We fired up the Sea Tiger and eight of us set sail in search of treasure in the British Virgin Islands from June 11-18th 2023. Here’s a short recap of some of the adventures for history sake.

Day 0 – Damn You Delta

Game day! Almost. Delta delayed our flight so we were “stuck” in St. Thomas. But, we did stay at a beautiful cliff side hotel (Hotel Mafolie) with 90 steps to and from the rooms. We had amazing food, kick off drinks and cigars. We saw Blackbeard’s tower and drank free coffee. And my wife befriended a cat named Midnight. If we’d have been stuck on our way back, we’d have been figuring out how to ship a new cat to Atlanta. One group did make it to the boat since they had flown in from Puerto Rico. They almost slept on the deck since they have not had training on opening doors but eventually figured it out. We made it out the next day to start the adventures.

Day 1 – There is No Fifth Level

The first day is kind of a blur. The days all kind of blend together after awhile and now a week later that day seems like a month ago. We left Roadtown and sailed for the first time and then tied up to the mooring ball. We are idiots as a crew at that point and it took a couple tries. The captain was embarrassed but we finally got tied up. I’ll give some pro tips on that later. We went to a place called Cooper Island that has a rum bar, little table top things in the water and our first conch fritters. Back on board, we had our first Pain Killers made by the captain. He asked if we wanted level 1,2,3 or 4. There is no 5th level thank god. I don’t know what level I had but it felt like a 5 as not long after I received my first bruises of the trip falling down the boat stairs. I tried to save the drink but was unsuccessful. I blame it on the fact I’m old and blind but it likely had something to do with the rum (just as most incidents did on this trip). We finished up with a great dinner at the Cooper Island Beach Club.

Day 2 – Rocks and Anchors Don’t Mix

We left Cooper Island and sailed to Trellis Bay to pickup luggage that had been lost for Deck Fluff (also aka the Mermaid). We had a morning snorkel stop at Diamond Reef, a tour of the Baths on Virgin Gorda and then moored at a place called Coco Maya near Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda. It was our first time trying to anchor in a professional boats only area with lots of coral. Everything went smoothly but we decided we needed to move a bit to allow room for others to get in. To our surprise, the anchor brought up a treasure of it’s own – a bazillion ton rock. Thankfully we were able to shake it off and head in. Great anniversary celebration dinner and then loud music, swings, dancing and Jenga.

Day 3 – Swimming with the Tarpon

The third day we sailed to Oil Nut Bay for lunch and a swim and then anchored at a place called Saba Rock. It’s basically a very cool beach bar on a rock with grassy areas, beach areas, swings, hammocks and games. We had an amazing time lounging the day away. The captain ran down Rum Runner (Jimmy and dog drake) for some frozen drinks. And there was a quick trip via dingy over to the Bitter End. It was then bar time at Saba Rock and the feeding of the tarpon. One of the group members (aka the Mermaid) talked a guy named Gumption into lending her snorkel glasses and she jumped in and swam with the tarpon as they were going crazy. The feeder saw her and started throwing scraps her way so the fish would pounce all around her. And after that was done we watched two people on these wake board things that rise up out of the water and zing along take jousting sticks and see if they could pummel the other person off riding along fast. That is a bucket list item to do one day. Finished the day with some amazing on board “Fajitas by Lynn”. Side note: first treasure found – a Garmin watch on the bottom of the ocean. I know it fell off our captain’s hand but it still counts.

Day 4 – You Put the Lime in the Coconut

Our forth day we sailed about 18 miles over to the furthest island in the chain called Anegada. Since I’m writing this, I get to say this was the most beautiful beach we visited. I’ve never seen water so blue and when we got there we were first and had the entire thing to ourselves. Kudos to our captain for getting us up to roll early. We hung out at what was also my favorite beach bar of the week – Tipsy by Ann. The owner (Ann) and our captain and his wife are good friends so it was great reunion. The Sea Tiger flag flies proudly right outside the front door. We bounced between the beach and the bar and had an amazing beach day. At one point, our mermaid crew member was laying in the ocean and the entire bar watched as Ann’s beautiful lab Prince bee lined for her to try and save her life. He got up to her and realized she was ok and came on back to everyone on the beach’s applause. Mermaid didn’t even know. But Prince knew. We eventually headed out (reluctantly for me as I wanted to stay for another month) for a safari with our captain driving us around the island. We made jokes about the baaaaaaad ass goats on the island and the cow on the side of the road who likely knows how to “steer” better than the mopeds we encountered. We stopped by the Anegada Beach Club, the Anegada Reef Hotel and we ate dinner at a local beach restaurant called Wonky Dog and ate fresh lobsters caught that day. We ended the night doing limbo at Potters. What an epic day!

Day 5 – Setting New World Records and Getting Soggy

Day five and we make it back to the main string of islands after a 30 mile sail back to Jost Van Dyke and park our butt in front of the world famous Soggy Dollar bar. We had been thinking about this day and place for months. It’s basically a small little bar with nothing but sand and Pain Killer drinks. They have a thing called the “drink board” where they keep track of people who’ve bought you drinks ahead of time. It’s hand written on these sheets of large poster board and you just scratch off drinks as you go. Due to our promotional efforts ahead of the trip I can proudly announce we now hold the Guinness Sea Tiger World Record with 92 free drinks waiting for us! And my wife had one co-worker who now holds the record for most individual drinks bought at 20! We tried our best but there were a few left when we set sail the next day. The good news is they carry over. We’ve all tried to thank everyone who contributed but if you were missed, THANK YOU! Finished things up with delicious “Pasta by Susan” on the boat. Another epic day!

Day 6 – Heading for Free Tattoos (but first, Treasure!)

Our next day we set sail for the other world famous bar called Willy T’s. But before doing so, my friend and I swam to shore in search of more treasure back on the Soggy Dollar beach. Our captain had searched everywhere the night before for his wallet but it was no where to be found. When we swam over in the a.m. we dug it up out of the sand! Truly treasure! I called and there was a $1M credit limit on one of the cards. There was a moment we thought like pirates and maybe we only found the wallet itself and nothing inside??? But we’re not really pirates so we brought it back to the boat.

We make a quick stop at Foxy’s in Grand Harbour to meet Foxy and then head off to Willy T’s. Willy T’s is an old pirate ship they’ve anchored in Norman Island (the Blight). It is an anything goes kind of bar with people jumping off the top next to the no jumping sign, butt slapped tattoos by the bartenders for the ladies and body shots. Some of us did the jumping. None of us did the other. But we did witness the debauchery. It’s an awesome bar and everyone who comes in is in a great mood looking to have a good time. You’ll see the dingys everyone uses to get here below. These can be dangerous as we had two of our group (myself included) fall overboard. Again, rum. Finished things up with scrumptious “Pasta with the Rushby’s” on deck.

Day 7 – Snorkeling on the Leeward Side

We stayed two nights on Norman Island and it offered us the chance the next day to do some amazing snorkeling. We were going to go in some caves but there were jellyfish all around and a few days before we had heard of someone getting stung by a box jellyfish and having to go to a hospital. So we u-turned and went to the Indians coral area. We saw a bazillion fish and our captain took some fantastic drone shots. It was only my second time snorkeling and I don’t think I can even count the first time as this was so, so much better. I accidentally bumped one of the flippers off when getting out and learned flippers don’t float. It didn’t deter me though as you can snorkel with one. Two is overrated. Had dinner on board the Sea Tiger with “Low Country Shrimp and Grits by the Olsons”. And then, finished things up with a return visit to Willy T’s and glow in the dark face paint fun. Thankfully it washed off (the next day). I think. I’ll know for sure the next time I’m near a blue light.

Day 8 – Heading Home

I don’t have much to say about the last day. I sat on the back of the boat and watched the scenery and got depressed. I’m not sure if anyone took any pictures but I didn’t. I just wanted to soak it in one last time.

Pro Tips (from a non-Pro):

1. If you make friends with our captain and his wife your chances of sailing on an amazing vessel increase substantially. Sea Tiger is awesome!
2. You should watch YouTube videos on knot tying, mooring ball tie ups, anchoring, hooking before you go.
3. Expect to get bruised. Some will bruise more than others (me) but you will bump into things, possibly fall down, etc. But these are sailing badges of honor.
4. Try yoga beforehand. I’m old, inflexible and fat so “staying low” was not a strong suit.
5. Have a little envelope of $5 bills and always buy from the locals when they come by. You’ll get amazing bakery items and even empanadas. They dingy around early in the a.m. so get up and shoot the breeze with them and then go eat.
6. Give yourself lots of time at the airport coming and going. On the way out we went through three customs and TSA. It’s just how it is given everyone is coming and going by boat.
7. Drink Dark and Stormy’s once in awhile. They are good. But, switch to water off and on or you may fall overboard.
8. Promote the drink board at Soggy Dollar beforehand.
9. Cook on board a few of the nights. You’ll be wiped out after all the adventures and it’s great to just hang out and then watch the stars.
10. Always have a good attitude. Things will go wrong. And then it’ll be fine.

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