The US Virgin Islands: Life on m/v HANCO

Someone has to live our lives and it darned well is going to be us.

Our Mission: Visit friends Sandi and John Moore on their yacht HANCO. HANCO is a derivative for Hancock County Ohio where John had HANCO EMS, Medic and Rescue for many years.

Sandi, Joel and I go back to about 1990 when we met in the hanger of Ft. Lauderdale Executive airport readying to board a QueenAire destined for San Salvador, Bahamas and the Riding Rock Inn. We shared a connecting room that trip (a grand way to get to know people) and we bonded immediately. We next met up in Park City that winter and skied our legs off at Deer Valley.

A few years ago John and Sandi met and married and their combined households included a 38 foot boat that then grew into the 63 foot Hatteras and a Great Adventure that involves being on the sea for 10 months out of the year. And, being the considerate friends they are, they have invited Joel and I down and we finally got off our dead butts and took them up on it.

And the rest is the US Virgin Islands. Wow, what a place.

Right now we are moored in a US Park Service area called Great Lameshur Bay. We cruised through Magen’s Bay yesterday, but it was too busy. Before that we have been in Christmas Cove, Trunk Bay and Watermelon Bay.

We have seen turtles, spotted eagle rays, sting rays, tarpon’s galore, squid, box fish, butterfly fish, jellyfish, trumpet fish, remora’s, tiny crabs, bristle worm, octopus, parrot fish, all kinds of angel fish, and some of the largest conch I have ever had the opportunity to observe. And, the most intriguing, two conchs mating. You have to wonder how they meet, let alone decide to mate.

Then we entertained ourselves with star fish. Lots of starfish. Now you think they don’t do much but turn one upside down and you have a starfish break dancing. It takes them about 5 minutes to crank it up, but then they ever so decidedly fold themselves over and get back on their “feet”. It is a two cocktail minimum show.

The little brown fish pictured left is a squid. The turtle is a Hawksbill. They turtles poke their heads up and come around the boat, check us out and then dive down. We had three off the boat the other day that just hung around and let us follow them.

Did you know that if you snorkel for 4 hours you will burn 1400 or so calories?

Sandi, John, Joel and I have truly earned our kibble each night and our grog.

Evenings we spend on the aft deck of the boat enjoying the sunset, hors de oeuvres, cocktails of course, then dinner, wine and chatting. Before we hit the sack we lounge up on the bow and enjoy the star gazing.

Last night we turned off all the lights and sat out with a beautiful sky and flat cove on the bow. No one has been moored in the same area for two full days. No houses lighting the area and nothing on the beaches.

Morning comes and the first one up turns on the coffee and we slowly make our way back to the scene of last night’s crime, the aft deck lounge.

The underwater pictures are by Sandi Knight Moore, our hostess, who is an accomplished nature and underwater photographer. The only credit I get is for having my digital underwater camera and case with me on the trip and the ability to download them. I think she could use a Brownie Instamatic in a used Ziplock Bag and turn out incredible images.

We have dined exquisitely on board and have not had one meal out. That will come tomorrow night when we return to the marina at St. Thomas so we can catch an early flight out Wednesday. We were invited to extend our trip but alas, the cost of staying 2-3 days more was going to cost more than the tickets to get here did.

American got us here as scheduled and with little time spent in airports waiting. I highly recommend the USVI as they are beautiful, mountainous islands that have much to offer travelers looking for a splendid vacation.

That is NOT Greg Louganis jumping off the deck, that is our own Joel proving he can't keep his legs together.

It’s 5:00 here, and time for our cocktails. We’re all pooped out from a few hours snorkeling in some pretty good current and the pork rib eye’s that traveled from Soto’s in Cambria, CA are rubbed up with Memphis Rub and awaiting the BBQ. Some Tobin James Cabernet and we’ll be stylin’ for the evening.

Sorry for the hodgepodge of images but I'm using my AirCard and wondering just how many megs of air time and the bill for this will be. Oh well...it's only money right?

Life is good, someone has to do it and it is going to be us.