Saturday, April 6 — Tortola
We are in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Tortola is the largest island in the BVI and has long been the administrative and commercial center of the territory.
Sunday, April 7 — Tortola
We board the Flying Cloud of Windjammer Barefoot Cruises and spend the night docked in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Tortola’s protected harbors have made it a natural sailing base since the age of trade winds and colonial shipping.
Monday, April 8 — Peter Island
It is my 30th birthday. Peter Island is a privately owned island, historically used for sugar plantations before transitioning into a resort destination.
Tuesday, April 9 — Peter Island
We attempt Virgin Gorda, but winds are not ideal, so we stay on Peter Island. Its sheltered coves and limited development have kept it quieter than many neighboring islands.
Wednesday, April 10 — Jost Van Dyke
We dock in Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke. The island is named after a Dutch pirate and has long been known as a casual stopover for sailors rather than a plantation island.
Thursday, April 11 — Norman Island
We are at Norman Island. The island is often linked to pirate legends and is widely believed to have inspired parts of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
Friday, April 12 — Peter Island
We attempt to leave Norman Island for Salt Island but cannot due to wind and return to Peter Island. Salt Island is historically significant for the 1867 RMS Rhone shipwreck, one of the Caribbean’s most famous maritime disasters.
Saturday, April 13 — St. Thomas
We leave the boat and ferry to St. Thomas, where we spend the night. St. Thomas has been a major Caribbean port since Danish colonial times and remains a regional transit hub.
