Marina Cay

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The BVIs are as crowded as they are beautiful; there must be at least a thousand or more charter boats out here. First you have the bareboat charter, people who come out for a week or two and rent a boat from a charter company, then take off on their own to explore the islands. I think it is safe to say that the majority of these people don’t really know what they are doing. They cruise thru the anchorages and swim areas at full speed, super dangerous, in a race to get a mooring ball. Typically they panic and run over the mooring ball a few times or get it stuck under their boat before settling in and there is always a lot of yelling and commotion between the crew. Even though it provides some entertainment, there were a couple of times when we thought that our boat was going to be hit in the process. Of course they are on vacation and it isn’t their boat… so who cares anyway. Egad! But luckily we were unscathed. Then there are the big charter boats with captain and crew who rent out their boat and services for a week or two for the perfect vacation. Now you would think that these boats, piloted by a certified captain, would know what they are doing and act accordingly, right? Well most of them do but we certainly had a run-in with a few who were trying to give their patrons the “once in a lifetime experience” at the cost of all the other cruisers in the bay, putting our boat and others in danger. Holy Cow! In a way that was more frustrating because they really do know better, it’s not like they can just plead ignorance like the bareboat charter boats. So as we cruised around the BVIs we made special effort to avoid all the other boats underway and always chose the mooring ball at the far end of the field to limit our risk.

So our next stop along the way was Marina Cay, which we remembered as a charming little island (really just a speck with enough room for a beach, a restaurant, a small boutique, and a bar at the top of the hill). Of course when we pulled in we had the typical mad dash to the mooring ball and a confrontation with a charter boat captain who was literally about to hit us (the 65 foot catamaran came within inches of our boat and we had to start the engine and get out of HIS way, even though we were secured on the mooring). But once the commotion was over and we were settled into our spot it was time to go explore. Unfortunately Marina Cay and the surrounding islands have changed significantly in the last 10 years. Where there used to be a secluded beach, now a mega resort, and literally new development everywhere we looked. It is so sad to see the changes because we had such fond memories of this island, all the untouched and unspoiled beauty. But luckily Marina Cay itself hasn’t changed much and is still as beautiful and charming and tiny as before. We went to the beach and the restaurant there, as well as the Pusser’s Boutique. And right before sunset we hiked to the top of the hill to the Happy Arrrr Bar (get it, it’s a pirate thing). Not only were we rewarded with a great view of the anchorage but we also got to enjoy the live music, which was more like a one man show- very fun! We had a great time and even though so much has changed, it was nice to see that some things will remain the same.

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Photos

The Anchoarage
A view of the very crowded anchorage at Marina Cay, from the bar at the top of the hill.

Restaurant
Looking out at the beach from the resteraunt on Marina Cay, the tiny speck of an island with whole lotta charm.

Pusser's Company Store
The famous Pusser's boutique on Marina Cay.

The Beach
Love the beach cabannas on Marina Cay.

Jen Playing Along
Jen whooping it up with the live music during Happy Arrrr.

Comments

[Margie]

Love in the Islands
Hi Loved your romantic story , you are living out your dream after 10 years.So much fun to revisit memorable places.Jackie and I met in Hawaii and we keep returning.Aloha

[Nwad]

Where is the "mega resort" to which you refer?