Angelfish
Angelfish Reef is just off Norman Island, and marks the end of the archipelago of the British Virgin Islands. It makes for a great swim; clear water, lots of fish, good coral structure. We plan the swim to end at a series of caves carved into the side of the island, some of which you can swim into. Always a hit. Tourist-filled boats often ply the area, dumping sunblock slathered, lifevest wearing people in the ocean. We swim around them.
Guests Mike and Deb (3-time SwimVacationer) have matching speeds, and we guides have enjoyed watching them swim the courses we set up stroke-for stroke. After the swim, most of the guests stayed and played in the water; Mike and Kathy played with a large octopus for awhile, and got some great photos and video. I made 4 pitchers of banana smoothie that disappeared quickly. Guide Will drank at least 1 entire pitcher.
Yacht-made pizza for lunch, then we yanked the anchor and took a trip up the channel to Great Harbor, our third stop at Peter Island this week (thanks again, Peter). There was some decent size swell, and many of us took to the trampolines at the bow of the Promenade for a wet bouncy ride.
We plotted a timed swim; 1/2 hour around the harbor, then the leaders would turn around and sweep the slower swimmers. The first half of the swim was into the wind, but our guests plowed into it, checking out big schools of silversides along the way. Pelicans were divebombing the schools, making lots of bubbles. I tried to keep up with guest Jamie with varying degrees of success. Guest Paul (4-time SwimVacationer) was right behind me. Guest Janice, a first time SwimVacationer but a veteran on the Promenade, had her best swim of the trip. Janice wouldn't call herself a swimmer, but we do.
Back on the yacht, bushwhackers were the cocktail, yacht-made hummus and pita the appetizer, followed by an authentic Caribbean chicken barbeque with rice and beans and fried plantains. No one suffered.
Everyone piled into
the salon next to review the stroke videos Heather had taken of everyone over the past 2 days. Guide Will led the discussion. He's one of the best stroke technicians I've worked with. He stays up-to-date on the latest techniques, and presents them in a way that our guests can quickly turn into increased efficiency.
Sky full of stars. Belly full of chicken. Zzzzzzz.
- Hopper