BVI Rendezvous Update - February 27, 2018

(Feb. 27, 2018) Well, we are getting closer to the BVI Rendezvous and as in previous years, things are falling into place. Many of our longtime partners including Cruising World Magazine, Sail Magazine, Helly Hansen, The Bitter End Yacht Club, Bluewater Sailing, Annapolis Boat Shows, and Canadian Yachting have stepped up to help sponsor the event and for that we are truly grateful.

The itinerary laid out below is still about what we are thinking with the highlight of the week taking place on day 3 and 4 (Monday and Tuesday) at Leverick Bay Resort, Virgin Gorda. Here we have arranged to be on the dock for just $1 per foot per night which is a great deal. The resort is putting together a menu for us for a group dinner Monday night and as a bonus, pirate-man, Michael Beans will be performing live on the docks.

On Tuesday morning, we will be meeting up with Kim Takeuchi of  Unite BVI to handover our check for hurricane relief efforts that was raised during the Annapolis Sailboat Show this past October.  Then, for anyone interested, we'll be taking a tour of nearby Necker and Mosquito Islands.

6pm - Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the dock following the day's activities.

Wednesday morning, March 14th, we are all on our own but the Jeanneau team is thinking of sailing to Anagada so perhaps we will see a few folks there before meeting up again at the Pirate's Bight on Friday night, March 16th.

We look forward to sailing with our awesome Jeanneau owners and being part of the great Caribbean Comeback! See you in the BVI!!

Be sure to visit bvitraveller.com for the latest updates concerning BVI happenings post Hurricane Irma.

BVI Rendezvous Update -- Just a month before BVI Rendezvous!

March 10-17, 2018

(Feb. 9, 2018) We are just  a month away now  from the start of the 2018 BVI Jeanneau Owner’s Rendezvous, and while this will be a somewhat different rendezvous than we have hosted in the past, we believe it will be no less fun and enjoyable. Currently we are expecting 7 boats to be joining the flotilla but we may see this number go up over the next few weeks as we get closer to the actual event.
Something that we are really excited about is our scheduled visit to Virgin Gorda. Here, as a function of our hurricane fundraising efforts for Richard Branson’s organizations, Virgin Unite and Unite BVI, we will have the opportunity to tour both Necker Island and Mosquito Island.  We are sure this will be an exciting and memorable day.
T-Shirts! A big thanks to Cruising World Magazine who have graciously agreed to sponsor our 2018 BVI T-Shirts. This will be a great looking shirt, featuring on the back this year’s theme, Caribbean Comeback.

Please fill out the T-Shirt Order Form for each sailor in your crew!

Below is our scheduled itinerary:

  • Day 1 – Saturday, March 10

7pm - Welcome Reception at Wickhams Cay, Road Town, Tortola. Complimentary rum punch with light hors d’oeuvres.

  • Day 2 – Sunday, March 11

Enjoy your first night out on your own at one of the nearby islands, just a short sail away from Road Town.

  • Day 3 – Monday,  March 12

Arrive at Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda in the afternoon -
We reserved 7 slips @ $1/per foot per night. We plan on staying two nights. A plan for drinks and dinner are in the works. Back shortly with an all-inclusive price/ person.

  • Day 4 – Tuesday,  March 13

12pm - Tour of Necker and Mosquito Islands. We are working with Kim Takeuchi of Unite BVI to organize a water taxi to these exclusive islands under control of Sir Richard Branson.
**The money we raised during Annapolis Boat Show is going to the Unite BVI/ BVI Community Support Appeal organization.
6pm - Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the dock

  • Day 5 – Wednesday,  March 14

Own your own

  • Day 6 – Thursday,  March 15

Own your own

  • Day 7 – Friday,  March 16

4pm - Meet at Pirates Bight on Norman Island for buffet dinner and Pirate Party!
Price per person coming shortly

  • Day 8 – Saturday,  March 17

Return Boat by 11am
 

We plan to send more updates once we finalize more details! Again, we are really excited to see you all in a month! We are counting down the days.

 

BVI Rendezvous Update -- We're Still Going!

March 10-17, 2018

(Dec. 11, 2017) We are writing to update you on our plans regarding the Jeanneau Owner’s Rendezvous scheduled for March 10-17, 2018 in the British Virgin Islands. As we stated back in October, while the BVI suffered significant damage from the two hurricanes that swept through the area, we believed that by March, much of the BVI would be getting back to normal. At this time, we are happy to report that this definitely remains the case, so the rendezvous is a definite go!

A few quick updates:

  1. First and foremost, we are happy to report that both Mooring’s and Sunsail reopened their base of operations in Road Town, Tortola this past week. It was a lot of hard work but they are back in action, so very good news here.
  2. We have been in touch with a number of resorts, including one of our favorites, Pirate's Bight on Norman Island and learned that they are already back in business or will be soon. More good news!
  3. Flights in and out of Beef Island via San Juan have resumed as well as flights into and out of St. Thomas, so all good here.
  4. We have posted a preliminary itinerary to the web site JeanneauRendezvous.com to give you an idea of what we are thinking as to a possible route to follow. While this is not yet carved in stone, we have been in touch with the resorts listed, and they can accommodate us so we are in the process of firming things up. 
  5. For updates as to ongoing developments in the BVI, we recommend visiting the web site BVITraveller.com created by fellow island lover, Chuck Metter. Here you will find complete updates from restaurant openings to anchorage conditions to hotel conditions and overall recovery efforts throughout the BVI.
  6. During the Annapolis Sailboat Show, Jeanneau raised $36,000 dollars for hurricane relief efforts in the BVI. We are proud to announce that we have decided to direct this money to Richard Branson’s, Virgin’s Community Support Appeal Fund. Here we feel our money will find its way to the people and organizations that need it most.
  7. Finally, at this point we have just 6 boats signed up for the rendezvous. Prior to the hurricane we were closer to 15. We certainly understand why some boats backed out. However, with things improving in the BVI at a rapid pace, we hope anyone interested in JOINING US in the BVI will do so. We all still need a little fun in the sun and the BVI very much needs all of us to come and enjoy all that the BVI still has to offer which is a lot!

 

BVI Rendezvous Update

March 10-17, 2018

(Sept. 28, 2017) Obviously you’re aware of the damage inflicted by hurricanes Irma and Maria to much of the Caribbean including the British Virgins where we are scheduled to head to in March. I’m sure you’re anxiously waiting to hear if we are still going ahead with it despite the bad shape the BVI is currently in.Before I answer that question, here is what we know:

  • First, after talking with Sunsail, who is responsible for supplying most of the boats, they feel that by March, they will be in good shape and will have no problem providing the boats currently booked. In fact, they are shooting to be open by the first week of December, so good news here!
  • Second, it seems to be the general consensus that the smaller beach-bars and restaurants such as Foxy’s, The Pirate’s Bight, Cooper Island Beach Resort, etc. will bounce back fairly quickly and will most likely be back in business at least to some extent by March. Also good news.
  • Third, the larger resorts, specifically The Bitter End Yacht Club and The Peter Island Resort that were part of our itinerary, have informed us that they will not be able to accommodate us. This is unfortunate but given their size and the extent of the damage they incurred, we’re not overly surprised by their decision.

So, given this information, we have come to the conclusion that we are not in the position to host the kind of rendezvous that we intended to host due to the larger resorts being unable to accommodate us. However, we feel strongly that we need to support our sailing partners and the citizens of the BVI and therefore are interested in forging ahead with the rendezvous but in a slightly altered, more casual format.

Although we don’t yet have all the details clearly defined, what we are thinking is that we still meet in the BVI, organize some cocktail parties, and do some sailing together. However, we will not organize any large sit-down dinners with the entire group. In short, we will be a group, at least for part of the week, but each boat will operate more independently.

If you think this idea of ours has some merit and you’re still interested in forging ahead, please let us know by responding to this email. You will have up until October 31st to cancel your Sunsail boat reservation. They will refund you the full amount (deposit included) as long as it is done before that date.

One final thought. I’ve talked to many people this past week who make their living in the Caribbean and who have come close to losing everything. The one thing that they all agree on is that it’s going to be the sailors and the sailing community who will be the greatest factor in the Island’s recovery. With that said, if we move forward and go for it, we’ll be lending a helping hand to people who really need it.