usvi-on-line
Day 6 Capt Phil and Jost
Day 6 Capt Phil and Jost
Thursday was our big "planned" day. I'd decided weeks ago that I wanted to:
1)go to a British Island (just sounded interesting to do) and
2)really learn to snorkel
Now neither Mike nor I swim well. Deep water is NOT our thing. I'd tried to snorkel once on STJ, but hadn't brought contacts and couldn't see anything well so it was a bust. But I was determined to face my big fear of deep water and give it a whirl. I figured if I went with somebody experienced & ran into trouble I'd get some help.
After reading good things about Capt Phil and the Wayward Sailor http://www.waywardsailor.net/ on this board I made arrangements to go with him on a all day Jost/snorkel trip. We met up with him about 8am, another couple had signed up too. They were experienced snorkelers celebrating their 1st anniversary. Took the dinghy out to his boat (30 foot sailboat) and he introduced us to Tarn, his first mate from the Boston area, and explained all the safety features etc.
I'd only been on a small boat once before in the Keys and had been really seasick, but figured it was due to 90+ degree temps and drinking too much. So this a.m. I ate sparingly for b'fast and chewed up my bonine. Weeeeellll, I still felt pretty nauseous. Phil explained about this wrist band thing that he said had never failed for any of his snorkelers- pushes on some pressure point or something, so I had him put one on me. The plus side is that I didn't get sick, though for the whole trip to Jost I was not a happy camper, the negative side is that I think it pinched a nerve in my hand because my 2 outside fingers ended up tingling the whole time (like when you get cold exposure, or your foot falls asleep) and 2 weeks later they're still not back to normal. At one point last week I couldn't even get my fingers to all touch. Very weird-like carpal tunnel.
But on to the better things. The sail to Jost was choppy, maybe no more or less than normal, but choppy to my stomach. He showed us where he's building his house on one of the outer US islands, and we stopped to snorkel off that island. The other couple went right into the water (he supplies all the gear if you don't have any), and he very patiently explained to me what I needed to do. Probably my stomach was all messed up from fear as well as sea sickness
I asked how deep the water was there, and they logically wanted to know what difference it made-but to my mind it was an important point (it was about 18' they said)
He puts a life vest on you (undoes the vest so it just circles you) and with flippers and mask into the water I went. I'd worn contacts this time, and wow, what a difference that made. He got right in with me and away we went. He wanted to keep up in the area of the other two in case they had problems, so we kind of hurried along, and I'd have been happier just to float and look since it was all new, but hey, I'm a trooper. It was soooo pretty. And I only got water in my goggles a few times, and didn't even really suck in salt water. Though when it was time to get back to the boat, it sure seemed a long ways away, and I truly was scared that I was not going to be able to make it just by flutter kicking.
So I faced my fears and figure that if I can do it, really just about anybody can
The sail on to Jost was again still choppy, we sat out in the front and got really splashed, but figured if I sat in the back I'd be more upset stomach. The plan was to dock at Foxy's, so they call in the food order ahead of time. We anchored and took the dinghy in, it's a beach bar in the true sense of the word-all open air, and all. Pictures are here:
http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/jvd_foxys_b ... urant.html
The bar area is quite big, Foxy wasn't there playing guitar but another guy was and he was quite good. Phil gives a small tour while on Jost showing the boat that all the islanders are building, and walking us around pointing things out which was interesting.
Jost is very very laid back, except for the bars of course!
We're there for probably a good hr or 2, and then we sail back. I was told the food was good there, but really wouldn't know-didn't eat or drink anything! The sail back is with the wind and much less choppy, Phil serves everybody else pineapple and brownies and points out lots of different spots and talks about his times on the islands. He apparently is ordained and does a lot of weddings too.
We made it back about 4 and back to the villa. By the way here's the villa site:
http://www.vivacations.com/viewproperty ... rtyID=2558
I'd definitely try snorkeling again from the beach with a life jacket or flotation device so I don't have to worry about swimming difficulties. I'd rented one of those belts before but didn't really think it did the trick. Now I understand better what everybody talks about when they're snorkeling-it's quite beautiful out there!
1)go to a British Island (just sounded interesting to do) and
2)really learn to snorkel
Now neither Mike nor I swim well. Deep water is NOT our thing. I'd tried to snorkel once on STJ, but hadn't brought contacts and couldn't see anything well so it was a bust. But I was determined to face my big fear of deep water and give it a whirl. I figured if I went with somebody experienced & ran into trouble I'd get some help.
After reading good things about Capt Phil and the Wayward Sailor http://www.waywardsailor.net/ on this board I made arrangements to go with him on a all day Jost/snorkel trip. We met up with him about 8am, another couple had signed up too. They were experienced snorkelers celebrating their 1st anniversary. Took the dinghy out to his boat (30 foot sailboat) and he introduced us to Tarn, his first mate from the Boston area, and explained all the safety features etc.
I'd only been on a small boat once before in the Keys and had been really seasick, but figured it was due to 90+ degree temps and drinking too much. So this a.m. I ate sparingly for b'fast and chewed up my bonine. Weeeeellll, I still felt pretty nauseous. Phil explained about this wrist band thing that he said had never failed for any of his snorkelers- pushes on some pressure point or something, so I had him put one on me. The plus side is that I didn't get sick, though for the whole trip to Jost I was not a happy camper, the negative side is that I think it pinched a nerve in my hand because my 2 outside fingers ended up tingling the whole time (like when you get cold exposure, or your foot falls asleep) and 2 weeks later they're still not back to normal. At one point last week I couldn't even get my fingers to all touch. Very weird-like carpal tunnel.
But on to the better things. The sail to Jost was choppy, maybe no more or less than normal, but choppy to my stomach. He showed us where he's building his house on one of the outer US islands, and we stopped to snorkel off that island. The other couple went right into the water (he supplies all the gear if you don't have any), and he very patiently explained to me what I needed to do. Probably my stomach was all messed up from fear as well as sea sickness
I asked how deep the water was there, and they logically wanted to know what difference it made-but to my mind it was an important point (it was about 18' they said)He puts a life vest on you (undoes the vest so it just circles you) and with flippers and mask into the water I went. I'd worn contacts this time, and wow, what a difference that made. He got right in with me and away we went. He wanted to keep up in the area of the other two in case they had problems, so we kind of hurried along, and I'd have been happier just to float and look since it was all new, but hey, I'm a trooper. It was soooo pretty. And I only got water in my goggles a few times, and didn't even really suck in salt water. Though when it was time to get back to the boat, it sure seemed a long ways away, and I truly was scared that I was not going to be able to make it just by flutter kicking.
So I faced my fears and figure that if I can do it, really just about anybody can
The sail on to Jost was again still choppy, we sat out in the front and got really splashed, but figured if I sat in the back I'd be more upset stomach. The plan was to dock at Foxy's, so they call in the food order ahead of time. We anchored and took the dinghy in, it's a beach bar in the true sense of the word-all open air, and all. Pictures are here:
http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/jvd_foxys_b ... urant.html
The bar area is quite big, Foxy wasn't there playing guitar but another guy was and he was quite good. Phil gives a small tour while on Jost showing the boat that all the islanders are building, and walking us around pointing things out which was interesting.
Jost is very very laid back, except for the bars of course!
We're there for probably a good hr or 2, and then we sail back. I was told the food was good there, but really wouldn't know-didn't eat or drink anything! The sail back is with the wind and much less choppy, Phil serves everybody else pineapple and brownies and points out lots of different spots and talks about his times on the islands. He apparently is ordained and does a lot of weddings too.
We made it back about 4 and back to the villa. By the way here's the villa site:
http://www.vivacations.com/viewproperty ... rtyID=2558
I'd definitely try snorkeling again from the beach with a life jacket or flotation device so I don't have to worry about swimming difficulties. I'd rented one of those belts before but didn't really think it did the trick. Now I understand better what everybody talks about when they're snorkeling-it's quite beautiful out there!
Jost
Hi Toni,
I can definitely relate to your recent battle with nausea on the trip to Jost. Last Wednesday we did a trip on the Calypso and I was not feeling well at all on the way there. I did eat at Foxy's, and it was very good, and the way back to STJ was much better. It's a lousy feeling when you see 19 other people drinking and laughing and having a good time and all you want to do is get home. Looking back, I'm really glad I made the trip, loved Jost. We went to White Bay after Foxy's, home of the Soggy Dollar, beautiful beach.
Joe
"Today 4 U, tomorrow 4 me"
I can definitely relate to your recent battle with nausea on the trip to Jost. Last Wednesday we did a trip on the Calypso and I was not feeling well at all on the way there. I did eat at Foxy's, and it was very good, and the way back to STJ was much better. It's a lousy feeling when you see 19 other people drinking and laughing and having a good time and all you want to do is get home. Looking back, I'm really glad I made the trip, loved Jost. We went to White Bay after Foxy's, home of the Soggy Dollar, beautiful beach.
Joe
"Today 4 U, tomorrow 4 me"
Joe
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susan & herb
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:02 pm
- Location: northern nj
Your trip report brought back memories of our St John trip 2 years ago and our snorkeling trip with Capt. Phil. My husband and I also are not swimmers and had never really snorkeled off a boat. I wouldn't call snorkeling in 3 feet of water the real thing. On top of that, my husband as someone else on this forum said, "gets seasick in a rocking chair". Well he was determined to do this trip with our friends who are good swimmers. To make a long story short, even with life jacket on hanging off the side of Capt Phil's boat he proceeded to get green, very green. We eventually had to take him over to the island, probably the one that you snorkeled off of and left him there to sleep it off. The rest of us snorkeled and I used a life jacket. Had the greatest time. I did use a belt last year off the beach and I found that was much better. As you mentioned, when it was time to get back to the boat and I looked up, I said, no way am I going to be able to get back to the boat. Capt Phil proceeded to pull me part way back to the boat. I didn't feel so bad when our friends said they were tired also. Went back and picked up hubby, who really did not want to get back on the boat, but had no choice. It was not one of his favorite memories, but I loved the snorkeling.
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Jan&MikeVa
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:32 pm
- Location: The Chesapeake Bay