Cruising in the BVI

[Zanshin]

I'm finally back aboard "Zanshin" and in the BVI. Sailing here at the moment is great, the summer season coupled with restrictive and somewhat complex entry requirements have kept otherwise crowded anchorages empty.

There are new rules regarding exit clearances by boat. One now needs to supply some paperwork via e-mail and get a "pre-clearance" in order to be allowed to go to customs & immigration and clear out. I did this 10 days ago.

But in the past week the BVI has been hit with a terrible COVID-19 outbreak. Although the U.K. has sent (for free) sufficient doses for the 30,000 local population they remain amongst the worst vaccinated populations in the world due mainly to distrust of the vaccines that has been fostered by groups and churches here. Then last week there were some high-school graduations and outbreaks at local night clubs / strip clubs / bordellos (some of them in the same building...) and the normal rate of <20 cases started going up rapidly. Daily the numbers went up 40, 50, 100, 120, 200 and so on. On July 10th there were 1300 cases (that's almost 4% of the population!). At first they introduced a late curfew but the next day it was all restaurants/bars/clubs closed and 19:00-05:00 curfew.

The test system is overloaded and any poor souls needed travel RT-PCR tests are in trouble, as those need to be at most 72 hours for travel, and the system has said that they cannot supply results in less than 72 hours at best - meaning the test results are no longer valid for travel.

I was supposed to sail from the BVI to ST. Martin today, but I haven't gotten my pre-approval yet. Despite several queries I haven't heard a thing. And my period of stay expires today - so I'm not allowed to leave but no longer allowed stay. And it is the same department that does both! I've given up on my RT-PCR test, I will most likely arrive in St. Martin with no valid test and get to spend 7 days in quarantine (despite being fully vaccinated).

And, in a twist that you can't even make up, the BVI government site has come up with the following plan:
BVI Government solution to the COVID-19 Outbreak

Who needs medicine and science when you have this solution offered to you by your government.

[DarknStormy]

Thanks for the update on the cruising conditions in the BVI. The Covid situation sounds quite disheartening. 

[Charlie-Bravo]

Good to hear things from lands and seas far away, sounds like ...... 'god knows how we are going to deal with the pandemic!' ..... at least they are up front that they haven't a clue.

Does leaving without permission make going back awkward in the future .... fines etc for breaking rules, and does it complicate getting in at St Martin?

Perhaps write a letter explaining that you are on your way, and hope to see them again soon,  pop it into an envelope and leave it at the office ...... at least it shows willing.

CB
(slightly jealous of your cruising grounds)

[Zanshin]

I received an e-mail last night, perhaps because I cc'd a number of people. They are looking into getting me my pre-clearance to leave, but they want a negative PCR test. Considering I applied to get a test date on Friday and haven't heard back I'm not too optimistic here.

[mdrsail]

Just tell them you prayed and haven't eaten in two days.

[Zanshin]

I just arrived in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia a couple of hours ago!

Getting out of the BVI was a huge problem. But I took a COVID test that I knew would be expired by the time I arrived wherever I was going (due to the 72hour time lag) and was surprised that the results arrived just before 2 days! I cleared out of the BVI immediately, lucky to get my pre-clearance but I think that cc'ing half the government and German honorary Consul in the BVI did the trick!
The weather was awful for the trip, it could have been worse but then I'd have sailed through a hurricane I need a course of 143 and 330NM for the trip. The best I could for the first 24 hours of sailing was 180. And I'd bet that getting south would set me up for less big winds and waves so that I could make easting. I lost that bet.

All in all it took me exactly 3 days to get here. And my speed was never under 5KN and usually over 8KN!

But the nurse at Port Health conspired to let me in without another test despite being over the 5-Day limit. And Customs and Immigration and Port Authority officials were all, without exception, efficient and friendly. What a stark comparison to the BVI!

Now I'm going to have a Heineken and scrub the massive salt buildup on deck and on the metal hardware. Why does it never rain right after arriving from a passage?