Foxy's Bar hosts the
Jost Van Dyke Music Festival

Once again, it's that time of the year for Jost Van Dykes Music Festival, hosted at Foxy's Bar. On the agenda for the three-day event are artists from all over the BVI. This year there is also an open mic with Foxy's in-house musicians. The ferry from Sopers Hole will also be running a special schedule all three days. The usual BBQ will be going on for food, and there's plenty of beer from the microbrewery to be had. Below is the fantastic schedule of who's playing but you have to give the times a little room as we are on island time here. Come on over to Jost Van Dyke and have a ball!

Friday, March 16th
6:30 PM – The K.I. Nicholas Blues Review Acoustic and Electric Blues
8:30 PM – Third Dimension Island Dance Music

Saturday, March 17th
2:00 PM – Quito Rhymer and the Edge (Legendary BVI Reggae Artist)
4:30 PM – Open Mic with K.I. and our House Musicians
6:30 PM – Reuben Chinnery (Jost Van Dyke 12 String Blues Artist)
8:30 PM – Out of the Dessert (Roots Reggae Dance Music)

Sunday, March 18th
2:00 PM – The Lashing Dogs (True Tortola Fungi Music)
4:30 PM – Ras Rio (Acoustic Raggae/Folk Music)
6:30 PM – Open Mic with K.I. and our House Musicians
8:30 PM – Faze 2, with special guest, Virgin Gorda Calypso Legend Morris Mark (Island Dance Music)

The 2006 Caribbean Rally officially got underway November 8th, days later than scheduled due to inclement weather with a low-pressure system passing through the area. Weatherman Ken Campbell made the recommendation to the race officials to postpone the start of the seventy-five entries and the committee heeded his advice. Two yachts did venture out though taking an early start, " Between the Sheets and Faraway Eyes", reporting 25 to 30 knot winds on the nose and heavy seas through the night. "Faraway Eyes" electing to hove to for the night radioed in to the committee that they were having a rough go of it but they were safe.

On the start line of the 8th, the fleet found light Northerly winds and foggy weather to be the order of the day. The following day did bring on some better conditions with a good twenty knot wind speed as the fleet ventured into the Gulf Stream, with the winds predicted to taper off into the evening.

November 10th the fishing lures were trailing out behind many of the racers with "Artic Tern" reporting the first fish landed onboard. The yacht "Thalia" had radioed in a medical emergency to the Coast Guard and one of the yachts crew was air lifted to the shore. The fleet was to be plagued by very light air for days to follow, but the fishing did indeed improve with  "Thumbs Up" landing a rather large Yellow Fin Tuna to the crews delight. At one point, there was rumor going around the fleet over the radio that the race should be renamed the "Caribbean Trawler Trek 1500" as the entire fleet was now under power in no wind conditions.

November 14th unveiled the same conditions of no wind with many of the fleet now running low on fuel making their way to Tortola. "Between the Sheets" was reporting their position just six miles from the finish line, but the committee also pointed out that they did have that two day jump on the fleet at the start!

November 16th is the day that the trade winds finally kicked in albeit that a large percentage of the fleet were very close to the finish line and the SSB transmissions were having their issues with the fleet reporting in to the race committee. The good news of the day was the expected finishers and the trailing boats were now closing in on the leaders. Many of the stragglers were sailing hard to make the awards dinner at Village Cay, Saturday the 18th, with six of the yachts still out at sea with three holding over in Bermuda.

The rally class has been determined and the Overall Winner was Hi Yo Silver, Ray Diones Pacific Seacraft 40. First to finish was Gil Smith's Joy for All. Clean Wake Award recipients were Hunter and Devi Sharp. Tempest Trophy winners were Rick and Terri on Sophisticated Lady. The Hal Sutphen Seamanship Award was presented to Dr. Miles and Anne Poor on Karina.

The fleet is now enjoying the savors of their efforts to reach Tortola, cruising all through the islands!

BVI Charter Yacht Society
2006 Boat Show

The 2006 charter yacht show was a great success with over sixty yachts in attendance to show off their charter yachts to over seventy plus brokers who came from the United States, Europe along with the local brokers from the U.S.V.I. and the BVI. Having Village Cay marina in Road Town as the venue with the yachts backed into the slips, made for easy access for the brokers viewing and networking with the onboard crews. The show was staged November 7th through the 10th. The morning's breakfasts during the show featured guest speakers from various industry companies that also included representatives from the marine division of the BVI government.

During the show, there were culinary contests by attending yachts competing for awards given out by Columbian Emeralds. A gala reception at Government House hosted later in the evening of November 9th by Governor David Pearey and his wife was well attended. Friday the 10th was the broker appreciation dinner hosted by Nanny Cay marina with the best of show award being presented to the yacht  "Wonderful". November 11th was a special day where many of the visiting brokers were treated to a day trip to Anegada with a luncheon and plenty of beach time.

BVI Charter Yacht Wonderful

Winners of the culinary competition:
Appetizer/Salad: Elizabeth Lee on Wonderful
Entrée: Nina Groves on Elektra
Desert: Ann Hasted on Corus

Best of Show Winner:
Wonderful with Warren East, Elizabeth Lee and Nedra Walker

AAAAARGH!  THE PIRATES ARE BACK
for the VISAR Treasure Hunt

November is looking to be a busy month with VISAR holding two fundraising events in the BVI. The first event is held on Norman Island:

Join the VISAR Treasure Hunt, hunting for treasure in the Sir Francis Drake Channel.  On Saturday, 4 November, put your best pirate crew to the task - decipher 5 cryptic clues, document each successful mission and along the route, pirate vessels for VISAR donations.  Earn points for creativity, accomplishing objectives and successful problem solving - all to win a FUJI digital camera and a $100 Pusser's voucher.  Pirates are then invited to a night of prizes and debauchery Saturday evening at the RBVIYC.  Full pirate regalia is expected!  Sign up Friday, 3 November at RBVIYC from 1730 - 1930 hours.  Entrance fee is $40 per boat.

VISAR is also sponsoring a Market Day on Saturday November 25th, 2006. For additional information contact VISAR at 494-4357 or email at info@visar.org.

Village Cay Marina in Road Town is playing host once more to the Charter Yacht Society's Boat Show starting on the 7th, running till the 11th. Charter yachts from all over the world come to show off their yachts with charter yacht brokers and representatives attending the event. If you are in the area, stop by to admire some of the best yachts that will be chartering in the BVI this upcoming season.

The Rotary Club of Tortola is sponsoring their annual Fun Car Rally on November 11, starting at the festival grounds in Road Town, with the rally making a tour of Tortola, picking up clues to puzzles along the route. Prizes for the winners as well as the best-decorated vehicle. Also at the festival grounds there will be food, drinks and live music. Visitors are welcome to participate with their rental cars also!

Myetts restaurant in Cane Garden Bay is celebrating their 14th Anniversary on the 24th of November with all types of specials and music into the night, with Visar holding their second event of the month on the 25th with their annual Market day swap meet event which brings in money to support Visar.  494-4357 or myettent@surfbvi.com

For those that are going to be in the BVI for the Thanksgiving Holiday, there will be several restaurants serving up turkey with all the trimmings. For those in the West End of Tortola, there is a fun "pot luck" dinner event at the Jolly Roger. The restaurant provides the turkeys and if you can bring a dish to add to the party, that would be appreciated!

Bomba Shack Full Moon Party

October 2006 is looking to be the start of a busy time in the BVI with many businesses jump-starting themselves for the upcoming season. Seems that many are reopening their doors earlier and earlier every year after the August Festival, which signals an end to the traditional season. I for one would like to see the BVI go year-round and change the old hat tradition of literally closing down for months at a time during the summer.

What's happening is plenty. October 6 is the 30th anniversary for the Bomba Shack, with the full moon party slated to be a big one. Out in Trellis Bay, Jeremy has some great things going on out there also for the fireball full moon party.

The Willy T
Finish line for the "Virgins Cup"

The watersports schedule is busy nearly every weekend in October, starting out with the Royal British Virgin Islands Yacht Clubs "Willy T Virgins Cup", where the women are in charge of the helm in this fun race which finishes at Willy "T". The race starts on the 14th outside of Road Harbour. The following weekend is the ever-popular Lowell Wheatley Fishing Tournament in Anegada, one not to miss! Foxy's Cat Fight catamaran race in Jost Van Dyke, is slated for the 28th, with parties galore. Bitter End is hosting the 20th Pro-am regatta starting on the twenty-eighth for eight days of racing with some of the world's best sailors attending.

Many restaurants and hotels are reopening their doors this month also. Among the early openers are the Jolly Roger, Sugar Mill, Tamarind Club, CoCo Plums, and Eclipse are just a few. Airline prices are being slashed so come on down and enjoy all that the BVI has to offer!