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A Windjammer Adventure - Part DeuxBy Bob Stickney
About a year ago, my brother Phil and his wife Glenda
from Dallas Texas, had mentioned to me that they had booked a Windjammer with
friends of theirs from Austin. Would
I like to join them? After
much hemming and hawing, knowing that I would go, I said YES!!!
Besides it had been one of my lifelong dreams to sail a windjammer with a
family member.
The
itinerary this time would take us to the BVI’s on the Flying Cloud, a 3 masted
sailing vessel of yore about 208 feet long.
There would be Scott and Becky, Bob and Cynthia, Patty, Mike and Eileen
from the Austin area; as well as Phil and Glenda and Sharon (Cowgirl) from
Dallas. I was from Upstate New
York, but was made an honorary Texan.
Eleven of us would meet at Ole Works Inn on Cane Garden Bay between
Friday the 20th of April and Saturday the 21st.
Sunday night the 22nd we’d stowaway on the Flying Cloud.
After
a lot of scurrying around the week before I left, I was ready to get out of
town!!!
With
Murphy, my cat, at the vet’s for a week of holiday I was ready to leave the
unpredictable weather of Upstate New York for the BVI’s.
It took me about 10 hours to get there; but it was worth every cent. Around 11pm I arrived at Ole Works Inn in Cane Garden Bay, I checked my bags in my room and strolled across the street to Quito’s Gazebo to meet some of my shipmates for the following week. The place was hopping. Quito Rymer was working his magic as islanders and tourists were jammin’!! On the deck overlooking Cane Garden Bay I spied Scott and Becky, Mike and Eileen, and Cowgirl. After a few Carib’s it was time hit the sack as it’d been a long day of travel. I awoke to the roosters on Saturday morning to a torrential downpour. On and off most of the morning till around 10 we had these sudden squalls. After that the sun came out and we had one fine day. Saturday was spent lounging around being beach bums catching rays. Despite doing absolutely nothing all day; time just flew by. Saturday night we ate at Quito’s. I had Quito’s famous ribs. I had been salivating for them since I had them four years ago. Once my plate arrived I didn’t come up for air till my plate was clean. Later Saturday night the rest of the Texans arrived. Sunday morning came very fast. Once again we had our daily dose of liquid sunshine. It doesn’t rain for very long down there; but when it does it’s fast and furious. Sunday morning was spent walking the beach, catching rays before we checked out. Sunday
afternoon we rented a 26-foot boat and a skipper by the name of Jimmy About
5pm we got back to Ole Works Inn to load 11 Texans and all their luggage into a
mini-bus. That was a feat in it’s
self!!! With Kessler as our driver
we made up and down those long hills of Tortola to stowaway on the Flying Cloud
at 6pm. How we made it, I’ll
never know. We
boarded the ‘Cloud sometime after 6 on Sunday night.
We were met by mate Andre (I called him Kojak all week, as he looked and
sounded like him). Andre would be a
relief mate for Trevor a week after we disembarked.
Anyways with swizzles in our hands we checked in with Deb the Purser,
Paige the Activities mate and Trevor Chief
Mate. I lucked out this week
to have a cabin all to myself as it wasn’t a full ship. After checking in and all my paperwork finished, I stowed my
gear in my cabin and went top deck to greet my fellow shipmates. Everyone was a mixin’ and a minglin’ getting to know each other. It was a fine time indeed. A little after 7:30pmish a buffet was put out and everyone was chowin’ down! After dusk a steel band came aboard and the “Cloud was a rockin’! Monday
- April 23, 2001 I
put this date in as it will be the only time all week I will remember. Just the island we are visiting. Anyways,
I awoke with the sunrise to Bloody Mary’s and Sticky Buns.
Soon Chief Steward Wayne will be ringing the bell for breakfast.
“Rise and Shine”, the man says….
Breakfast was the usual fruit, cereal, and pancakes, today, smothered in
nutmeg syrup. About
8:45amish is Captain’s Story Time. Captain
Adrian is our skipper. A fine Englishman,
with a dry sense of humor but a great storyteller none the less. He introduces some of the crew.
Chief mate Trevor, Andre relief mate, Deb the Purser, Paige Activities
Mate, cabin stewards Wayne, Prem, Rochelle, and Amelia.
The stewards would serve our meals this week as well as be very creative when they made up our cabins.
Last but not least
was our bartenders for the week, Rodney and Country.
Probably the most important people on the ship other than the guys in the
galley or the engine room for that matter.
Adrian gives the story for the day, weather report……….
A Must for the BVI’s, and lots of other useful information.
He says that last launch would be at 12:30 and that we’d set sail
shortly thereafter. With that in
mind several shipmates took tours of the island, I just went ashore shop for
little odds and ends. Later it was
a painkiller at Pussers with several new shipmates. Around
1pm we’re ready to set sail on an adventure to parts unknown.
Sails are Later
a diving board is put out so shipmates can swim in the cool waters of the
Caribbean Sea. Suddenly out of
nowhere a squall moves in. It is
raining sideways!
It can only happen out here. Everyone is running to find a dry place.
As quick as it came, it’s gone. Sea
Chest is also open as shipmates are checking out what wares are for sale this
week. Soon it is swizzle time, then
1 seating for dinner this week as we only have about 40 some odd passengers
aboard. After dinner Paige gets
shipmates playing Pictionary, guys vs the gals.
The ladies ended up winning but it was a close match. Time to hit the sack soon as we’ll have another adventure
tomorrow. Next
up on our adventure was Cooper Island. We
set sail sometime about sunrise. A
couple hour sail. Prem is already
ringing the bell for breakfast. Shortly
after anchor Captain Adrian at story time, shows us where we are on the chart.
We didn’t sail off the map. A
little history about the island our weather report for the day and soon
shipmates off the ship. Wet landing
today and burgers on the beach. Once
again that pesky squall that has been following around nails us again. Shipmates that are going ashore in launches are drenched.
Everyone runs for cover aboard ship.
Don’t wanna get wet now, do we? Some
go scuba diving, others go snorkeling, the rest of us do what I like best down
here; be nothing more than an old fashioned beach bum.
Later it’s sitting in the shade at the Cooper Island Beach Club
overlooking the harbor at the Flying Cloud. Soon
we are back aboard for more of those delectable rum swizzles and a “seahunt”
aboard ship. It was the Texans
minus myself… I figured it time
to captain a team without my brother Phil and see if I could Whup his Ass!!! There were four teams…..
The Texans, the Mile High team……
something about pilots, I guess, another team whose name I don’t
remember and of course the “Whup Ass” team.
Something opening up a “Can of Whup Ass”. Basically what ya had to do was scurry back to your cabin and
bring back an item. Lot’s of
laughs. Thanks to Kathy Ann for the
tattoo that gave us an edge when it was needed most and for some guy (who shall
remain nameless) for coming up with the only protection that was aboard ship.
Like American Express… Don’t
leave home without it. Team “Whup
Ass” literally kicked butt! Later
it was the PBLT party. And GUESS
what guys… I got ya’ll on
video! Sometime
the next morning after sunrise we set sail for Vigin Gorda, home of the Baths; a
spectacular collection of boulders which form a bath area.
It’s quite a hike through caverns and whatnot. Adrian gives us our story time with some history of the
islands and again the weather report for the day.
Something like winds out of the NNE at 7-14 knots, temps in the mid to
upper 80’s and of course chance of rain 30-40%! Believe it or not there was that pesky squall, but we
didn’t let it damper our spirits. A
stop at Mad Dog’s for another tee-shirt and a pina colada and it’s back
aboard for swizzle time. Some
people go ashore for dinner and dancing later at the Bath and Turtle.
There’s a Another
island and another day. Today is
Josh Van Dyke. Once again we set
sail sometime after sunrise. After
we anchor in the harbor near Foxy’s it’s time for Adrian’s story time.
History of the island and our daily weather report.
This time there was about 25% chance of rain, semi cloudy skies and winds
were I think out of the NNE around 6-12 knots.
For once this week we escaped that pesky squall.
Lunch aboard today was Windjammer subs and salads.
GOOD CHOW!!! Dry landing,
hikes to the Soggy Dollar Bar or just hanging around in hammocks on the beach
near Foxy’s. Went back aboard to
shoot some video, interviewing passengers.
Tonight most of the ship went ashore to Fifth
Island in five days. A good sail
today to Norman Island. Crew hangs
the square sail. It’s a sight to
see. Crew pulling ropes to get the
sails just right. Once we anchor
off shore near Billy Bones, Captain Adrian gives us our last story time.
Lots of info today. What to
do tomorrow as everyone heads for home….
Flights etc. but we still have one day left.
Once again some history of the Island and our daily weather report..
Lets see now……. Partly
cloudy skies, temperatures in the mid to upper 80’s, winds from the NNE and
maybe a 20-30% chance of rain. With
any luck that pesky squall won’t bother us.
Some of our scuba divers dive the wreck of the Rhone, some go snorkeling,
there was parasailing if you liked. Lunch
ashore today was the infamous Windjammer Ribs.
Finger lickin’ good!!!. Shipmates
shopped at Billy Bones. Took next
to last launch aboard for swizzles and last sail. Sails
are raised about 5pm for one last sail to the Port of Road Harbor in Tortola.
Amazing Grace is being played on bagpipes, sails are raised; everyone’s
in their own thoughts. Tears well in my eyes and they stream down my face as I video
tape last sail. It’s always a
tough time as I have met many new friends and its sad to see that one fine week
has flown by so fast. Captain's
dinner tonight and the crab races to follow. I awaken on Saturday morning to see my shipmates off and to bid them safe passage home to meet again sometime. It is hard to believe that a week ago we were strangers but now we are family saying good bye. Some
of us later in the morning went back to town for some last minute shopping
before getting off the ship. Things
to buy for family back home Sometime
around 11amish it was time to say final goodbyes.
The Texans would stay over in Cane Garden Bay for one last dinner
together. On
Sunday morning my driver Kessler was waiting for me to whisk me to the airport.
Flight out of Tortola at 11am. I
board the plane, leaned back in my seat, and
closed my eyes to think of a week gone by.
Felt I’d been in a time warp all week.
But it was a good one at that.
By now most of my shipmates are home telling tales and spinning yarns
about their Windjammer
Adventure. My plane takes off and
circles the island. I see the
Flying Cloud nesting at anchor in the harbor waiting for new shipmates going on
their Windjammer Adventure.
Once again it
has been a great mix of shipmates. We
had George and Joan who brought their sons and daughters’-in-laws aboard.
Many years ago when George’s sons were 16 and 23 they had their first
taste of Windjamming aboard the Flying Cloud. Now
they brought their wives with them to experience the adventure.
George and Joan also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary
aboard. George went scuba diving
and he and Joan went parasailing as well. You
see they are 70 somethings . I
admire them for that. To Julie,
Karen, Deb, Patty, Leann, Robin and Greg, Scott, Kathy-Ann and Tim… Thanks for making team “Whup Ass” the team that it was.
Bob and Kay……… You couldn’t have picked a better place to celebrate your
20th wedding
anniversary. I am glad that I
could’ve been a part of it. To
the Texans… The Flying Cloud won’t be the same with out you….
Lastly to my brother Phil and his wife Glenda..
Two real super people. I
am glad that we finally took a windjammer together. After all these years you have found out what an adventure it
really is. Finally, even though I can’t name everybody, I am glad I was able
to share in your memories of a super week; as you will have shared in mine. Bob Stickney A.K.A. “The Stick Mon” |
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