The Bitter End

Bitter End: 7-9 Jul 08

Last Stop Bar, Gun Point

A pleasant 4 hour sail saw us arrive at North Sound, Virgin Gorda. It’s rather like a big lake ringed by coral reefs and windswept hills – we stayed 2 nights and cleared (customs & immigration) out of Spanish Town – although that trip back across the island was by taxi. After being driven by Gafford in his big red truck, the boys decided that a beer at the Last Stop bar at Gun Point was necessary. The locals said not to complain about the roads because they didn’t have any until 1960…. Again, narrow hill huggers that left us breathless but the views down onto the Sound were spectacular. Did I stop to take a photo from the top…no way!!!

Hollywood in Biras Creek

We had moored off Biras Creek, an exclusive water access only resort – a bit like Dangar really (just kidding) in a well protected, very quiet spot. We happened upon another turtle going about his daily life chores until Hollywood splashed down. 

Further round are the larger resorts of Bitter End Yacht Club and Saba Rock. We had sundowners at Bitter End and dined over at Saba Rock, which true to its name is indeed a rock – well a resort on a rock, umm, a very small rock. We ate dinner watching large fish circling us as if we were the ones on show.

(And no Mum, we still can’t eat the fish!).

The Bitter End

Apparently if you are a sailor, you’d know that bitter end is the free end of a line – the last bit. North Sound is the jumping off point for Atlantic crossings to England or in our case (thankfully) a much shorter passage over to the Leeward Islands, starting with St Martin. We decided that we could gain some advantage by setting off from Anegada, further north and waiting there for a better weather window: I’m still getting used to all this “nautical” stuff. Oh, and I found out that pusser is purser..(I only know that because it’s also a rum!) I always used to wonder about the unkind names those navy types used at NWCC!

From:  Baths, Virgin Gourda    Lat/Long: 18 26N  64 27W  Date/Time: 7/7/08: 1200

To: Biras Creek, North Sound   Lat/Long: 18 30N  64 22W  Date/Time: 7/7/08: 1630
Time Taken: 14nm (4hrs) Distance (this year): 63nm (20.5hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 63nm (20.5hrs)  Weather: Fresh Trade Winds 12-15kts
Fastest Speed:
(Note 3: Well, now I’m threatening to get out my calculator!)