BVI MUSIC FESTIVAL ROCKS CANE GARDEN BAY

Once again the BVI Music Festival is in high gear this weekend at Cane Garden Bay, where the sound of music meets the sounds of nature. Come enjoy world renowned artists at this beach front venue. The people of the Caribbean are extremely innovative when it comes to music, and they will tune up almost anything to make a rhythm. Whether it is reggae, calypso, salsa, zouk or soca, there is a different sound for almost every island. Regardless of the type, it is lively, fast and full of joy. Caribbean music can be about social commentary or protest, but it is mostly about dancing. Although you can always find a place for a spontaneous Jump-Up, a number of organized music festivals have been created all over the Caribbean. Designed for broad appeal, they include everything from Jazz and Blues Festivals to Reggae Festivals and even an opera season in Barbados. Attending a music festival is a not to be missed activity if you are visiting the islands. In fact, they are so fabulous, it is even worth scheduling your charter vacation around these events. Not only can you enjoy the music – often by world class performers – but you also have the opportunity to be in the company of local islanders and engage with them in a unique way with the common passion for music. Click to learn more about the music of the Caribbean. – Donna

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BVI WRECK WEEK

Aimed at encouraging more people to discover the magic of the underwater world, the BVI Wreck Week (May 17-24) was a great success. The week included a treasure hunt, PADI Project Aware Reef and Beach Clean Up Day, and several wreck diving certification courses. Open to all divers of all ages, the event concluded with a big party on Cooper Island that included a pumpkin carving contest and a beach BBQ. There are more than 100 dive sites in the BVI, and the underwater vistas are among the world’s most breathtaking. Dives off the Sir Frances Drake Channel includes ledges, caves, canyons, wrecks and sponge-encrusted walls. Although there are many wrecks to dive, two of the more popular sites include The Chikuzen and The Rhone. The Chikuzen lies at a depth of 75’ six miles north of Beef Island. The ship was sunk in 1981. The full 246’ length of this once-refrigerated vessel is teeming with fish of every description, including big rays, horse-eyed jacks, barracudas and more. The wreck of the RMS Rhone is a royal mail steam packet that sunk off of Salt Island during a hurricane. It lies well-preserved in two halves on a sandy bottom. Her steel wreckage is home to many species of fish and encrusting corals. The bow section, laying in about 80’ of water, reveals the coral encrusted cargo hold and other interior chambers. The wreckage field reveals the ship’s foremast complete with crow’s nest and the bow spirit lying in the sand. The stern section contains the ship’s engine, prop shaft and enormous propellers. Part of the BVI National Parks Trust, this is the perfect two tank dive. Click iff you would like to learn more diving in the Caribbean, including arranging rendezvous diving on your charter.
– Donna

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AROUND GUADELOUPE RACE

If you happen to be on a charter in the French West Indies between May 20-24, you may happen to catch a glimpse of the Around Guadeloupe Race. This regatta is between Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe ; Marie Galante and Les Saintes. Held in a friendly atmosphere, this regatta not only has great racing, but a fabulous party schedule as well! This is just one of the many regattas that occur throughout the Caribbean. With its usually clam waters, steady trade winds and numerous sister islands within a ling of sight, the Caribbean has long been a favorite spot for sailors. So, it is only fitting that there are a number of sailing regattas in the Caribbean, especially in the Spring. The diversity of organized sailboat regattas in the Caribbean is one thing that makes sailing in the islands so unique. Regattas of all types range from a “whatever floats race” (where crews bring their “boats” to the regattas, assemble them and set off sailing) to high level international match racing regattas and everything in between. Caribbean regattas attract some of the world’s best sailboat racers from the top-tier America’s Cup teams along with amateur sailors that are given a chance to sail with and against these well-known sailing personalities. For a full schedule of the Caribbean regattas, click to see our 2009 Calendar of Events. – Donna

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Online Links Highlight Best of BVI

Are you sitting at your desk in your tiny cubicle feeling totally sorry for yourself? Get a taste of the BVI through two new online links. A new forum for local artists has launched online- http://www.bvitalent.com/ has created a space where BVI acts can show off their skills and kick-start their career in the arts. Site founder Touche McLean developed the entertainment network site and has goals of holding showcase events and even a music video contest. If you want to have the opportunity to view local island talent hoping to get discovered, check it out. On another site, you can enjoy the history of the islands from a unique perspective. The Department of Culture is inviting the public to biew the Museums of the Virgin Islands Television Tour which is being aired on local access channels CBN, Channel 51 at 8:00 pm. and on JTV, Channel 55 at 6:30 pm nightly. The tour can also be seen at any time on BVI Web TV at http://www.bviwebtv.com/. The 30 minute production aims to inform the public on the museums that are found in the Territory. The production which was completed last year is being aired as part of the activities marking International Museum Day which is observed worldwide on Monday, May 18th. The program captures the historic essence of the museums and is special because the tour of the museums is given by a student of the St. George's Secondary School. The television tour visits the 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works located in John's Hole, Tortola, the VI FolK Museum on Main Street, the Old Governor's House Museum and the VI Maritime Museum at the HLSCC Center for Applied Marine Studies.

Now, of course, you could get hypnotized just staring at your screen-or you could experience this all yourself LIVE by booking a BVI boat charter! Check out the 44' Lagoon catamaran, Hypnautic. She can accommodate up to 6 guests in her 3 queen-sized cabins. The master cabin is very roomy with a sitting area and a separate walk in shower, while the other two cabins have ensuite heads/showers. All cabins have satellite TV and air conditioning controls. Diving is available. Click for more information on a Hypnautic Yacht Charter.

So, take a coffee break to the BVI in front of your screen and take a real break onboard Hypnautic or several other charters we have available! - Donna

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Swine Flu Changes BVI Customs Check-In

Starting May 1st, new customs clearance procedures have been implemented in the BVI in the Government's quest to strengthen its efforts to mitigate the impact of the dreaded Swine Flu (H1N1) on the Territory. After consultations by the Ministry of Health and Social Development and the local Pandemic Influenza Taskforce, Her Majesty's Customs has issued an advisory to the BVI boating community. The advisory states that all customs clearance procedures for yachters or other non-commercial vessels will only be processed through three designated ports of entry. They are the Road Town and West End Ferry Terminals in Tortola and the Spanish Town Ferry Dock in Virgin Gorda. Yachters wishing to dock on Jost Van Dyke, Anegada or any other sister islands are advised that they must clear customs at one of the designated locations. These precautionary measures will be in place until further notice. Visitors who fail to comply with the new procedures may be charged with illegal entry into the Territory. Meanwhile, cargo vessels docking in the BVI will continue to be processed at Port Purcell. There will, however, be additional screening and inspections by officers of the Environmental Health Department and the Department of Agriculture. - Donna

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