FWIW, when I sailed to Bermuda a few years ago on Ocean Navigator's
/Ocean Star/, the one point the skipper was /very/ insistent about, in
connection with clearing in, was to avoid _any_ discussion of the "spud
gun" (basically a launcher made with PVC pipe, fueled with WD-40 sprayed
in the chamber and lit with a sparker from a gas grill - great fun to
launch potatoes!). Apparently Bermuda Customs has very little humor on
the topic of anything even vaguely smacking of being a firearm. Also,
we were a little slow in responding to Bermuda Harbor Radio's hails
(well, excuse us! we were working at reefing down an 80' schooner...)
and that resulted in a rather public dressing down. I was whacked on
the head by the boat's anchor "ball" (two, crossed disks of wood painted
black) and was rushed ashore for medical treatment (not free and not
cheap, BTW). While watching the boat move off the hook and tie up after
clearing in, BHR enquired of an assistant harbor master if "Mr. Emerson
had lost consciousness in the accident and if he had his tetanus shot."
The answers being no and yes, respectively, I was greeted with a cheery
"good for you, mate, as otherwise it's an automatic three days in
hospital". In general, BHR is pretty much "the voice of God" and not to
be trifled with.

BVI... on our last charter there, our boat was robbed (in part because
we were unable to lock the boat, even if we'd thought to do so). The
official reaction is "these things happen - it's those bad boys from St.
Thomas" and that's about it. Much of the stuff was recovered but only
after another attempted theft resulted in a charterer being cut up by
the would-be thief. That being too much for the police, they made a
real push to find the culprits and things like our camera with photos of
us and photos of the thieves on the same memory chip helped ensure they
spent two years in the slams. The point being, it may look like
paradise but there are snakes about...

Otherwise, I believe the sailing directions are "go east to 65W, turn
south, and go until the butter melts". Enjoy the trip!

Rick Emerson
S/V One With The Wind, Baba 35

Paul Braschi wrote:

>It looks like I am sailing off to Bermuda and then the BVI at the end of the month. I'd like to gain the experience of any of you who have made the trip. Recommended weather resources, Chart books, guide books, equipment etc. Any advice clearing in and out of Customs, Insurance (Boat and Health)
>
>I may also be looking for crew for the Bermuda - BVI leg? Anyone interested?
>
>Do any of you have experience with a riding sail?
>
>Like to open a thread for all of us heading out this fall (west coast and east coast) cruising . . .
>
>
>

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Received on Tue Oct 04 10:01:15 2005