Round BVI Benchmark Record
13hrs 21min 24sec
Well, the ‘Around BVI’ turned out to be a little more sporty than we had imagined.
The forecast was showing some moderating but we never really saw that. Anyone who knows the Anegada Passage will tell you how nasty and irregular the seas can be, especially when you are crossing on and off the drop off zone that surrounds the BVI.
We started off doing some MOB training off Nanny Cay. With the inboard engine we now have so much more control. Tasks were set and after a few runs we felt we had the measure of it.
The timer was set off Nanny Cay and off we went, full Genoa and a single reef in the main. As soon as we cleared Salt Island it got fruity and very wet. It was a 6hr beat up to the Horse Shoe Reef, East of Anegada. It was a real slog but we were happy to clear the reef before sunset. The swell was plenty big enough to show the Eastern most coral heads, with breaking seas menacingly close to leeward.
KEY STATS
138.58 NM
13hrs 21min 24sec
Top speed 19.98 knots
Average speed 10.37 knots
Once clear it became a glorious two-sail reach into the setting sun clocking high teens. The schreecher went up as we sailed past the Western tip. The call went out for the kite so we gybed and hoisted as the daylight faded. 120 degrees apparent, 12-15kts all the way to Little Tobago as the moon came up, beautiful!
Kite down and a reef back in as we rounded, then back hard on the wind heading to the Narrows and Great Thatch. One last trip out to sea leaving Norman Island, Peter and Dead chest to Port before heading back to Nanny Cay.
Nothing broke, the crew all measured up and a decent time was set. We were all mindful that this was equivalent to just a quarter of the C600, a sobering thought!
