Caneel Bay, a beautiful bay with moorings owned by the National Park Service.