We had booked a dream holiday for March 2020. Over the previous year, I had taken courses to qualify as a yacht skipper and Samuel had qualified as crew. We were bareboat chartering a yacht from Sunsail in the British Virgin Islands. When we left Houston in mid-March, there remained some uncertainty about where this “coronavirus” was heading. We assessed the situation and went for it.
Our two flights took us from Houston to our boat at the Sunsail dock in Road Town on Tortola where we spent our first night. We rented SCUBA gear so that Samuel and I would be able to dive off the boat.
On our first day, we sailed a short distance and moored to a buoy in Kelly’s Cove on Norman Island. Everyone was chilling!
Our second day included sailing, snorkeling, diving, and a fine dinner on Peter Island! The restaurant had recently been rebuilt after hurricane damage, and now COVID was keeping most people away. Sad. The bay was exposed so that night was a bit rocky.
We started our third day by motoring to the RMS Rhone divesite, where Samuel and Peter had a fine dive. After that, we moored in Spanish Town’s harbor and enjoyed exploring. The following morning, I struggled to get the boat out of this harbor, but made it.
Day four brought another snorkel and dive of a sunken airplane and a fine time at Marina Cay and Scrub Island.
Our fifth day was beautiful sailing and the perfect sunset on “Paradise” beach. Our first gybe in the boat had broken the mainsheet fitting, limiting future sailing to just the jib, but that was fine.
Day 6 brought us back to where we started at Road Town, and we enjoyed a fine dinner to celebrate Bailey’s birthday.
Getting back to the US was a story in itself. Travel restrictions had increased during the week of our holiday. Bailey had been booked on a choir tour to Italy in early March, but that had been cancelled due to Italy’s COVID outbreak, but some systems showed her as having been there, and therefore a high risk. We imagined being stuck in the BVI, which might sound nice but we were ready to get home. There was tremendous uncertainty about where COVID was taking everyone. After a couple of nervous hours with lots of prayer, Bailey was cleared and we took our 9-seater plane to Puerto Rico, to be greeted by people in hazmat suits. We connected to the Houston flight and made it home without much more drama.
This was the week when the approach of many countries to COVID changed, from targeted restrictions on infected areas, to complete shut downs. Peter’s office had closed, and he never went back again as it was still closed one year later when he retired.
This was a fantastic holiday, squeezed in just before the world shutdown, but nearly stranding us. Everyone had a great time, but this might be the one time when I (Peter) had TOO much adventure. We love travelling independently. However, there is an increased level of risk with a boat on the open water. When things are going fine, it is fantastic. However, my lack of experience, even though suitably qualified for these calm waters, made me too concerned about everyone’s safety. I’m OK with putting myself at risk, or even doing risky activities with Samuel where I have lots of experience (like remote backpacking or diving), but this was at another level. We won’t be doing a family sailing holiday like this again, but I would be OK being number two to a more experienced yachtsman to whom I can answer, “aye aye, skipper.” Sailing is a tremendous amount of fun and an ultimate adventure. I just don’t want to be in charge on open water!
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 