A good friend invited me to join him and three other guys for a week of sailing in the BVI. He told me that he was chartering the Syros, as a ‘Bareboat,’ from BVI Charters and that there was room for me on it if I was game. And so, I went on my first sailing adventure. We were able to set sail in the impeccably maintained Syros in the early afternoon of the same day we landed on Tortola. The delivery of the provisions that we pre-ordered from RITEWAY Supermarket was facilitated by BVI Charters and arrived precisely as requested—one hour before we set sail. Our charter of the beautiful and responsive Syros was in the off-season, i.e., early October, and we were especially welcome wherever we went. The boat was immaculate and totally ‘shipshape’ when we boarded. I am pleased to report that we returned it none the worse for the wear. It was stocked with all the dishes, utensils, pots and pans and so forth that we would need. The linen supply was generous as well. It was, for me, a week of joyous sailing and the adventure of a lifetime. We did have need to top off the diesel fuel once and the water tanks twice during the week. We also had to replenish our stocks of food and beverages a few times. The daily forays onto dry land were a special treat, and we ate like kings, whether on the boat or on land. The good friend who made all of this happen had chartered boats through BVI Charters previously and was therefore able to plan a very full and ambitious itinerary, including such nuances as arriving at the Bubble Pool on Little Jost Van Dyke at just the right time--as high tide was approaching. Likewise, we got to Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit such that we had them all to ourselves for most of an entire morning. I felt a peace that morning I have rarely felt in my life. Everything worked out as planned. The boat was perfect for the five of us. I even did a few stints at the helm, though under the watchful eyes of the more experienced sailors in the group. All in all, I believe that BVI charters is perfectly ‘right sized’ for this kind of adventure—large enough to provide any and all services and amenities that you could want, but small enough to treat you like an old friend. Every staff member I encountered was warm, friendly and exceedingly helpful. I have attached a couple of photos that may capture in some small way the joy that we all experienced.