AND $5 BIRTHDAY BONUS

We were invited to a friend's 30th Birthday Party this past Saturday night. Shopping for a gift is probably in the top 5 things I loath because I always want the perfect gift and never can find it. So, the universal best gift to give is champaine, or a nice bottle of wine. Who doesn't like wine? But, with wine, you need a nice wine bag. Wine Bags are all over when you don't need them, but when you need them, they are no where to be found. I rememberd a local gift shop in Red Hook sold these cute wine corks, and thought that I can do something creative with it with a nice bottle of wine. When my boyfriend and I got to the store, they were out of the birthday corks, and of course, when you aren't looking, I found a cute top to wear. In a hurry, I gave the lady at the register cash, threw the $5 change in the bag, and went onto the next place to find the perfect gift for the birthday girl. Without success, we went back to the original store, thinking that they had something new in the last 2 hours. Then my boyfriend suggested a t-shirt from his boat. Great idea. Cute. Simple. Personable. Back at the boat, I took out the top I just bought, folded a new t-shirt nicely in the bag. Do we need tissue? Nah. It's in a cute brown bag. Bloomingdale's has a nice brown bag, so this can work. Right? As we arrived to the party, I placed my brown bag next to a Coach store bag. Oh no. Coach. That's a nice gift. On the table there were several other gifts. My friend Laurie turns to me and starts talking how Pat and her went into together and were excited to give Stacy a facial. Oh no. That's a great gift too. As the party progressed, we all laughed and caught up with each other's lives. In conversation, someone mentioned that they wanted to see what was in the Coach bag. But another girl said she read that you can't open gifts until after you cut the cake. Open gifts? I haven't done that since Elementary school. Forgetting about the gifts, we drank more, laughed... and then came out the cake. Amazing cake. Now it was time to open gifts. Out came the coach bag with a coach hand bag inside. Then a painting by Tony Ramono (worth between $500 - $1000) given by Tony himself. Then the facial. Then a Burbury bathing suit, given by Vandi who's sitting next to me. Vandi, just recently engaged, wearing $20,000 ring, invites us to come to their wedding in Vegas. Then adds she loves gifts, and primarily the reason for having a wedding. Joe and I look at each other, then our brown bag. We can't help but laugh. This brown bag wasn't from Bloomingdales. Our once cute idea of a shirt, it's not looking so cute now. A couple other gifts come out and then she goes for the brown bag. Looking inside the bag, with no tissue, she pulls the shirt out. Holding it up proudly (she deservers and Academy Award for this), she shows it off. Then placing it back in, she pulls out a $5 bill. "And $5's!". Our faces were so red. That was our change. Oh no! I didn't pull it out. Vandi turns to us "You aren't coming to our wedding now". Stacy is a champion. We'll be lucky if anyone invites us to another birthday party. Lesson learned: Buy wine bags when you see them.

On another note, if you are looking for a wedding cake, or a birthday cake.. VI DESSERTS makes the best cakes I've ever eaten. Thank you Stacy. We hope you had an unforgetable birthday. Joe and I had a night we'll never forget.

FLYING TIPS TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS (AND OTHER PLACES)

Here are some sights that you need to have bookmarked on your computer... (US News June 18, 2007)

1. Sidestep.com
~ It searches and compares all airlines and discount websites. Then you book directly with the airline or rental car agency.
2. Seatguru.com.
~This site lists everything you need to know to choose the best seat. (including, pictch, width, legroom, placement of video monitors, and even how they serve the flight (odd number flight they could start from back to front, even number: front to back)

Other hints:
~ Always book directly through an airline so if you need to change the flight you can.
~ Wear a safari jacket. They have pockets all over, and even inside pockets for your passport.
~ Always carry your airline's 800 number with you. It could save you standing in a line of a 100 if you flight was canceled and can get onto the next flight without waiting.
~ Have an extension cord with you if you have a connecting flight. Between flights you can work on your computer, charge your cell phone, pda, or ipod. Most outlets are away from seating areas and you don't want to leave your belonging unattended.
~ The blankets on the plane rarely get washed. Bring layers.
~ Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. Once you clear security fill up your drinking bottle. They have bottled water on the flight, but it's just enough for a sip.
~ Supervisors can waive their policy. Always be polite, but firm. State your case with logic. (I guess not feelings or a personal situation -- they don't care)
~ Have a number for the nearest hotel incase you have to stay over night in another city.
Pack headphones
~ If you are traveling with your kids you want to try to stay together. If you are not seating near each other, you can kindly ask other people to move or change their seats. You can also try to get there early enough to change seats, but if that doesn't work, you can approach your child, and exclaim " Here's a bag, honey. Let me know when you need to throw up again." There are usually no guarantees in life, but chances are the guy next to your child will exchange seats for you.
~ Weight for luggage is a big issue. Some airports have posts outside that can check your luggage instead of waiting in a long line. Yes, you'll need to tip them $5 to $10, but it's worth it when you are boarder line a couple pounds here or there of meeting the weight requirement of 50 pounds. If you go over a pound, they can charge you up to an additional $100. The checkout lines, in most airports, don't have weighing stations. Or by the time they weight it, they think, what's an extra pound or two.
~ When flying to St. Thomas beware of the sudden plane drop before you land. I don't understand why they can't gradually land as they approach the island, but since I'm not a pilot and just a passenger, I just know to hold on and know that we won't hit the mountain next to us.
~ Clap once the plane actually lands, not while landing. A long time ago, passengers use to clap thanking the pilot. I wonder why that has stopped.
~ If you land before 6pm at STT there is a complimentary rum punch waiting for you. It's a custom to greet people in St. Thomas by saying goodmorning, or good afternoon. Having a nice rum punch isn't a bad idea to start your vacation.
~ Arrange for your own private taxi, if a friend isn't able to pick you up. It's worth the extra $10 a person.

Holidays

As a United States Territory, we celebrate all state holidays, including Christmas. Remember, Jesus was born under a palm tree in a stable. We also celebrate Dutch holidays, British Holidays, and whatever holiday we can think of so the VI government can have a day off.

CAT FIGHTS written by Bareboats, BVI

Every year, Foxy and the West End Yacht Club host the annual Cat Fight Sailing Regatta sponsored by the Catamaran Company. The races take place on the Saturday closest to Halloween.
Catamarans of varying sizes congregate in Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke to fight it out for the coveted, "Baddest Cat Award". The races are followed by the awards ceremony, a buffet dinner at Foxy's Tamarind Bar & Restaurant and an incomparable halloween party ... BVI style!
The West End Yacht Club is known throughout the Caribbean for their "Come One, Come All" approach to sailing races. Our only real race rule (which is actually enforced) is that if one yacht hits another, both yachts will be disqualified regardless of which cat is at fault.
Depending upon wind and weather, there are usually two races in the Cat Fight Regatta. The first is a short, triangular course which starts at the mouth of Great Harbour off Jost Van Dyke with the windward leg heading off towards Cane Garden Bay. Then around the windward mark, leaving Sandy Cay to port and the last leg is downhill to the start/finish line.

Provided wind and weather cooperate, the second race is somewhat more challenging. This time the course takes sailors up around Sandy Cay leaving the island to starboard. A nice long reach around Great Thatch Island always separates the wheat from the chaff as distance is made between the lead racers and the also rans. Then its back up to the windward mark and then down wind to the start/finish line.

 
Foxy's Cat Fight is one of the most fun and laid back sailing races in the British Virgin Islands!
Because of the friendly atmosphere, this regatta attracts veteran racers, bareboat charter guests and racing newbies from all over the Caribbean and further afield. Everyone is welcome to enter the race as long as they have a catamaran, know the rules of the road and have the desire to make their boat go fast.
All the race committee asks is that all catamarans entering the Cat Fight be seaworthy, carry coast guard required safety equipment and that you don't hit the committee boat. The cardinal rule for all West End Yacht Club races is to have fun! Our crew certainly does and though we have managed to win our division three years in a row ... (on three different boats I might add) ... the Budweiser blow up sofa on the bow pretty much sets the tone for our racing style!

Rainbow Rider puts up a wake on the windward leg to Sandy Cay
The results for the 2006 Cat Fight are as follows:
Over 40ft Class: 
First Place: Bahia 46 - Rainbow Rider
Captain Mike Fallis & The West End Yacht Club Hoolligans (including me)
Under 40ft Class:
First Place: Norseman 400 - Scubadu
Captain Joe Mellen

Second Place: Island Spirit 40' - Aristocat II
Captain Mike Kneafsey

Third Place: - Tabascocat (not sure of make and model) 
Captain Jon Pruden

Fourth Place: Island Spirit 37 - Sanctuary
Captain Jason Gras

The Baddest Cat Award went to captain Jason Gras ( a bareboat participant) aboard the yacht, Sanctuary!



Sanctuary may have won the prize ...

but who was the Baddest Cat?
As we sat down to dinner, a black cat (fitting addition to any Halloween Party) appeared. She brushed up against my leg and did all the usual feline things to make herself appealing. I reached across the table to grab my camera. She was not at all impressed when I took her picture instead of feeding her a tasty morsel! For that look, I think she should win the honourary "Baddest Cat Award"!


Rounding Sandy Cay - Scubadu follows the crew of Rainbow Rider
The 2006 Cat Fight was somewhat more challenging than usual thanks to the marvelous missing mark! Our crew aboard Rainbow Rider was mostly manned by aging sailors with less than perfect eyesight. After rounding the eastern tip of Great Thatch Island, (with a commanding lead on the rest of the fleet) we tried to spot the windward mark so that we could set our course.

Historical Highlights

Besides all the Holidays the the US Virgin Islands have, here are some interested historical dates...

300 BC - 1500 AD: Taino Indians inhabit St. Thomas
1493: Christopher Columbus names the island San Tomas
1585: Sir Fancis Drake sails though the channel between the U.S. and British Virgins, now known as Drake’s Passage
1607: Captain John Smith stops by, enroute to Virginia, to establish the first English colony in America
1666: Denmark plants her flag on St. Thomas
1671: Fort Christian erected as protection for colonists from pirates and other invaders.
1673: The first Africans arrive to be sold into slavery.
1678: Additional protection added - two hilltop towers, now known as Blackbeard’s and Bluebeard’s Castles.
1688: The first census. St. Thomas population: 146 whites; 422 blacks.
1691: Charlotte Amalie, first known as Taphus (for tap house), is founded.
1694: Denmark claims St. John
1717: St. Thomas planter start cultivation of sugar can on St. John.
1733: Denmark buys St. Croix from France.
1733: Slaves revolt on St. John, hold island for 6 months.
1760: Coral Bay, St. John is laid out in town lots (to date, no town).
1764: St. Thomas proclaim a free port.
1787: Lord Neison visits St. John and Tortola.
1801: British capture the islands.
1802: They return them to Denmark.
1804: Fire burns much of Charlotte Amalie.
1834: End of racial segregation between whiles and free blacks proclaimed.
1839: Compulsory education decreed.
1848: Emancipation of slaves in the Danish West Indies.
1867: U.S. offers Denmark 7.5 million for St. Thomas and St. John. Refused.
1900: By turn of century sugar can production is all but over.
1917: U.S. buys Danish West Indies for 25 million in gold. They become the U.S. Virgin Islands under jurisdiction of U.S. Navy.
1927: U.S. citizenship granted to Virgin Islanders.
1931: Islands transferred from Navy to Interior Dept.
1936: Women receive right to vote in local elections.
1939: Navy establishes submarine base.
1941: Navy builds airport, roads, housing. Remains through the WWII.
1950: Total of 26, 650 tourists (14,000 by ship, 12, 650 by air) visit island. Forty years later the total climbs to 1, 767,299.
1956: Virgin Islands National Park established on St. John.
1962: University of the Virgin Islands founded.
1968: U.S. Congress passes act allowing residents to elect their own governor. Previously, governors appointed by the U.S. President.
1972: U.S. Virgin Islands elect their first delegate to Congress.
1990: Modern airport terminal replaces WWII hangar.
1998: Virgin Island celebrate 150th anniversary of Emancipation.

Eastern Car Shop

When visitors come into town, I have people say to me all the time... wow, you live in paradise. What is it like living here? I wish I had your life. But what they don't seem to see pass the pina colada they are sipping down, is that living here is a different story then visiting here. Granted, it is beautiful here, but you realize all the things you take for granted living in the states. I had a friend Christopher call up and ask a local car shop if his car will be ready. We'll call this place, Eastern Car Shop to protect the innocent. Very politely, the lady on the other side of the phone asked him to hold and she’ll find out. Moments later she comes back and she replies... “I donut know. Call back tomorrow”. So I guess that means... "No".