Captain’s Log: A Family Affair
The Basics
The boat: Beau Budd, a 2022 Lagoon 46
Crew: Captain Trevon (instructor) and First Mate Stephanie
ASA Students: Christi, Rick, and Lane
Courses Completed: ASA 104 (Bareboat Cruising), ASA 114 (Cruising Catamaran)
Day 1: A Family Affair
The students met with Captain Trevon and First Mate Stephanie at Nanny Cay. Christi, Rick, and their son, Lane, had taken ASA 101 and ASA 103 in Oklahoma but other than that had no sailing experience. However, they had plenty of other adventure experience! Captain Trevon was impressed to learn they were all pilots and race car drivers. This would only be the latest chapter in a thrilling and adventurous life for this family!
Day 2: Exploring Trellis Bay
After a restful night aboard Beau Budd, the first day at sea began by heading to Trellis Bay under power. The crew had plenty of crossing situations to test their ASA pre-reading knowledge. After practicing maneuvers under power the majority of the morning, Lane steered the crew into Trellis Bay! The students practiced picking up mooring balls until finding the perfect spot to moor for the night. Then, they took the dinghy to shore to enjoy the beach, shops, drinks, and food in Trellis Bay!
Day 3: Meandering Through Super Yachts
The students woke up anxious to get sailing and continue their learning journey! They dropped mooring, headed east, and raised the sails. Then, surprise— an impromptu man overboard (MOB) drill by sneaky Captain Trevon! Lane learned the importance of approaching an MOB from downwind rather than across wind but recovered nicely. MOB saved! The crew then dropped their sails as they approached the North Sound. It was Yacht Week and boy, did the crew get quite the opportunity to maneuver around some impressive super yachts! After gawking at all the boats, they made their way to Limerick Bay to enjoy some yacht rock music and a delicious charcuterie spread made by First Mate Stephanie. The day, which happened to be New Year’s Eve, came to a perfect end thanks to an impromptu firework display Richard Branson provided on Necker’s Island!
Day 4: Happy New Year!
The crew decided to spend the morning on Virgin Gorda and take a hike up to The Baths! Once they returned, the crew headed out of the North Sound, turned upwind, and put up a full main. Then, bearing west, they opened the jib and set their course to Cane Garden Bay. Each student took a turn jibing to the north coast of Tortola in 15 knot winds. Once in Cane Garden Bay, they took the dinghy to shore to admire the sunset. They ended the first day of 2025 with a competitive game of 31 and then headed to bed!
Day 5: A Dinghy Pub Crawl
Off to Jost Van Dyke! The students sailed on a broad reach before jibing back toward Thatch Cay, rounding up through all points of sail, and practicing a myriad of tacks. They worked their way into quite a hunger with all that sailing and hove-to for lunch! In the afternoon they continued their sailing maneuvers before picking up a mooring ball on Little Harbor. Before settling in for the night, they took the dinghy around Little Harbor for a mini pub crawl via dinghy! They visited three pubs and enjoyed a BBQ dinner ashore that these southerners said rivaled Texas BBQ!
Day 6: Surprise Drills
After proving their ability to sail in a variety of conditions, Captain Trevon wanted to make sure this crew was ready for the unexpected too! Surprise MOB and fire drills kept the crew on their toes all morning. With each drill, the family responded more calmly and proficiently and by afternoon, Captain Trevon decided to give them a break! They moored amongst the plethora of super yachts and big cats near Norman Island and snorkeled the nearby caves. A wonderful last night aboard Beau Budd!
Day 7: ‘Sad’-urday Strikes Again
Saturday, aptly named “Sadurday” by Captain Trevon, is the day of hard goodbyes for sailing crews with Go Sail VI! Due to the amount of sailing traffic with BVI Yacht Week, the crew decided to make an early start to get to the marina. They raised sail one last time (for this trip) and made their way back to Nanny Cay. Until next time!