First Test Sail: 28 Jun 08
The Motleys quietly slid out of dock and motored off into Sir Francis Drake Passage. Modern adventurers are we (yo ho ho) but we did leave our cutlasses and blunderbusses at home….
The Virgin Islands were named by Columbus in 1493 in honour of St Ursula and the 11.000 virgins who sacrificed their lives rather than submit to the wayward Huns - as any self respecting virgin would. Mind you, the history of the BVI’s had been somewhat less than “virginal” to date. Columbus was something of a latecomer as the islands were once home to fierce and cannibalistic tribes. But wait, there’s more….pirates! It seems that European nations, eager to challenge Spanish dominance, unofficially supported smuggling, piracy and privateering practices until the early 1700’s. Familiar names like Drake, Blackbeard and Henry Morgan struck fear into the hearts of coastal traders & the Spanish with their loads of Aztec gold and spices. Pristine coves and submerged coral reefs provided perfected lairs and nasty traps for dirty deeds.
Hot on the heels of law enforcement agencies whose job it was to clean up the flourishing pirate trade, were plantation owners and imported slaves setting up sugar cane and cotton farms. However, life was extremely harsh on these plantations and conflict was rife; especially after slavery was abolished in England in 1772 and somehow the plantation owners forgot. Little evidence remains though of this fascinating history and in these blue skies and sparkling waters it somehow seems further consigned to the realm of fantasy; thanks so much to modern movies and flash graphics.
Safe from pirates and in true windjammer style, we hoisted sail and took a course toward Santa Monica Rock, to the south of Norman Island. After sticking our nose into the Caribbean Sea, and feeling the freshness of 20 knot trade winds, we turned round and headed back to Nanny Cay, feeling very pleased with our first efforts under canvas.
Time Taken: 11nm (3hrs) Distance (this year): 11nm (3hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 11nm (3 hrs) Weather: Fresh Trade Winds
Fastest Speed:
(Blogger seems to hate tables. WJ3’s Log format has been changed with the transfer so as not to upset the vagaries of html.)
(Thanks to Bruce on Isa Lei for the idea of this table format. Check out his Round Oz adventures. And forgive me my rusty navigation calculations!) (Ed: Isa Lei's adventures are no longer on the net 2010)
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| Benures Bay |
The Virgin Islands were named by Columbus in 1493 in honour of St Ursula and the 11.000 virgins who sacrificed their lives rather than submit to the wayward Huns - as any self respecting virgin would. Mind you, the history of the BVI’s had been somewhat less than “virginal” to date. Columbus was something of a latecomer as the islands were once home to fierce and cannibalistic tribes. But wait, there’s more….pirates! It seems that European nations, eager to challenge Spanish dominance, unofficially supported smuggling, piracy and privateering practices until the early 1700’s. Familiar names like Drake, Blackbeard and Henry Morgan struck fear into the hearts of coastal traders & the Spanish with their loads of Aztec gold and spices. Pristine coves and submerged coral reefs provided perfected lairs and nasty traps for dirty deeds.
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| Inter-Island Ferry |
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| Norman Island Lookout |
From: Tortola, Nanny Cay Lat/Long: 18 24N 64 38W Date/Time: 28/6/08: after lunch
To: South Norman Island Lat/Long: 18 19N 64 37W Date/Time: 28/6/08: afternoonTime Taken: 11nm (3hrs) Distance (this year): 11nm (3hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 11nm (3 hrs) Weather: Fresh Trade Winds
Fastest Speed:
(Blogger seems to hate tables. WJ3’s Log format has been changed with the transfer so as not to upset the vagaries of html.)
(Thanks to Bruce on Isa Lei for the idea of this table format. Check out his Round Oz adventures. And forgive me my rusty navigation calculations!) (Ed: Isa Lei's adventures are no longer on the net 2010)
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