Spot
#2: Bitter End Yacht Club

In the North Sound, located at the
northern end of Virgin Gorda, is the home of the well known Bitter End
Yacht Club.

The North Sound, once home to pirates Sir Francis
Drake and Sir John Hawkins, was a remote quiet anchorage, rarely visited
for centuries. In the early 60's, a rustic bar and cottages existed
clinging to the point of land on the north end of North Sound, which was
a destination intended for adventurous sailors. The Hokins Family
arrived, fell in love with the area, and built the resort into what it
is today, which while offering resort style accommodations and services,
still runs in true Caribbean style, using generators for electricity
and cisterns for collecting rainwater.

The North Sound is still an
attractive anchorage, made more attractive by shoreside establishments
like the Bitter End Yacht Club. While in the anchorage, take advantage
of the shoreside services offered at the Bitter End Yacht Club, which
include a marina, pool, beach, water sports, restaurants and bars, and
even a spa. The Clubhouse Steak and Seafood Grille has been a yachting
landmark for years. This open air restaurant sports the burgees from
hundreds of yachts and yacht clubs from all over the world. These flags
flutter gently from the rafters in the breeze made from the numerous
ceiling paddle fans, evoking a colonial Caribbean feel. The Clubhouse
Steak and Seafood Grille buffet is well known for homemade soups, and
breads, and if you have not tried a grilled Caribbean lobster, basted
with butter, this would be the time and place for this uniquely
Caribbean treat.

Spot #3: Jost Van Dyke

Jost Van Dyke
is a four mile-long barefoot paradise known for its casual lifestyle,
fine beaches and beachfront restaurants and bars. The Painkiller, a
drink made from the Tortola local rum called Pusser's Rum was created
here at the world famous yachtsman's bar named "Foxy's", named after
Foxy, the long time Owner of this bar and restaurant.

Perhaps
Foxy's is best known as the spot to celebrate New Year's Eve. Yachtsmen
started congregating in Great Harbor several decades ago to ring in the
New Year at Foxy's. This has now become such a tradition, that it is
wise to get to Great Harbor a day in advance for a good spot to anchor.
As the New Year draws near, the harbor erupts with activity and the buzz
of dinghies heading here and there, throughout the harbor, as everyone
visits friends, and ultimately heads ashore for Foxy's, to hail in the
new year, dancing on the beach under the stars.

Although Jost
measures just four by three miles, the island is rich in history. It's
been home to Arawak Indians, Caribs, Dutch, Africans and English. Jost
was the birth place of William Thorton, architect of the US Capitol, and
John Coakley Lettsome, founder of the London Medical Society, was born
on nearby Little Jost.

Great Harbour is sheltered by small
mountains and offers moorings. In White Bay, just around the corner from
Great Harbour, is the Soggy Dollar Bar, so named as generally patrons
must swim ashore for the cool Caribbean cocktails. All patrons lined up
on the bar stools are usually dripping wet, including, as you probably
guessed, the money in their pockets.

Jost Van Dyke has other
offerings. Trace the old trails that connect the island. Explore the
overgrown ruins of sugar mills. In the fall and winter, watch whales and
dolphins from a hilltop. Or visit the bubbling pot at the East End,
where the foaming sea forms a natural Jacuzzi. And you can stop by
Foxy's newest watering hole, Foxy's Taboo, on Diamond Cay, at East End.
You could walk across to Little Jost or take the dinghy to deserted
Sandy Cay, the perfect castaway island for your own beach barbeque.

Stop

#4: Soper's Hole

Tucked away, on the western tip of Tortola,
is Soper's Hole and Soper's Hole Marina. This area, also called the West
End, is home as well to a British Virgin Islands customs clearance
office with a dock that is used by ferries and yachtsmen alike. Across
the harbor from the customs clearance office, on the other side of a
small anchorage is Soper's Hole Marina. The pirate Blackbeard, who real
name was Edward Teach, once made his home in Soper's Hole from 1715 to
1718. Called a "Hole" because of the protection offered by the deep cut
of the anchorage into the surrounding hills, the harbor allows yachts to
anchor with good weather protection. Soper's Hole is a nice spot to
stop while on charter in the British Virgin Islands as the same
protection and calm anchorage that made Soper's Hole attractive to
Blackbeard, is attractive to yachtsmen today.

Surrounding the dock
area are a series of brightly painted Caribbean style buildings
creating a sense of a traditional Caribbean marketplace. Browse the
shops for artwork, crafts and jewelry made from a stone local to the
British Virgin Islands, or stop for a bite to eat at the Pusser's
Landing Restaurant and store.

Pusser's Rum was the original rum of
the British royal Navy and for over 300 years, the seamen on board a
Royal Navy ship were issued a tot of rum, each day with a double tot of
rum issued just prior to battle. The on board Royal Navy rum was doled
out by the Purser on board, and so eventually the Purser's rum became
known as Pusser's rum. In 1970, the daily rum tot tradition was
abolished in the British Royal Navy and the recipe of the blend of 5
different West Indian rums was sold privately to the Owner of Pusser's
Ltd. This company was established in Tortola and the same rum served for
over 300 years to the British Royal Navy was bottled and has now been
sold to the public since 1980

Pusser's Rum quickly became a
favorite of visiting yachtsmen when cruising in the British Virgin
Islands. A percentage of the proceeds from each bottle sold now go to
the Royal British Navy Sailors Fund, known commonly as the Tots Fund.
Soon after 1980, the now infamous drink, The Painkiller was born, only
properly made with Pusser's Rum. The Painkiller is now served in a
variety of locations in the BVI's. The best Painkillers, however, are
claimed to be served at the Pusser's restaurants, including Pusser's
Landing Restaurant in Soper's Hole, where the Pusser's Painkiller is
ordered by number according to the number of shots of rum poured in each
drink.

Attached to the Pusser's Landing Restaurant is a Pusser's
Rum store selling products branded with the Pusser's official label. In
addition to Pusser's Rum, Pusser's Rum drink mixes are sold along with
Caribbean spices and condiments, for a taste of the British Virgin
Islands.

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