Why BVI’s and Why Boating
My wife and I are pleased to share our experiences and pictures from our recent five week cruise in the BVI’s. Our trip to the BVI’s resulted from a one week trip last March with two other couples. My wife and I, who have our own boat which we keep in the Thousand Islands in Canada, spend every available moment boating; however, boating in Canada is limited to three summer months at best and we tend to have long winters. Following our 2005 week with Virgin Traders, we decided that it was time for “ the experiment” and the BVI’s with Virgin Traders was the perfect combination to determine if we could in retirement spend extended time on a boat.
We chartered the Rhona, a 44 foot cruiser that sleeps 7. The charter was over the Christmas period through to the end of January 2006. We started planning about 10 months in advance and probably drove the staff at Virgin Traders crazy organizing diving, New Years and a variety of other plans. They were terrific, patient, understanding, responsive, a caring and fun team. This applies from the boat cleaning crew to the owners of Virgin Traders. As to the BVI’s, we think it is special. The weather at 75 to 85 degerees over the winter is obviously terrific, especially compared to 20 to 30 degrees at home. The Islands are pristine, the diving and snorkeling as good as most places that we have traveled and the people, well the people were terrific. Can you imagine taxi cabs that go grocery shopping with you or in the evening guiding you to your shore diner out only to ensure our safe return to Rhona? I must confess however we enjoyed the sunsets and candle light intimacy on the Rhona, the best of all.
Back to our experiment. Brenda and I have decided that cruising the BVI’s and neighboring islands is what we want to do in our retirement. We are now exploring fractional ownership with Virgin Traders or a purchase of a vessel that we can keep in the Islands.
Thanks to the Team at Virgin Traders.
Paul and Brenda Benson