Village Cay Marina, Tortola BVI

After the New Year's festivities, we wanted a change of scenery but didn't want to go too far since we were still waiting on a part for our port engine. So, we followed Seaman's Elixir and Sojourn back over to Lameshur Bay for a few nights to kill time while we waited for an update from Volvo on our part. In Lameshur Bay we went for a hike up Bordeaux Mountain, at 1200 feet the highest point in St. John. We figured we would be treated to an incredible view at the top, but instead it ended at a dirt road with 20 foot trees in all directions. We walked another mile down the road, but still no view so we headed back down the hill disappointed. We did get one decent view, but it was only 1/4 of the way up so we could have just as easily turned around there.

When Monday rolled around I called Volvo to see if they had an updated ETA on our part. They said they would have it on Jan 18th, which coincidently was exactly two weeks from the call. Sounds like BS to me. When I originally ordered the part they said 1-3 weeks. 4 weeks later, they tell me 2 more weeks? So, we decided not to wait for it any more and headed off to Tortola (BVI) to have a mechanic look at it. After all, I'm not even 100% sure that I need that particular part. I figure we might as well have a mechanic confirm whether or not we need the part rather than sit around waiting for a part that realistically may never come. Maybe we'll get lucky and it will be a different part more easily obtained. Or maybe we can have a replacement fabricated here.

The mechanic we had been in touch with on Tortola said he couldn't look at it until Jan 13th, so we cleared into Road Town and headed 5 miles south to Peter Island to wait out the 6 days. Everything is more difficult with one engine, so we've been really keeping our movement to a minimum until we can get this issue resolved. Peter Island is a pleasant spot to spend some time. Our old friends Jim & Amanda (previously of Adventure Bound) were there on a beautiful 58' catamaran they are working on as professional crew. They didn't have a charter booked for the week, so we were able to hang out with them a bit when they weren't working on their boat. Peter Island also has some fantastic walks with incredible views. We were kicking ourselves for forgetting the camera yet again, but we plan to go there again and won't forget the camera next time.

This morning we left Peter Island and headed over to Village Cay Marina to take dockage. We had both been dreading this because maneuvering the boat in close quarters on one engine is extremely difficult. We had a reservation and I knew exactly where the slip was, so my only concern was that the slip might not be empty when we showed up. We circled outside the marina for a good half hour waiting for somebody to respond to the radio. Finally they did and told us we would be in a different slip, A29 instead of B23. Of course all the slips are numbered, but they don't have the letter. So we aim for what turned out to be C29 and barely managed to turn the boat around in the narrow space to get out. By process of elimination we found our slip on the third "A" pier and managed to get tied up with the help of one of the dockhands without damaging the boat. Hopefully we don't have to leave on one engine as well.

The first order of business was to get a SIM card for our cell phone. We haven't had a working phone since leaving St. John and have really missed it. I don't know how we managed without a phone for most of the trip south originally. Just being without one for the last week has been difficult. So now we have a local BVI cell phone and our handy Tracfone for the USVI and PR. We also manage to find a decent grocery store and Chinese takeout. We are resting comfortably in the marina with air conditioning, wi-fi, and stomachs full of Chinese food. Tomorrow the mechanic is supposed to come and hopefully solve our transmission problem, or at least tell us definitively what the problem is.