BVI, Cuebra and Barracuda

Hi,
So we have made it as far as Culebra. It is a fantastic Island.

The BVI is very busy and expensive. Every anchorage crowded with charter Cats, tethered to mooring buoys(cost US$ 30 per night ). Zero space to drop an anchor in most places. And every spot worth diving or snorkeling is overpopulated. The coral has been badly damaged and the fish life is minimal. There are beautiful areas however, and on another stop here I plan to explore them a little more.
The last two nights in the BVI we spent on the Northern Island of Jost van Dyke. One day at Green Cay on the east point, and the last night in Great Harbour where we cleared out to head west. Both were really great. Green Cay has the most exquisite "desert Island". White sand beach, Palm tree, some junk, and you can walk all the way round in 2 minutes. Cool. Alex spent most of the day Kite surfing, while James and I did school. (not quite so exciting )
Great Harbour which is a small bay flanked on the north with a white sandy beach, many places to quench your thirst and party all night, and a police station. Good fun stop. just mind the sand fleas. Donner!

Our sail to Culebra from Jost van Dyke was the longest for a while. WOW 37 miles. But what a lovely surprise. Friendly people, uncluttered anchorages, and the most fantastic dive areas. There are mooring buoys here too, but here they are FREE. The coral is incredible, and the fish life is great. The Barracuda are cool, They just hang around under or behind the boat virtually motionless. Average size 1,5m in length.
Quite good fun for fishing especially on light tackle (you need a steel trace )Catch a small fish as live bait. (good luck getting it to the surface, the barracuda normally nab it) Hook it on (with your steel trace ), then get ready as you drop it back into the water. It takes maybe 5 seconds, then WAM, he takes it and runs off 100m, leaping into the air. It will then take you half an hour to bring him in, with many more dashes off into the distance. Finally exhausted you can unhook him and watch him swim away slowly.
Beautiful fish.!

Tomorrow we sail for Puerto Rico.
It is a great pity we have to hurry along, but the Hurricane season is June to November, so I really don't want to hang around to experience one.

Chat soon
Rob