THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

                       

It was fabulous to welcome the Ewart Smith family onboard a little hot and bothered from their trip down from New York via St. Thomas. We scooped them up in Sopers Hole in Tortola and left immediately for a more aesthetic anchorage.

It was a shame that on their first night we came upon the most unpleasant American man that I have ever met! He was not happy with where we had anchored, got very hot under the collar, reported us to the authorities who duly came out to see us, threatened to sue them in his capacity as a hot shot lawyer when they failed to agree with his complaint and called us all sorts of unpleasant names as we left the next morning! I just felt very sorry for whoever was onboard with him and hope we do not meet another character like him again! Jackass indeed!

Who needs a doughnut!

Polly hanging out!

We spent five fabulous days in the BVI’s visiting Peter Island, Cooper Island, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.  A trip to The Baths, an outcrop of large boulders and pools, proved quite physically challenging. Keen to get away from all the tourists Tom took us on an interesting detour, which certainly challenged my climbing skills!! I hadn’t really thought the trip through properly; keen to look half way decent next to the skinny ginger in her fab new bikini I wore my much-treasured new Melissa Obdash swimsuit. I then had to spend the entire climbing expedition with my bottom at least a centimeter of the rocks to prevent snagging! Mission accomplished and much stronger quads as a result but not very glamorous at all, think soft-shelled boiled crab!

Sashimi experts

Amongst all this there were many completions and games, as one might expect of the EW Smith family! Diving, Long Jump, I was definitely the duffer in that one, cards & games, a little more success in the Dallas family in the latter. Trips ashore for drinks, a particularly amusing one when all spruced up with freshly blown dried hair the return trip was so wet it was like being put through a washing machine, apparently we should have known better and not bothered with the hair, at least much amusement was derived amidst all the shrieking!

We had one very grey and wet day much cheered up by the catching of Gretal the tuna. Sashimi lessons were duly given below decks and I think Polly will definitely be able to get a job in a Sushi bar when she gets a bit older!

Jane

Tarzan

Our last two nights with them were spent in St. Johns in the US Virgin Islands which was a new spot for us and very untouched and beautiful. More silly antics including Tarzan and Jane competions swinging from the Spinnaker Pole. I was even worse at this that the Long jump but at least my arms and shoulders recovered quite quickly having given up after a few goes, unlike Andrew who clearly thought he was the same age as Tom & Polly and is still suffering!

Old enough to know better!

We dropped them of in St. Thomas sad to see out lovely friends go home, and rather incredulous that we got to stay on and keep sailing! Tom & Polly were just fabulous to have around and the boat seemed very quiet without them all.

My kind of breakfast!

We spent a few more days in the Virgin Islands, revitalling in Cruise Bay where I had the best breakfast I have ever had of spicy potatoes and refried beans with quacamole and fried eggs!! (Huebos Rancheros A couple of days back in Jost Van Dyke and an evening at Foxy’s as we fancied a bop, shame it was Karaoke night but still good fun and a great way to finish our stay in the Virgin Islands.





A Word from the Ginger



A month on and I am still the proud owner of a fast fading tan line thanks to a wonderful 7 days on board Hullaballoo. Julia and Andrew played hostess with the mostess  to the Ewart Smith family in the BVI's during late April. We weren't the only visitors on board that week - an invasion of ants were also making themselves at home and every time we thought we had terminated them they reappeared - it didn't help having little people on board leaving apple cores in their cabin at night! Whilst the ants increased, the towels decreased - I blame the men on board. In 7 days we lost 3 towels overboard - 1 a complete mystery, 2 due to complete incompetence! 

Over the week we pottered from Island to Island, luxuriating in sun and turquoise seas. Tom bought out the boy in Andrew and many happy hours were spent snorkelling, swimming and partaking in diving competitions. Catherine won the failed somersault of the year, Polly not far behind taking after her mother in having her legs too far apart! Andrew has perfected his dives to a tee but was pipped at the post this time by Michael and his ever increasing belly!  Julia made a fine adjudicator and even provided prizes at the end of a long and in some cases, painful afternoon of exertion! 

Polly spent many hours looking for sharks or just sitting on deck contemplating life under one of the few remaining towels. Sadly no sharks to be seen but lots of wonderful turtles and the odd stingray.  One of the highlights was catching Tuna, skinning and eating it there and then. A real treat topped by the ever efficient Mrs Dallas who had a sushi kit on board - no mini cheddars for us that night. 

And then there were two!

Once the kids had retired below after supper, the adults embarked on some serious card games and the odd bit of skinny dipping. Fierce rivalry (surely not I hear you cry) between Andrew and Michael ensued and sadly this time round it was not to be for the skipper. His rude guest swept the board most nights either at cards, snatch or bananagram. The more wine we fed him, the better he got - thank heavens there wasn't a croquet lawn on board! 

7 nights came and went too quickly. We were spoilt rotten by our lovely friends. Tom and Polly had a holiday of a lifetime and we all share very happy memories and I still have a sore back! 

I keep telling them to take it down at sunset!