This is our 5th time bareboating with BVI Yacht Charters. Initially, we were sure that all of our plans had fallen through because of the hurricanes. We have a fractional on St John that we go to 1 week before heading to Tortola. It was damaged and unusable. The boat we had reserved was destroyed. We were pretty much resigned to staying home this year. Then, a new boat became available, and we were able to reserve a week at Grand Bay on St John. We spent a wonderful week on St John, and were able to check in at Roadtown (long story) before heading to Port Purcell. We were immediately greeted by the great staff at BVI Yacht Charters. Our beautiful new boat was ready and we loaded our things aboard before heading to the French Deli for lunch. We then headed out to do some light provisioning. Later, Tony gave us his usual thorough check in on the boat. We went to Charlie’s for my birthday dinner, slept aboard and headed over to Norman Island after a chart briefing the next morning. 1 positive thing if you chartered this year was wide open mooring fields because so many people changed their plans. Although the Willy T was gone and Pirates’ Bight was not open, The Club is open and as good as ever. We spent 2 days at Norman and then sailed to Marina Cay. Nothing is open there but there are lots of mooring balls, and it’s still beautiful. We dinghied over to Trellis Bay for lunch and some provisions. Lots of damage there, but the people are great and working on clean up. We had a great sail down the north side of Tortola. A huge ray jumped completely out of the water about 20 yards off the starboard bow just past Monkey Point (wish I had gotten a picture). Our plan had been to stay at Cane Garden Bay, but the swells made that look like a bad choice so we headed to Great Harbor on Jost. We never seem to get enough time there so we stayed 3 days. Foxy’s Is open and as good as we remembered. The Taboo was destroyed. Sydney’s had not reopened but we understand is to open soon. We went to White Bay each day (highly recommend Reena’s Taxi). Soggy Dollar is open as is Hendo’s ( best food and drink in White Bay at least until Corsairs reopens) and Glenn is a great bartender. We then headed to Great Harbor at Peter Island for our last night (good snorkeling there). We headed over to Anegada for 2 days after turning in the boat. Retirement can be a wonderful thing. I think the people who decided not to come to the Virgin Islands this year really missed out. The water is still clear and blue, the beaches are beautiful. The people are great. The turtles, fish , dolphins remain. We will be back.