February 5-10 Norman Island and Road Harbour, Tortola

On February 5th we headed out for Norman Island. Internet has been a bit dicey but at last email S/V Rum Runner might be in the bight at Norman Island. It is a bit far for VHF transmission but it is a great spot and worth a shot. Midway through our sail, we hail them on the VHF and they respond that they are at Cooper Island. Fortunately Cooper Island is right off our port beam so we tack and pull into the anchorage. It is very crowded but we enjoy a great night of catching up with Jay and Jenn aboard Rum Runner.
The next morning we all decide to go to Norman Island to take advantage of the many dive sites that are within a dinghy ride of the anchorage. In addition to the Willy T, there is also a dive shop in the bight that can refill scuba tanks for us. We actually anchored in Benure’s Bay, two harbours around the corner from the bight. It is much more secluded and quiet. The anchorage is also very deep so we try a new anchoring technique of pulling in very close to the shore and tying the stern to a tree. This worked out very well to secure the boat and to keep her from rolling and dancing around the anchor chain.
We spent the next couple of days diving, eating and drinking with Jay and Jenn. They had done their homework (thank you!!) and studied the dive sites so we all could go to the best ones. We snorkeled The Indians the afternoon of our arrival and then did two tanks the next day with an interim stop at the Willy T for lunch. The following day we opted for one midmorning dive. We took the tanks back to the dive shop for a refill and stopped again at the Willy T, this time for lunch and margaritas. Zeus, the world famous bartender was on duty, dispensing libations and ramping up the crowd with party music. It was apparently a little early in the afternoon for his body shots on the bar but he was merrily applying lick-on temporary tattoos, applied with great gusto and flourish to anyone who will dare to bare. The answer to your question is: not this trip. It was a fabulous and relaxing few days.

Some shots from Leverick Bay and traveling to Norman Island:

Stern-tied in Benure's Bay. Jenn and Kona from S/V Rum Runner in for a swim:

The Willy T

Dancing on the lower deck and jumping from the top deck. Even though now officially outlawed, jumping still occurs and sometimes involves no clothes. We were sitting on the stern rail. I saw some bathing suits fly by, looked up and almost got my eye poked out by a body part....

Very frosty margaritas, just the right things to quench a sea-salty mouth after a dive:

Today, February 10th, we came over to Road Harbour to see about getting our autopilot repaired. We have dropped it off at the Ray Marine dealer and are hoping the techs can repair it. We then stopped off at the metal works shop to hire a fabricator to make a mounting bracket. He is available tomorrow (great news given busy season) but requires us to be in a marina as he gets seasick. We have made a reservation and will pull in tomorrow. They have a pool. Sweet.