Spanish Virgin Islands Yacht Charters. We would like to introduce you to the passage islands of Culebra and Vieques, locally known as the Spanish Virgin Islands, two islands of outstanding unspoiled beauty situated between the U.S. Virgin Islands to the east and Puerto Rico to the West.
We picked up in St. Thomas and after a downwind sail to Culebra, anchored inside the long, wide reef at Ensenada in turquoise-green water over dazzling white sand. These protective reefs are a unique feature of the two islands providing absolute protection from the waves, yet giving total exposure to the easterly trade winds.
The next morning saw us on a short sail to the Isla de Culebrita, anchoring again in the crystal clear water over white coarse sand. Our guests swam ashore and walked over a grassy point to the Atlantic side of the island where the pounding seas have carved out large natural pools. The island is a natural wildlife sanctuary and it offers an energetic walk to the old, but still functioning Spanish lighthouse. The anchorage that night was in Bahia de Almadovar in the company of just one other yacht. This may well be the most beautiful anchorage in the NE Caribbean. Our usual late afternoon dinghy ride around the bay discovered two pairs of blue herons with their fabulous long green legs. After dinner, the full moon rose literally out of the sea.
The next day we sailed into Ensenada Honda and dinghied ashore to the quaint town of Dewey. We hired a Publico to take our guests over the hairpin road to the fabulous Flamingo Bay. This bay has a surging surf and is untenable as an anchorage but has the island's most spectacular beach. Our guests had a fabulous picnic lunch in almost total isolation We bought fresh snapper from the local Pescaderia and then celebrated a great day with champagne back on board Yacht Gannet.
The next morning, we sailed across Honda de Vieques to Vieques. The first 10 miles are a fast and exhilarating beat and the last 4 miles to Sun Bay a downwind run. We caught a magnificent 10 pound King Mackerel on our trolling rod just off the 90' shelf. Sun Bay is a two-mile crescent of sand and palm trees, and we anchored in total isolation. The next morning was a short sail to the totally secluded Bahia Chiva with its great snorkeling. Finally, the last day was a short run to Esperanza where we anchored in crystal clear water over flowing sea grass just east of Cayo Real. Cayo Real provides a natural aquarium for all forms of sea life and the most varied array of coral we have seen Wonderful lilac sea fans fluttering in the wafting current.
by: Ian Hughes and Jan Buelow aboard s/y Gannet.
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