FINALLY, A NEW JETTY FOR ANEGADA
As a seasonal present for all boaters wanting to go to the beautiful island of Anegada, either by ferry or by private yacht, the Setting Point Jetty will finally get underway to welcome tourists and locals. Chief Minister Orlando Smith, a staunch supporter of the new Island Sloop being built in Anegada, said that the new jetty is a “safer and modern dock for the people of the island and for visiting tourists.” The jetty will be the main port used by Anegadians to conduct commercial activities or travel to Tortola. It will also accommodate many tourists and day-trippers to Anegada.
WHITE SQUALL ENTERTAINS RAINBOW CHILDREN ON SAIL
BVI Governor Tom Macan, in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Powerboat Association and Geoffrey Brooks, from the Center for Applied Marine Studies of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, recently coordinated a day sail for the children housed at the Rainbow Home in Tortola aboard the famed charter yacht, White Squall II. Most of the children had never been on a boat and were totally delighted for their afternoon out in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. According to VI Powerboat President Shaina Smith, “Everyone had a wonderful time and we will certainly have the event again next year. We were delighted to have Governor Macan as a co-sponsor this year. The children were taken to Norman Island and were given the opportunity to swim at Pirates’ Beach.”
The Rainbow Children’s Home, administered by the government-run Social Development Department (SDD), serves “as a place of safety, as well as providing an environment that is designed to enhance the lives of the children.” White Squall II is the oldest day sail charter boat in the BVI, built in 1936 of wood. I’ll never forget my first sail on it in 1986 and it is just as lovely today.
NEW EMERGENCY AT SEA VESSEL PURCHASED IN THE BVI
What a great Christmas present! Vigilant II, a new $940,000, 51 ft multi-purpose vessel purchased by the BVI government, to help with safety and emergency response in the territory, was delivered to Tortola where it will be moored in Road Town, just before the holidays. An unusually stable vessel, Vigilant II can respond to emergency calls day or night. Equipped to take all kinds of sea and with state of the art electronics, the vessel will do ambulatory, safety and emergency response and has firefighting capabilities including shooting 500 yards of water. The vessel has a third engine with 800 horsepower that can run at speeds as high as of 32 knots as well as a large towing capability. Three crewmembers will be used on the multi-purpose vessel with responses taking between 20 minutes to half hour after the first call.
John Samuel, Deputy Permanent Secretary, states that training will be standardized for the volunteer crew. “Previously, the police, customs and VISAR would respond to emergencies. With Vigilant II we expect more co-ordination within these agencies. Rather than losing the need for them, the new vessel will reduce the possibility of overwhelming the individual agencies when emergencies arise. As we work together we will see who has the best capabilities.” This is wonderful news for the safety of boating.
WOODEN BOAT LOVERS WED
Congratulations to Paul Williams and Diana Moser who tied the knot on Christmas Eve. The two have lived and sailed aboard Simba, a classic wooden Choy Lee ’35, for years and can be counted on to enter most of the classic yacht regattas in the BVI. We wish them many years of happiness and fair winds.
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