Monday, December 26, 2011
Rainbows on Christmas Morning!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thanksgiving Chat & A Slice of Advice from Charter Yacht Chef Shelly
s/v Three MoonsTipsy Caribbean Cruzan Chocolate Chip & Pumpkin Cake1 pkg. (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix
1 can (15oz) pumpkin pie filling
1/4 cup Cruzan Blackstrap Molasses Rum
2 large eggs
1 tsp. almond flavoring
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped pecans1. Place rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt pan with vegetable oil spray, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pan aside. 2. Place the cake mix, pumpkin, rum, eggs, flavoring, spices and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. 3. Bake until lightly browned about 42-50 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Carefully pour the following warm glaze over the cake while it's hot: GLAZE: Mix together and microwave at 1 minute intervals until very warm: 1/4 cup Cruzan Blackstrap Molasses Rum, 1/8 cup granulated sugar, 2 TBS. butter and 1 TBS. semisweet chocolate chips.4. Allow the cake to cool in the pan, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The longer it sits in the fridge, the better it gets!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A Little Bird Told Us...
It's interesting to learn that due to the economy, most industry leaders agree that the charter trends in hiring a private yacht & crew for a sailing vacation are leaning toward monohull yachts.
Upcoming Weeks in 2012 Available:
• Feb. 19 - Mar. 31
• Apr. 1 - May 23
• Jun. 9 - Jun. 30
Lots to Be Thankful For...Like This Comment from a Yacht Charter Broker:
"I have always ‘pushed’ monohulls (I’m a traditionalist!), and love educating my clients to the fact that a catamaran is simply a floating hotel with very little sensation of being on the water. They’re noisy, and yes, Virginia, you CAN get seasick on a catamaran. Do you want to slice through the waves, or hobby horse to windward...pound & pound...turning on the engines just to tack through the wind? Okay, that's a bit tough; but I do say that while a sailboat heals, the degree of healing can be modified with shortened sail and falling off the wind a bit. I also tell clients that their crew are there for your comfort, not to race with the rail under. The heavy keel keeps you from tipping over AND..."
"Have you ever seen a famous painting of a catamaran? There’s no romance! No beauty. No charm."
(Wow, I'll bet you never expected all that, did you? Neither did we!)
Fifteen years ago this month, we purchased s/v Three Moons in Ft. Lauderdale, not quite knowing what we had gotten ourselves into! We have been blessed with amazing support along with years of happy repeat clients.
To those of you who've experienced the "romance of sailing" with Three Moons, we heartily say Thank you! If you haven't sailed with us, then join our adventures via Facebook or Twitter.
Cheers to All and Happy Thanksgiving!
Capt. Randy & Shelly Tucker
Join the adventures of our award-winning yacht on Facebook and Twitter
Monday, October 10, 2011
A New Season of Sailing the Ocean Blue!
Columbus Day isn't just a day where you run to the bank, only to remember that it's closed. Neither is it a day well celebrated. But for those of us who are interested in the history of the Caribbean, we know that he's a figure much discussed in the West Indies over afternoon cocktails. I am still trying to figure out how in the world he managed to decide that Virgin Gorda looked like a fat lady reclining! Either Columbus didn't have enough rum, OR he had way to much of it! There are a lot of interesting facts about Columbus, such as he was the first to charter a yacht in the Virgin Islands! He really wasn't the first person to discover America; but he was the first European. He was a little mixed up believing that he had found the Far East; but he did find the number one cruising area of the world! The truth is that he ushered in a new era of exploration and conquest in the West.
For us, Columbus Day marks on the calendar the day we bring the luggage down from our attic at our home in Franklin, TN. Just like previous explorers & entrepreneurs: "We cannot wait to get going to see what the wonderful Caribbean has in store for us this season! We love our jobs!"
| VICL SHOW |
| Yes! We'll be at the Virgin Islands Charter Yacht League Show in St. Thomas, USVI on November 4th, 5th & 6th. Have you seen this year's show schedule? We're pleased with the events Erik Ackerson has arranged for this year's show...and we love being first in the area shows, so we catch you while you are fresh! |
| Read More at www.vicl.org |
| Three Moons Yacht in October's Issue of All At Sea Magazine! Do you read All at Sea Magazine? When we're in the islands, we pick one up monthly. But when we're stateside, we go to their site. Download this month's issue and take a look at the article written by Carol Bareuther on page 50. Three Moons was included in the article! www.allatsea.net Read More at www.allatsea.net Three Moons Yacht We're available for a Thanksgiving Charter in the USVI or BVI. Please keep us in mind for last-minute charters between Nov. 12-Dec. 17. Visit our brochure site at: www.threemoonsyacht.com Captain Randy & Shelly Tucker |
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Our Secrets To Longevity In the Crewed Charter Yacht Industry
Laboring Toward Longevity
When we first begin working in the charter industry, we asked a seasoned Captain, "What keeps you excited about your job that's resulted in being here for so many years?" He replied, "First, it's easy to work in this area of the Caribbean and I love the excitement of the learning experience from each new group of guests". Lately, we've been thinking a lot about popular charter yacht Captains in the industry who've been around for twenty years or more. Being well on our way to hitting those same numbers, we have to explore what makes all of us long-term career Crews happy!
We are Fulfilled!
Maybe it's knowing deep inside that this is truly our calling or just the simple fact that while we work hard, we do it in paradise AND have tons of FUN! Our guests really do delight & fulfill us!
There is quite possibly nothing better than seeing a "light bulb go off" in a client's head when they learn how to sail, snorkel or see something new for the very first time in their lives.
We Have the Talent & Temperament for Chartering!
We all have different gifts; but both of us learned at an early age that taking care of people simply comes naturally.
AND we're still willing to learn & grow! At this point in our charter career we are enjoying that we are established with both clients & brokers as having a great track record.
Book Three Moons For Thanksgiving or Christmas This Year!
Below are a couple of updates & bookings to our charter calendar. *Note-Dates may have been adjusted slightly to allow time for turnarounds between groups. Online Booking/Charter calendar may change quickly, so always contact us first before you book your flight. Dec 28-Jan 04, 2012 Booked: Crown Bay, St Thomas* to Crown Bay, St Thomas
Jan 09-Jan 21, 2012 Booked: Crown Bay, St Thomas* to Crown Bay, St Thomas
Jan 26-Feb 05, 2012 Booked: Crown Bay, St Thomas* to Crown Bay, St Thomas
Feb 12-Feb 18, 2012 Hold: Crown Bay, St Thomas* to Crown Bay, St Thomas
Mar 10-Mar 17, 2012 Booked: Crown Bay, St Thomas* to Crown Bay, St Thomas
Apr 07-Apr 14, 2012 Hold: Crown Bay, St Thomas* to Crown Bay, St Thomas
May 27-Jun 03, 2012 Booked: West End, Tortola, BVI* to West End, Tortola, BVI
Don't Forget!
You'll enjoy browsing our complete blog page YachtThreeMoons.Posterous.com . Scroll down to see the post on Aug. 22 of the amazing before & after photos of the recent event at Richard Branson's house on Necker Island! Check us out on Facebook & Twitter too!
Happy Labor Day Weekend...Hope You Have FUN!
Capt. Randy & Shelly Tucker
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Why Is a Yacht Called a "She"?
A ship is called a "she" because there is always a great deal of bustle around her; there is usually a gang of men about, she has a waist and stays; it takes a lot of paint to keep her good looking; it is not the initial expense that breaks you, it is the upkeep; she can be all decked out; it takes an experienced man (or a woman who understands her needs!!!) to handle her correctly; and without a man at the helm, she is absolutely uncontrollable. She shows her topsides, hides her bottom and when coming into port, always heads for the buoys!"
To be a success at sea, you must collaborate with your vessel. If you call her "it", how friendly a relationship are you going to have? "She" seems to acknowledge the intimate relationship you need in order to address the vulnerability you have to the mercy of the ocean and its tempers.
| Learn more: threemoonsyacht.net |
Monday, August 22, 2011
No One Hurt at Fire on Necker Island
While Three Moons yacht sat safely last night in the boat yard in Virgin Gorda, Hurricane Irene caused a major fire at Sir Richard Branson's beautiful Necker Island nearby. Winds up to 90mph howled during the storm. A big strike of lightening hit the main house around 4am on August 22nd. This "Great House" was built in 1982.
Richard's son Sam, 25, and nephew Jack rushed to the house and helped get everyone out. Locals have reported that Richard & wife Joan were on the island, but were staying in another house on the property when the fire broke out.
Several UK newspapers have reported: "It is understood that those in the 'Great House' may have included Richard & Joan's daughter Holly, 29, who is due to marry shipbroker Freddie Andrews on Necker Island in December.Kate Winslet has received accolades for helping carry Richard's 90 year mother out of the main house to safety. Later Kate was quoted by Richard as saying, "she was wondering when a Director was going to shout CUT!". She and her children were staying on the island during the storm.
We certainly feel deep sadness that the Branson family lost "thousands of photographs and his ever famous notebooks" which were located in his office, based in the main house. But all his family, co-workers, friends & guests are well - "which in the end is all that really matters".
Our thoughts and positive wishes are with them. We know the flag will proudly fly from the main house again as it does in our photo below made a couple of months ago.
We wish them well during this tough time.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Come Quick! You Gotta See This Thing in the Water!
"Come quick! You gotta see this thing in the water!", shouted our yacht charter guest.
Smiling at their excitement, we snorkeled over to the spot of interest located almost directly above the Wreck of the Rhone in the British Virgin Islands. Feeling rather professional after 14 years of leading snorkeling trips here in the islands, we couldn't image not being able to identify most any creature of the sea. But! We were completely stumped by this "thing" that for lack of better words, looked every bit like a long purple slinky covered in eggs. With lots of friends having many years of experience between us, we began asking everyone if they had ever seen anything like it. Finally, Ann on the yacht Sandcastle, with her degree in zoology and an insatiable water bug, classified our find as oceanic squid eggs.
Ok, what kind of creature produces oceanic squid eggs? Is it as wacky as the egg mass we saw? Well, almost. Our big "purple slinky" was made by a Diamond back squid. They belong to a group of large, muscular marine mollusks (the same group as snails and conch) which are called the Cephalopods (their name literally means the 'head-foot' group). They're found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world's oceans occupying near-surface waters during the night and mid-waters during the day. They have rather short arms and large triangular fins that extend the full length of the mantle. These animals include the squids and cuttlefish and they are cousins as it were to the octopi, so they have relatively soft pulp-like cylindrical bodies with a circle of tentacles at one end.
The difference here is that the Diamondback squids are relatively large animals with an average weight of around 33 lb. and measuring up to 3 feet in length . The proper name for them is Thysanoteuthis rhombus and another common name for them is the Barrel squid as their large plump bodies look a lot like a red barrel. But are they unique to this part of the Caribbean? Actually, they are found all around the tropics and even sub-tropics of the entire globe, but only at considerable depth. How deep is this you might ask? The average depth distribution of adults is around 4,500 feet! In fact, they only become available to fisherman when they approach around 1,000 feet to reproduce.
Having a 1 year life span, they lay long, sausage-shaped egg masses that float just beneath the surface of the ocean. Eggs lie in a double strand that wind helically around a large gelatinous core. Embryos near to hatching bear large numbers of chromatophores. This is the most commonly observed egg mass of any oceanic squid. The consistency of the oblong mass was loosely gelatinous but not firm enough to offer tangible resistance to our ungloved hand. It has been said that embedded within this gelatinous matrix were 35,000 to 75,000 individual eggs, each containing a single developing embryo. Each embryo was distributed diffusely enough that they were clearly visible through the entire thickness of the mass.
Tempting as a food source for both islanders and for export, the oceanic squid has been studied as recently as 2005 in Jamaica. Biologist Dr. Karl Aiken, working in conjunction with a marine ecologist from the Montego Bay Marine Park, along with CMI's JICA fisheries experts Takahiko Yasuda and other CMI staff, organized a series of trips to explore Jamaican coastal waters. This exploratory fishing was fully supported by the Fisheries division who promoted their effort to try to shift even some of the large number of fishers off the heavily fished reef fishery resources. The specially customized squid fishing gear was adapted from a successful Japanese design. In the end, it seems as though the idea of fishing for oceanic squid as a food source has died due to the difficulty of fishing in such deep waters.
Sex on the reef? You bet! The discovery of egg masses and the creatures that created them made for quite a lot of excitement aboard the yacht Three Moons. But all joking aside, the ocean is a never ending source of amazement and learning for us all!
Learn more about the yacht Three Moons: http://threemoonsyacht.net
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Ok, what kind of creature produces oceanic squid eggs? Is it as wacky as the egg mass we saw? Well, almost. Our big "purple slinky" was made by a Diamond back squid. They belong to a group of large, muscular marine mollusks (the same group as snails and conch) which are called the Cephalopods (their name literally means the 'head-foot' group). They're found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world's oceans occupying near-surface waters during the night and mid-waters during the day. They have rather short arms and large triangular fins that extend the full length of the mantle. These animals include the squids and cuttlefish and they are cousins as it were to the octopi, so they have relatively soft pulp-like cylindrical bodies with a circle of tentacles at one end.
The difference here is that the Diamondback squids are relatively large animals with an average weight of around 33 lb. and measuring up to 3 feet in length . The proper name for them is Thysanoteuthis rhombus and another common name for them is the Barrel squid as their large plump bodies look a lot like a red barrel. But are they unique to this part of the Caribbean? Actually, they are found all around the tropics and even sub-tropics of the entire globe, but only at considerable depth. How deep is this you might ask? The average depth distribution of adults is around 4,500 feet! In fact, they only become available to fisherman when they approach around 1,000 feet to reproduce.
Having a 1 year life span, they lay long, sausage-shaped egg masses that float just beneath the surface of the ocean. Eggs lie in a double strand that wind helically around a large gelatinous core. Embryos near to hatching bear large numbers of chromatophores. This is the most commonly observed egg mass of any oceanic squid. The consistency of the oblong mass was loosely gelatinous but not firm enough to offer tangible resistance to our ungloved hand. It has been said that embedded within this gelatinous matrix were 35,000 to 75,000 individual eggs, each containing a single developing embryo. Each embryo was distributed diffusely enough that they were clearly visible through the entire thickness of the mass.
Tempting as a food source for both islanders and for export, the oceanic squid has been studied as recently as 2005 in Jamaica. Biologist Dr. Karl Aiken, working in conjunction with a marine ecologist from the Montego Bay Marine Park, along with CMI's JICA fisheries experts Takahiko Yasuda and other CMI staff, organized a series of trips to explore Jamaican coastal waters. This exploratory fishing was fully supported by the Fisheries division who promoted their effort to try to shift even some of the large number of fishers off the heavily fished reef fishery resources. The specially customized squid fishing gear was adapted from a successful Japanese design. In the end, it seems as though the idea of fishing for oceanic squid as a food source has died due to the difficulty of fishing in such deep waters.
Sex on the reef? You bet! The discovery of egg masses and the creatures that created them made for quite a lot of excitement aboard the yacht Three Moons. But all joking aside, the ocean is a never ending source of amazement and learning for us all!
Learn more about the yacht Three Moons: http://threemoonsyacht.net
Monday, July 18, 2011
A Friend of a Friend of a Blueberry Lover!
The world is definitely shrinking! Remember "six degrees of separation"? It's alive and well! (Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of, "a friend of a friend" statements can be made, on average, to connect any two people in six steps or fewer.)
Here we are, floating on a private charter yacht in the middle of the Virgin Islands and a friend of friend from our hometown of Franklin, TN contacts Three Moons for a Three Moons Island Cookbook. Retired after 35 years in public education, she enthusiastically writes a food article for a local paper in Savannah, Tennessee. Food has always been her passion, so much so that she put an addition onto her home just for her cookbook collection! That's a real foodie!
*The lemon zest adds just the right touch to make this a winner!
Here we are, floating on a private charter yacht in the middle of the Virgin Islands and a friend of friend from our hometown of Franklin, TN contacts Three Moons for a Three Moons Island Cookbook. Retired after 35 years in public education, she enthusiastically writes a food article for a local paper in Savannah, Tennessee. Food has always been her passion, so much so that she put an addition onto her home just for her cookbook collection! That's a real foodie!
Janice Shelby's column is called " Desiderata...for Food Lovers". She used the Latin term "Desiderata" meaning " things yearned for " to honor her Latin teacher from her high school days growing up in Savannah, Tennessee. Janice recently flattered us by asking for blueberry recipe for her column. You can go to www.courieranywhere.com to check out her writing and see lots of great recipes.
Below is the recipe we shared with her:
THREE MOONS YACHT BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
• This recipe came from my friend, Shelly Tucker in Franklin, Tn. She and her husband Randy own and operate the Three Moons Yacht Charter Service and have been cruising, and exploring the Virgin Islands since 1989. Shelly is a passionate, talented and award winning chef. She has recently published a cookbook “ Three Moons Island Cookbook” and you can follow her blog: http://yachtthreemoons.posterous.com/ or check out their websites : http://threemoonsyacht.net or http://sailthreemoons.com
• This recipe came from my friend, Shelly Tucker in Franklin, Tn. She and her husband Randy own and operate the Three Moons Yacht Charter Service and have been cruising, and exploring the Virgin Islands since 1989. Shelly is a passionate, talented and award winning chef. She has recently published a cookbook “ Three Moons Island Cookbook” and you can follow her blog: http://yachtthreemoons.posterous.com/ or check out their websites : http://threemoonsyacht.net or http://sailthreemoons.com
*The lemon zest adds just the right touch to make this a winner!
You might even want to consider chartering a trip to the Caribbean and enjoy Shelly’s wonderful cuisine prepared in her well-equipped galley!
Janice Shelby, The Courier Newspaper
Ingredients:
Lemon Sugar Topping:
1/3 cup of sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest from 1 lemon
Sift together sugar and lemon zest in a small bowl until combined: set aside.
Muffins:
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1-1/8 cups sugar, plus 1 teaspoon
2-1/2 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (½ stick)
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
Bring 1 cup of blueberries and 1 teaspoon sugar to simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, mashing the berries with a spoon several times, and stirring
frequently, until berries have broken down and mixture is thickened and reduced to ¼ cup, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and cool to room temperature, 10-
15 minutes.
Rinse remaining berries under cold water and dry well. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk remaining 1-1/8 cups of sugar and eggs together in medium bowl until well mixed and thick, about 45 seconds. Slowly whisk in butter and oil until combined. Whisk in buttermilk, vanilla and lemon extract until combined. Toss the blueberries in the flour mixture and using a rubber spatula, fold egg mixture into the blueberry/ flour mix until just moistened. Batter should be lumpy, and you may even have a few spots of dry flour, but do not over mix!
Using a large spoon, divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups, completely filling cups and mound slightly. Spoon a teaspoon of the cooked berry mixture into the center of each mound of batter. Using a small paring knife, gently swirl the berry filling into the batter using a figure-eight motion. Sprinkle lemon-sugar mixture evenly over the muffins.
Lemon Sugar Topping:
1/3 cup of sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest from 1 lemon
Sift together sugar and lemon zest in a small bowl until combined: set aside.
Muffins:
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1-1/8 cups sugar, plus 1 teaspoon
2-1/2 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (½ stick)
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
Bring 1 cup of blueberries and 1 teaspoon sugar to simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, mashing the berries with a spoon several times, and stirring
frequently, until berries have broken down and mixture is thickened and reduced to ¼ cup, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and cool to room temperature, 10-
15 minutes.
Rinse remaining berries under cold water and dry well. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk remaining 1-1/8 cups of sugar and eggs together in medium bowl until well mixed and thick, about 45 seconds. Slowly whisk in butter and oil until combined. Whisk in buttermilk, vanilla and lemon extract until combined. Toss the blueberries in the flour mixture and using a rubber spatula, fold egg mixture into the blueberry/ flour mix until just moistened. Batter should be lumpy, and you may even have a few spots of dry flour, but do not over mix!
Using a large spoon, divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups, completely filling cups and mound slightly. Spoon a teaspoon of the cooked berry mixture into the center of each mound of batter. Using a small paring knife, gently swirl the berry filling into the batter using a figure-eight motion. Sprinkle lemon-sugar mixture evenly over the muffins.
Bake in a standard muffin tin pan sprayed with cooking spray on middle rack of oven at 425 degrees until golden and firm (17-19 minutes), rotating muffin tin front to back about halfway through baking time. Cool muffins in tin for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool about 5 minutes before serving. Yield: 12 muffins
Saturday, June 4, 2011
A Pirate's Life is For Me...British Virgin Islands Charter Yacht Sailing Itinerary!
Arrrgh, mateys! Seek ye the treasure of Blackbeard the Pirate and the entire brethren of scoundrels in the British Virgin Islands? Aye, then come ye along on this trail of BVI coastal hideouts and the seafaring scalawags that made these islands their home. Ye shall see the island that was named after the notorious Blackbeard, the salty waters under which his trusty Queen Anne’s Revenge anchored, and the bloody shoals where these feared pirates played.
The 'Golden Era' of piracy for the most part took place during the first quarter of the 18th Century and has left a legacy that perpetuates the rich and mysterious history of the BVI. Below is a sample itinerary focusing on pirate lore:
DAY 1. Discover ye the ways of the pirate! We'll meet ye at the airport, get ye gear settled and then sail ye down to Jost Van Dyke, named after a famous Dutch pirate and home of today’s famous Foxy’s!
Despite rumors that the island's name comes from that of a 17th century Dutch privateer, Joost van Dyk, who used its harbors as a hideout, there is no factual evidence supporting this claim. Just who Jost Van Dyke's namesake is remains a mystery. John C. Lettsome (of Little Jost Van Dyke), founder of the Medical Society of London is Jost Van Dyke's most noteworthy resident. Although the English captured the BVI in 1672, it seems that Jost Van Dyke was mostly ignored until the mid-18th century. A map drawn of the BVI in 1717 by Captain John Walton does not depict either Jost Van Dyke or Little Jost Van Dyke.
Foxy's Tamarind Bar & Restaurant is known for the fun group of people who enjoy island music, festivities and the overwhelming weekend buffets. The restaurant guarantees the fish to be fresh-caught within 3 hours of serving! Foxy's is best if you are there on a Friday or Saturday night for fun dancing and music.
DAY 2. Sail by jib, main & mizzen up the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Norman Island, aka Treasure Island, as named by famous author Robert Louis Stevenson! Norman Island is reputed to be named after Captain Norman, a pirate who was eventually apprehended and hanged by the Spanish Guarda Costas, the historical coast guard for Puerto Rico. While we are anchored at Norman Island, you'll definitely want to snorkel the Caves. It's a "must do"! Yes, treasure really was found there, hidden in the back of one of the smallest caves. Also, you’ll enjoy a to visit Pirates Bight Restaurant on the beach. They fire a mini cannon at 4 p.m. to announce happy hour to the anchorage. Their adjoining shop is where you can see many well preserved fascinating artifacts of "pirate life" from long ago! And there’s a nice hike with great scenic views around Spy Glass Hill.
For the young mateys, Three Moons offers a treasure hunt adventure. Kids are dinghied to Pirate’s beach where they must help the marooned pirate guide solve puzzles and riddles in order to uncover the clues that will lead them to the buried treasure.
Party like a pirate at the famous William Thornton Bar which is an old pirate ship bar full of "characters". There are several wonderful places to snorkel here and we hope to anchor the yacht in our "favorite spot" so that you can hop off the stern and snorkel right over the beautiful coral reefs.
DAY 3. “Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum! Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest!” Today, we’re sailing by the island of Dead Chest (which means “coffin” in pirate language), on our way to Peter Island ! Blackbeard marooned his men and left them with only a pistol and a bottle of rum. Their only chance of survival was to either be picked up by a passing ship or brave swimming the channel to Peter Island.
Peter Island is the largest private island in the BVI and the fifth largest of 60 islands, quays, and exposed reefs that comprise the BVI. You can almost imagine the pirate ships of the old days anchored in the calm waters of Great Harbor! The island was named after Pieter Adriensen (nicknamed "the Commander") who was the brother Abraham Adriensen, Patron of Tortola under the Dutch West India Company in the early 17th century. Pieter Adriensen and Joost van Dyk built a fort and slave pens at Great Harbour on Peter Island to facilitate privateering and the nascent trade in slaves from Angola. A new restaurant has been built using the walls of the old fort. It’s a great place to spend the afternoon on the beach with a tropical drink!
The only hotel, the 52-room Peter Island Resort, ranked in Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List,” and the Travel and Leisure “T+L 500” for 2007, is accessible by boat or helicopter. It has since twice been named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the "Best Places to Stay in the World".
This island has very good snorkeling with a wide variety depending on which side of the anchorage you are at. Ask us about the amazing dolphin experiences we've had here! Need to stretch your legs and get a little exercise? We think Peter Island has of the best walks or hiking if you are inclined...anywhere in the islands!
DAY 4. Cooper Island is a very good anchorage for a lunch stop, good snorkeling and a nice, casual restaurant called the Cooper Island Beach Club with the best conch fritters anywhere from Key West to Trinidad! The island lies adjacent to "wreck alley", a popular wreck diving site in the British Virgin Islands where a number of vessels have been deliberately sunk as dive sites. If the weather is very calm, we'll be happy to spend the night in the anchorage. If not, we'll sail on...perhaps to the secluded Savannah Bay in Virgin Gorda.
DAY 5. Tighten up on the mainsail lads! Lets get to The Baths, Virgin Gorda early! Virgin Gorda is the third-largest (after Tortola and Anegada) and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Located at approximately 18 degrees, 48 minutes North, and 64 degrees, 30 minutes West, it covers an area of about 8 square miles (21 km²). Christopher Columbus is said to have named the island "The Fat Virgin", because the island's profile on the horizon looks like a fat woman lying on her side. Snorkel, explore the large granite boulders, grottos and rock formations and return to your boat about 1 p.m. to set out on a close reach for Gorda Sound on Virgin Gorda. The North Sound of Virgin Gorda encompasses the famous Bitter End Yacht Club, Biras Creek Resort, Saba Rock Resort, Leverick Bay and St. Eustatius. There’s so much to do and see here that one can easily spend a couple of days enjoying all the activities! Some of our favorites include snorkeling the cannons from the Wreck of the Rhone, visiting the open air salt water aquarium at Saba Rock, dining at Biras Creek Resort and enjoying the Michael Beans show at Leverick Bay.
**Note~ One of our most successful "island tours" is the option of taking a private sightseeing cab ride from the Baths over the crest of Virgin Gorda to the Bitter End Yacht Club on the other side. This ride takes only about 20 minutes. The views & photo ops of Anegada from the top of Virgin Gorda are superb! If exploring the Bitter End & North Sound on the other side of the island is tops on your "to do" list, you may want to consider this reasonably priced alternative. We can pack you a picnic lunch for the beach at the Baths or you can have the best BLT sandwich of your life for $8.00 at Mad Dog's Bar while enjoying the view. Oh and don't forget the pina coladas! They're fantastic too! While you are doing enjoying this little side trip, we'll move the yacht around to the other side of the island and wait for your return. This option allows you to pack the absolute "most fun" into your day!
DAY 6. Heave Ho! It’s an easy beam reach sail to Anegada. As the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean, Anegada is famous for it's long stretches of quiet beaches, the large salt ponds that cover the West end of the island, unique fauna found no where else an Caribbean flamingos. Other rare or endangered animals include the Anegada rock iguana and several species of turtles. Conch, Caribbean lobster, and many fishes can be found near Anegada, particularly in the deep waters off the North Drop to the north of the island. The reef has claimed more than 200 shipwrecks, including HMS Astraea in 1808, the Donna Paula (1819), the MS Rocus (1929). It is a very flat island and not visible until you are within several miles of it, by which time you are already over the reef that surrounds it. It takes considerable navigational skills to enter the anchorage. Once there it is fun to hire an open air cab, for $10 per person/round trip to Loblolly Bay on the north side for snorkeling (absolutely fantastic!) or swimming on one of the most beautiful, isolated beaches in the world. There is no anchoring in this area, so you must take a ride to get there. There is a Tiki bar/restaurant called the Bamboo Hut there that serves fantastic fish, fried chicken and Anegada lobster for lunch. The Anegada Reef Hotel is famous for casual barefoot beach-side lobster barbecues...caught that day! You may want to consider this for one of your special dinners ashore!
DAY 7. Marina Cay & Scrub Island. Marina Cay, an 8-acre island was uninhabited until 1937, when award-winning author Robb White and newly married wife Rosalie “Rodie” Mason settled on the island. He wrote a novel about his experiences building his home on the island which was made into a movie: Our Virgin Island- filmed as Virgin Island in 1958; it starred John Cassavetes, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee. The movie is on board for your viewing pleasure! It’s interesting to note that the original dirt landing strip at Beef Island airport in Tortola was built just for this movie! Visit Robb & Rodie’s home while enjoying a sunset cocktail and live music from 5:30-7:30pm. You’ll find photos of them located at Pusser’s Restaurant.
Scrub Island is barely a stones throw away with lots of wonderful reef for snorkeling in between the two islands. Recently named by Travel & Leisure as one of “The Best Secret Islands on Earth”, Scrub Island resort has become one of our favorite stops as they are very boater friendly and happy for everyone to use their beautiful new facilities. Their pool has a waterfall and yes, we admit it, the Captain has happily slid down their water-slide. He's a big kid at heart! Both restaurants at the resort offer great dining experiences.
DAY 8. It's a quick, 30 minute hop back over to Trellis Bay, Beef Island Airport, making your departure morning very relaxed and hassle free.
The anchorages mentioned are the most popular and considered to be the ‘not to be missed’ spots. As we say, all itineraries are "written in jello" in the islands. The beauty of being on board a private yacht is having the freedom to pick and choose what you want to do from day to day. You will of course find your own favorite harbors, and each time you return, we promise, you will find another new location that will enchant you.
We hope you enjoy your pirate tour of the islands! No, there aren’t any pirates here today; but the spirit remains! There is so much to see and do in the British Virgin Islands!
The 'Golden Era' of piracy for the most part took place during the first quarter of the 18th Century and has left a legacy that perpetuates the rich and mysterious history of the BVI. Below is a sample itinerary focusing on pirate lore:
DAY 1. Discover ye the ways of the pirate! We'll meet ye at the airport, get ye gear settled and then sail ye down to Jost Van Dyke, named after a famous Dutch pirate and home of today’s famous Foxy’s!
Despite rumors that the island's name comes from that of a 17th century Dutch privateer, Joost van Dyk, who used its harbors as a hideout, there is no factual evidence supporting this claim. Just who Jost Van Dyke's namesake is remains a mystery. John C. Lettsome (of Little Jost Van Dyke), founder of the Medical Society of London is Jost Van Dyke's most noteworthy resident. Although the English captured the BVI in 1672, it seems that Jost Van Dyke was mostly ignored until the mid-18th century. A map drawn of the BVI in 1717 by Captain John Walton does not depict either Jost Van Dyke or Little Jost Van Dyke.
Foxy's Tamarind Bar & Restaurant is known for the fun group of people who enjoy island music, festivities and the overwhelming weekend buffets. The restaurant guarantees the fish to be fresh-caught within 3 hours of serving! Foxy's is best if you are there on a Friday or Saturday night for fun dancing and music.
DAY 2. Sail by jib, main & mizzen up the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Norman Island, aka Treasure Island, as named by famous author Robert Louis Stevenson! Norman Island is reputed to be named after Captain Norman, a pirate who was eventually apprehended and hanged by the Spanish Guarda Costas, the historical coast guard for Puerto Rico. While we are anchored at Norman Island, you'll definitely want to snorkel the Caves. It's a "must do"! Yes, treasure really was found there, hidden in the back of one of the smallest caves. Also, you’ll enjoy a to visit Pirates Bight Restaurant on the beach. They fire a mini cannon at 4 p.m. to announce happy hour to the anchorage. Their adjoining shop is where you can see many well preserved fascinating artifacts of "pirate life" from long ago! And there’s a nice hike with great scenic views around Spy Glass Hill.
For the young mateys, Three Moons offers a treasure hunt adventure. Kids are dinghied to Pirate’s beach where they must help the marooned pirate guide solve puzzles and riddles in order to uncover the clues that will lead them to the buried treasure.
Party like a pirate at the famous William Thornton Bar which is an old pirate ship bar full of "characters". There are several wonderful places to snorkel here and we hope to anchor the yacht in our "favorite spot" so that you can hop off the stern and snorkel right over the beautiful coral reefs.
DAY 3. “Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum! Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest!” Today, we’re sailing by the island of Dead Chest (which means “coffin” in pirate language), on our way to Peter Island ! Blackbeard marooned his men and left them with only a pistol and a bottle of rum. Their only chance of survival was to either be picked up by a passing ship or brave swimming the channel to Peter Island.
Peter Island is the largest private island in the BVI and the fifth largest of 60 islands, quays, and exposed reefs that comprise the BVI. You can almost imagine the pirate ships of the old days anchored in the calm waters of Great Harbor! The island was named after Pieter Adriensen (nicknamed "the Commander") who was the brother Abraham Adriensen, Patron of Tortola under the Dutch West India Company in the early 17th century. Pieter Adriensen and Joost van Dyk built a fort and slave pens at Great Harbour on Peter Island to facilitate privateering and the nascent trade in slaves from Angola. A new restaurant has been built using the walls of the old fort. It’s a great place to spend the afternoon on the beach with a tropical drink!
The only hotel, the 52-room Peter Island Resort, ranked in Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List,” and the Travel and Leisure “T+L 500” for 2007, is accessible by boat or helicopter. It has since twice been named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the "Best Places to Stay in the World".
This island has very good snorkeling with a wide variety depending on which side of the anchorage you are at. Ask us about the amazing dolphin experiences we've had here! Need to stretch your legs and get a little exercise? We think Peter Island has of the best walks or hiking if you are inclined...anywhere in the islands!
DAY 4. Cooper Island is a very good anchorage for a lunch stop, good snorkeling and a nice, casual restaurant called the Cooper Island Beach Club with the best conch fritters anywhere from Key West to Trinidad! The island lies adjacent to "wreck alley", a popular wreck diving site in the British Virgin Islands where a number of vessels have been deliberately sunk as dive sites. If the weather is very calm, we'll be happy to spend the night in the anchorage. If not, we'll sail on...perhaps to the secluded Savannah Bay in Virgin Gorda.
DAY 5. Tighten up on the mainsail lads! Lets get to The Baths, Virgin Gorda early! Virgin Gorda is the third-largest (after Tortola and Anegada) and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Located at approximately 18 degrees, 48 minutes North, and 64 degrees, 30 minutes West, it covers an area of about 8 square miles (21 km²). Christopher Columbus is said to have named the island "The Fat Virgin", because the island's profile on the horizon looks like a fat woman lying on her side. Snorkel, explore the large granite boulders, grottos and rock formations and return to your boat about 1 p.m. to set out on a close reach for Gorda Sound on Virgin Gorda. The North Sound of Virgin Gorda encompasses the famous Bitter End Yacht Club, Biras Creek Resort, Saba Rock Resort, Leverick Bay and St. Eustatius. There’s so much to do and see here that one can easily spend a couple of days enjoying all the activities! Some of our favorites include snorkeling the cannons from the Wreck of the Rhone, visiting the open air salt water aquarium at Saba Rock, dining at Biras Creek Resort and enjoying the Michael Beans show at Leverick Bay.
**Note~ One of our most successful "island tours" is the option of taking a private sightseeing cab ride from the Baths over the crest of Virgin Gorda to the Bitter End Yacht Club on the other side. This ride takes only about 20 minutes. The views & photo ops of Anegada from the top of Virgin Gorda are superb! If exploring the Bitter End & North Sound on the other side of the island is tops on your "to do" list, you may want to consider this reasonably priced alternative. We can pack you a picnic lunch for the beach at the Baths or you can have the best BLT sandwich of your life for $8.00 at Mad Dog's Bar while enjoying the view. Oh and don't forget the pina coladas! They're fantastic too! While you are doing enjoying this little side trip, we'll move the yacht around to the other side of the island and wait for your return. This option allows you to pack the absolute "most fun" into your day!
DAY 6. Heave Ho! It’s an easy beam reach sail to Anegada. As the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean, Anegada is famous for it's long stretches of quiet beaches, the large salt ponds that cover the West end of the island, unique fauna found no where else an Caribbean flamingos. Other rare or endangered animals include the Anegada rock iguana and several species of turtles. Conch, Caribbean lobster, and many fishes can be found near Anegada, particularly in the deep waters off the North Drop to the north of the island. The reef has claimed more than 200 shipwrecks, including HMS Astraea in 1808, the Donna Paula (1819), the MS Rocus (1929). It is a very flat island and not visible until you are within several miles of it, by which time you are already over the reef that surrounds it. It takes considerable navigational skills to enter the anchorage. Once there it is fun to hire an open air cab, for $10 per person/round trip to Loblolly Bay on the north side for snorkeling (absolutely fantastic!) or swimming on one of the most beautiful, isolated beaches in the world. There is no anchoring in this area, so you must take a ride to get there. There is a Tiki bar/restaurant called the Bamboo Hut there that serves fantastic fish, fried chicken and Anegada lobster for lunch. The Anegada Reef Hotel is famous for casual barefoot beach-side lobster barbecues...caught that day! You may want to consider this for one of your special dinners ashore!
DAY 7. Marina Cay & Scrub Island. Marina Cay, an 8-acre island was uninhabited until 1937, when award-winning author Robb White and newly married wife Rosalie “Rodie” Mason settled on the island. He wrote a novel about his experiences building his home on the island which was made into a movie: Our Virgin Island- filmed as Virgin Island in 1958; it starred John Cassavetes, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee. The movie is on board for your viewing pleasure! It’s interesting to note that the original dirt landing strip at Beef Island airport in Tortola was built just for this movie! Visit Robb & Rodie’s home while enjoying a sunset cocktail and live music from 5:30-7:30pm. You’ll find photos of them located at Pusser’s Restaurant.
Scrub Island is barely a stones throw away with lots of wonderful reef for snorkeling in between the two islands. Recently named by Travel & Leisure as one of “The Best Secret Islands on Earth”, Scrub Island resort has become one of our favorite stops as they are very boater friendly and happy for everyone to use their beautiful new facilities. Their pool has a waterfall and yes, we admit it, the Captain has happily slid down their water-slide. He's a big kid at heart! Both restaurants at the resort offer great dining experiences.
DAY 8. It's a quick, 30 minute hop back over to Trellis Bay, Beef Island Airport, making your departure morning very relaxed and hassle free.
The anchorages mentioned are the most popular and considered to be the ‘not to be missed’ spots. As we say, all itineraries are "written in jello" in the islands. The beauty of being on board a private yacht is having the freedom to pick and choose what you want to do from day to day. You will of course find your own favorite harbors, and each time you return, we promise, you will find another new location that will enchant you.
We hope you enjoy your pirate tour of the islands! No, there aren’t any pirates here today; but the spirit remains! There is so much to see and do in the British Virgin Islands!
Friday, May 20, 2011
How to Pack for A Caribbean Charter Yacht Sailing Vacation
So! You've booked a charter yacht in the Caribbean, complete with a crew and now are wondering how to pack. We can help! See the photo? That blue bag is way too big! Leave it at home and pack in a smaller bag bringing only the following:
What to Pack for a Sailing Vacation and Other FAQs...
Even though I usually pack more, I really only need:
5 pairs of shorts
5 T-shirts
3 swimsuits
1 pair of sandals or waterproof reef shoes
If you have a dinner ashore:
Ladies: 1 casual sundress
Men: 1 button down shirt & dress shorts
Do I need lots of clothes and dressy attire? No! Remember the old adage — "Bring half of the clothes and twice the amount of money that you think you'll need!" Pack your bag and if it is uncomfortable for you to carry it then you've packed way too much! You will need casual wear such as shorts, T-shirts, swimwear, beach cover-ups and shoes that can get wet with saltwater. A few of the finer restaurants require button-up shirts and slacks for the gentlemen. Rarely does one need a jacket and tie. "Smart Casual" is the rule of thumb for everyone in the Caribbean. Please, no hard sole shoes onboard! Walking onboard a pristine yacht with your shoes is considered bad etiquette. With the exception of exploring ashore, you will be barefooted ALL of the time.
Do I need to pack sunscreen?
No, we have plenty of both on board. If you do bring your own, please don't use oily or sprain on lotions which can cause the decks to become slippery and stain the yachts' fine upholstery. We strongly recommend Coppertone Sport SPF30
Can I bring my CD's and my iPod?
Yes! Feel free to bring any of your favorite tunes! We have an extensive music & video library, but it is always fun to listen to something new. We can even hook up your iPod to our stereo system! Also, you will find many books onboard to read while relaxing on deck.
What about making phone calls from the yacht?
Most stateside cellular phones such as AT&T and Sprint will roam in the British Virgin Islands as well as other islands in the Caribbean. Check with your carrier for roaming charges and availability for both voice and data.
Where can I check my e-mail?
There are lots of new places in the British Virgin Islands where you may go online; but do try to unplug yourself from the world.
Does the British Virgin Islands accept U.S. Currency?
Yes, the BVIs accept U.S. dollars, travelers checks and credit cards in most places. BUT! ATM machines and banks are not located on every island. Please bring a sufficient amount of cash for the week. Banking conveniences in the islands are not as easily available as they are stateside.
Should we dine out?
Yes! Now don't worry. The cuisine on board for your yacht is five-star excellent and included. Your chef has planned for your every need, your every snack, your every beverage and certainly, your every meal. (Fact: 32 meals are planned for every eight day/seven night charter.) The reason to dine out is to explore and enjoy the unique ambiance of the islands. A raucous lunch at Pirates on Norman Island, a quiet lobster dinner ashore in Anegada, or the fun nightlife & dancing after a Foxy's famous Fri/Sat. night barbeques are traditions of the islands and give you a glimpse of the Caribbean that you will cherish.
If you choose to dine out, yes, you pay the bill, but it will be worth it. Most guests find a lunch and a dinner ashore provide the perfect variation to the week that you will enjoy. You might invite the crew, it would be a special treat, but it is not expected. The point is that you enjoy the islands and experience first hand the culture, flavors and people!
Island Etiquette
As they say, "When in Rome..." You will want to remember that you are visiting a different country. The British Virgin Islands has its own culture and customs that are quite different from the United States. Sometimes we live in such a hectic world that we forget a few common courtesies. A very important rule is to remember in islands to greet the locals with a "Good Morning", "Good Afternoon" or "Good Evening." A smile and a polite greeting may seem very old-fashioned to you, but here it is still very much a part of everyday life. Try it! You will very likely get a broad smile and perhaps even a new friend! In town, the locals generally prefer that you wear a cover-up over your bathing suit. T-shirts and shorts are fine, shoes are optional; but bikini tops are not appropriate.
What other things should I remember?
Bring all your medications. Even some over-the-counter medications that are so easy to find at home are difficult to locate in the British Virgin Islands. If you are concerned about seasickness, then ask your doctor for a prescription for the patch. We have found that using nonprescription acupressure wristbands cures most mild cases of discomfort. Three Moons does carry an extensive first-aid kit. Thankfully, it is rarely if ever needed. Don't forget to bring spare pairs of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses.
Learn more at: sailthreemoons.com and bit.ly/aWvz9X
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The "Best Cheeseburger in Paradise" is at Coconuts Bar & Grill, U.S. Virgin Islands!
Whenever we serve cheeseburgers to our guests on board our yacht Three Moons, we always have to play Jimmy Buffett's song, "Cheeseburgers in Paradise"! How many times have you caught yourself humming that tune while vacationing in the Caribbean? Come on and admit it; if you are reading this, you know you are a parrot head at heart!
Where do the locals in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands go for the best cheeseburger in paradise? We go to Coconuts Bar & Grill for the BEST & CHEAPEST burgers on the island! You can order a $16.00 burger at any tourist hotel; but we prefer ours to be freshly patted out by hand, served with crispy homemade fries and easy on our wallet!
You'll find the restaurant located behind unassuming blue French doors in an alley (no worries 'mon, its' safe!) at 10 Main Street. Just hang a right at Imperial Jewelers and go to the end of the alley. And don't forget to order a frozen Bushwacker to drink along with your burger!
Can't find Coconuts? Give them a call: 340-774-0099 or visit their site at: Coconutsvi.com
Where do the locals in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands go for the best cheeseburger in paradise? We go to Coconuts Bar & Grill for the BEST & CHEAPEST burgers on the island! You can order a $16.00 burger at any tourist hotel; but we prefer ours to be freshly patted out by hand, served with crispy homemade fries and easy on our wallet!
You'll find the restaurant located behind unassuming blue French doors in an alley (no worries 'mon, its' safe!) at 10 Main Street. Just hang a right at Imperial Jewelers and go to the end of the alley. And don't forget to order a frozen Bushwacker to drink along with your burger!
Can't find Coconuts? Give them a call: 340-774-0099 or visit their site at: Coconutsvi.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
Our Favorite Event of the Year in St. Thomas, USVI is Carnival!
"Everybody love the Carnival, No don't stop de Carnival, Do as you like, but leave my Carnival, All West Indians love their Carnival, Everybody bound to have their fun, No rain at all can stop de Carnival, Not even hurricanes can stop de Carnival because all de Creole de love their Carnival." (Don't Stop the Carnival by Duke of Iron. Calypso theme song for Carnival 1952.)
Carnival in St. Thomas is the biggest celebrated local holiday of all! Interestingly enough, it seems to be more celebrated than Christmas, New Year's or any other holiday. Held the last week of April through the first weekend in May, it’s the local event of the year when Virgin Islanders are anxious to display their creativity and talents. We like to attend their calypso competitions, cultural nights, pageantry, steel bands, carnival village and of course the parades! Everyone dances in the streets! The parades last two days beginning with the children's parade on Friday and the adult's parade on Saturday. The event ends into a grand fireworks display at the close of Carnival. What a weekend! So far, year's Carnival is the best we've ever seen. No, it's not as big as the carnival in Rio de Janeiro; but the dancing in the streets will last for hours! The theme this year was "Let Our Cultural Spirit Enliven Carnival 2011", tipping it's hat to the long cultural history of carnival in the islands. This year's costumes and floats are more elaborate than ever before. It truly an amazing event!
Even USVI Governor John de Jongh along with Senators and other government officials will be spotted dancing in front of the bandstands! Great community involvement! You just haven't lived until you've seen the Rising Stars All-Star Steel Band double-decker wagon go down the street hopping and jumping to the rhythm of over 100 steel pans.
Every carnival hosts a load of food and we are proud to say we literally "ate our way through" the food fair this week. Traditional favorites such as stewed and barbecue chicken, conch and whelks are paired with side dishes running from creamy macaroni and cheese to seasoned peas and rice. The vendors offered savory curries with handmade rotis, pates, steaming hot bowls of ital fare and delicious sweet treats.
If you would like to learn more about Carnival in St. Thomas, go to www.vicarnival.com.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Does Anyone Know What This Is? Our Caribbean Sea Mystery Solved!
This week, my curiosity finally peaked! For years, we've been snorkeling here in the Caribbean and spotting these unusual fluted edged circles of sand on the sea floor. What do they feel like? They're sandy and feel like they're held together with something sticky. When it's dry, it crumbles like dry sand. For a long time, I've joked about them being conch poop; but never really gave it much thought until this week. I thought to myself, "There's no reason to allow this mystery to continue as there must be an answer somewhere on the internet". The first thing I did was post the photos on Facebook, guessing that some of our sea-faring friends would have the answer. Their replys were amazingly creative. The irony is that a family member who has only been snorkeling a few times in her life came up with the answer!
This neat thing is a Moon Snail sand collar, or an egg case. There are tiny eggs sandwiched between sand particles. I contacted Dr. Thomas Huelsken, a Research fellow of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland in Australia. His research focuses on sand-associated gastropods, particularly Moon Snails
He confirmed our information and told us that size of a sand collar is dependent on two things: 1. the shell size, 2. the foot size. The snails make the collar by rotating around themselves producing the egg collar with their propodium (front part of the foot). Thus, the center of the egg mass is (more or less) identical to the shell size. Usually the center is a bit bigger than the shell because of the constant movement of the snail during egg mass production. The diameter of the collar band is directly related to the size (length) of the propodium. In our case, he assumes (taken my thumb with 2 cm into account) the specimens' shell was 3-5 cm long (1.5 - 2 inches) with a propodium of similar size. From the morphology of the collar, he suggested that we were looking at a Polinices species (P. hepaticus, P. lacteus). These species can grow up to 40 mm shell length and up to 12 cm total length.
So, with one mystery solved...what's next? Hmm...I am sure we will think of something!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
5 Favorite Restaurants in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
As a yacht charter Captain and Crew, there's one thing we really love to do...eat out! We call it "research & development" for new menus to create for our award-winning galley. But, quite honestly, we love having someone take as good a care of us as we take care of our guests! Deciding which 5 restaurants in St. Thomas are our favorites is quite a dilemma. There are so many talented chefs on this 39 sq. mile island! And like most true artistic people, they tend to hop around a bit, changing restaurants with the seasons. We've tried below to list the establishments that we think are the most consistent with the best staff.
1. Enkai Sushi Bar: Enjoy an array of artisanal sushi, created with made-to-order loving care by owner Katie Lombardo and her amazing crew. Enkai creates a distinct culinary experience by taking the time to know the likes of each of their customers. We purchase our fresh fish from the same place they do and know it's going to be perfect everytime! Click here for more info on their Facebook page.
Some of our favorite unique rolls are:
- Aviones: Spicy tuna, avocado, caramelized plantain, scallion cream cheese, onion crunchies, wrapped in local yellowtail snapper & topped with a hot mustard-sweet chili sauce & daikon sprouts.
- Prism: Futo Maki syle spicy tuna & fresh hamachi paired with artisanal red lettuce, creamy avocado, cucumber, crispy tempura sea beans, ginger mayo, scallion, lemon & lentil sprouts
- Don't miss their signature Cuban mojitos as well as their Ancho Filet: Filet Mignon/ Ancho chile & expresso rub/ grilled asparagus/ cilantro-chorizo mash/ tempura leeks/ cuban espresso reduction...all featured in Gourmet Magazine!
- The gorgeous plate above is Pan-Seared Sea Bass atop Grilled Eggplant, Portobello Mushroom Red Pepper and Yellow Squash with a 4-Potato-Arugula Puree and Balsamic Reduction
4. Oceana: A "must-go" restaurant on a full moon evening, Oceana has become one of the island's premier restaurants known for innovative global cuisine created by renown executive chef Patricia laCorte and her culinary staff. We love the feeling of this water side restaurant located in a historic house in Frenchtown at Villa Olga. Visit: Oceanavi.com
- Try the Focaccia crusted oven roasted Chilean Sea Bass with fennel, tomato & chickpea confit, kalamata olive dust with lemon preserve vinaigrette
5. Thirteen: This is the kind of hidden place down a long winding road that's the perfect date spot, or you can head there for a great meal with friends. The view is amazing if you get there before dark. The restaurant overlooks Inner & Outer Brass Island and the North side. There's no website; but you can find them here on Yelp.
- Start with several appetizers such as the Foccacia Bread, P.E.I. Mussels, Crab Cake BLT Slider, and Beef Carpaccio Bruschetta; all are exceptional.
- Try the Crispy Oven Roasted Duck Breast with Cherry Tamarind Brandy Glaze or the Pepita Crusted Grouper with Poblano Cream; both were phenomenal.
- Definitely try the Pavlova or the Pretzel Covered Chocolate Brownie.
5 Favorite Restaurants in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
As a yacht charter Captain and Crew, there's one thing we really love to do...eat out! We call it "research & development" for new menus to create in our award-winning galley. But, quite honestly, we love having someone take as good of care of us as we take care of our guests! Deciding which 5 restaurants in St. Thomas are our favorites is quite dilemma. There are so many talented chefs on this 39 sq. mile island! And like most true artistic people, they tend to hop around a bit, changing restaurants with the seasons. We've tried below to list the establishments that we think are the most consistent with the best staff.
1. Enkai Sushi Bar: Enjoy an array of artisanal sushi, created with made to order loving care by owner Katie Lombardo and her amazing crew. Enkai creates a distinct culinary experience by taking the time to know the likes of each of their customers. We purchase our fresh fish from the same place they do and know it's going to be perfect everytime! Click here for more info on their Facebook page.
Some of our favorite unique rolls are:
- Aviones: Spicy tuna, avocado, caramelized plantain, scallion cream cheese, onion crunchies, wrapped in local yellowtail snapper, topped with a hot mustard-sweet chili sauce & daikon sprouts.
- Prism: Futo Maki syle-spicy tuna, fresh hamachi paired with artisnal red lettuce, creamy avocado, cucumber, crispy tempura sea beans, ginger mayo, scallion, lemon & lentil sprouts
- Don't miss their signature Cuban mojitos as well as their Ancho Filet: Filet Mignon/ Ancho chile & expresso rub/ grilled asparagus/ cilantro-chorizo mash/ tempura leeks/ cuban espresso reduction...all featured in Gourmet Magazine!
- The gorgeous plate above is Pan-Seared Sea Bass atop Grilled Eggplant, Portobello Mushroom Red Pepper and Yellow Squash with a 4-Potato-Arugula Puree and Balsamic Reduction
4. Oceana: A "must-go" restaurant on a full moon evening, Oceana has become one of the island's premier restaurants known for innovative global cuisine created by renown executive chef Patricia laCorte and her culinary staff. We love the feeling of this water side historic house in Frenchtown at Villa Olga. Visit: Oceanavi.com
- Try the Focaccia crusted oven roasted Chilean Sea Bass with fennel, tomato & chickpea confit, kalamata olive dust with lemon preserve vinaigrette
Friday, April 29, 2011
They do! Couples Marry Aboard Yacht Three Moons And Sail Off to Happiness!
Cheers today to everyone who has dared to follow their dreams and sail off to happiness!
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