We Were Attacked By Tarpons And Tourists

Monday, May 16th, 2016
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

We decided we would bite the bullet and visit one of the more touristy spots in the BVI -- White Bay on JVD.  White Bay is a lovely half-moon shaped bay which is protected be a large reef.
There are two bouyed entrances to the anchorage, which is bisected by a rocky outcropping by land and by the reef itself underwater.

East End of White Bay, Jost Van Dyke

We pulled into the East End since the other half of the bay seemed a bit crowded and grabbed a mooring ball.  The water in the bay is some of the clearest we've seen in the BVI so far -- 25 foot visibility easily.  

As an aside, one of the things that I'm most disturbed by in BVI is the proliferation of mooring balls in the most desirable anchorages.  In recent years it seems that the number of good, free anchor spots is shrinking and just about anywhere you might want to drop the hook.  I guess at $30/night it's very profitable to stake out a bit of the ocean and call it your own.

Looking For Soul Food And A Place To Eat

After spending the day limin' and cleaning the boat a little bit, we went into the local bar, Ivan's to see if we could pay for the mooring and grab a quick beer.  No such luck paying for the mooring, so we walked Iris along the beach a bit and then headed back to the boat.  Dinner and a sundowner ensued.

Right around sundown I was checking over the mooring arrangements and noticed a large dark shape in the water.  Once I got a good look at it I realized it must be a tarpon looking for  a meal.

What, don't like small fry for dinner?

Didn't really think much about it until Janet pointed out another one roaming around the boat, and when I looked off our stern I was able to count at least 10 fish in what looked like a school of predators.  I wonder if they hunt cooperatively?  I would guess they must.  Too bad they're not good to eat or I would go get me a fishing pole and a license and try to snag one for dinner.

Iris wants the Tarpon to come back and play

Tuesday, May 17th, 2016
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

After our Tarpon encounter we decided to move to the westernmost end of White Bay since that part of the bay was free of mooring balls and looked like a great place to spend the day and an evening behind the reef and in the fresh breeze.  Little did we know what we were in for.

West End, White Bay, Jost Van Dyke

We moved into the anchorage part of the bay around 8:30 in the morning, dropping our hook in about 8 feet of water and in beautiful white sand.  Lovely place to spend the day with more limin' and just lolling about planned.  And a cheeseburger in paradise at the famous Soggy Dollar Beach Bar.

When we moved we shared the anchorage with one other boat and it was nice and quiet.  We took the dinghy in to the beach and were able to get a table at The Soggy Dollar.

In the time it took us to get our meal and a painkiller, the place exploded into a large outdoor partay.  Fueled by cheap rum and pineapple juice.  By 2:00 in the afternoon we estimated that there were an addition 25-30 boats in the bay, many of them day excursion boats from St. John, USVI.

All of those tourists covered with oil

Day tripper Cats on the beach

2 hours sail from St. John, 2 hours on the beach, 2 hours back to St. John

Turns out having Iris along with us is a great conversation starter.  Janet met a nurse from New Orleans who stopped by to pet Iris and struck up a conversation.  Turns out she had done some time in the army in Lawton, OK and knew Oklahoma City pretty well.  Told her that I was an OU graduate and she said "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that"

Nothing fancy, just places we've been, please

At least in addition to the cheeseburger and painkiller I got a new T-shirt.

Iris decides to join in the party and loll about on the trampoline