British Virgin Islands

No, this is not an arsonists heaven, this is a Full Moon Party on Tortola, British Virgin Islands and these are the girls I work with. The BVI’s are where we have been for the whole of January. We have been out on anchor, which we don’t usually do without the guests on, so we are seeing a different side to being a crew on a super yacht. Each day the range of activities to choose from include: diving, wakeboarding, kiteboarding, chilling on the beach – ooo it’s a hard life sometimes. The Full Moon Party, pictured, is nothing compared to the Koh Pang Nan, Thailand version, but never the less still enjoyable. They set fires on stilts in the sea and you can get drinks from the shacks along the beach.

Another place worth mentioning is ‘Willy T’s’. This is a floating bar, it’s a yacht that has been anchored in the same place for years and has been transformed into quite a popular bar. The only way to arrive is by tender – obviously. We went to this bar a few times and the girls decided to get ‘Willy T’s’ Tattoos. You know the hold water on for 30 seconds then let dry type. Well, wash off easily the guy tells us. Four days later I’ve still got the tat on my back, Hannah looks like a biker chick and wont wear a bikini because of the one on her boob and our chief stew has one slap bang in the middle of her stomach. Not a great look for any of us!

A few of our crew have started a little Wakeboarding club and I am getting quite good. I’m almost clearing the wake on my jumps and wakeboarding everyday is definitely an overlooked fitness regime – it gets every part of your body. It is now the 6th Feb and we are still in the BVI’s without guests. We just docked for the weekend and had Sat, Sun and Mon off work. Friday night the whole crew enjoyed a game of Truth or Dare and lets just say we have got some quite daring crew members on board. Then on Sunday we hired 4 ‘Hobbie Cats’ – little sailing Catamarans. Captain and Chief Stew on one, Engineer and Deckie on one, Deckie and Stew on another and Me, Hannah and Pino on the fourth, which ended up being free! We all set sail from the beach and decided to race to the other island about 2km away. Our hobbie was winning by far, we couldn’t even see the others, and then disaster strikes. Our mast stay broke causing the mast to fall flat in the water – sail and all and rendered us immobile, it stayed attached to the front of the boat and twisted the bow of one hull badly! Luckily no one was injured and someone on the island was watching us as we were coming in. He was an Irish water-sports instructor he came to our rescue and towed us ashore. Thanks Sebastian! We still had a good day on the beach and when the others finally arrived we all took turns doing single handed races, of which I was the champion. Oh yes Girl Power!

I will be leaving this boat in March. I am heading over to Thailand for a break and maybe to do some diving instructing.

I’d like to end this by wishing my cousin Grace a Happy 16th Birthday! May all your wishes come true Smelly Kelly.

Oh yes I will be tarred if I don’t mention this fact. As we were ultimately disqualified after tearing our vessel in half, the overall champions are Pippi and Ryan. These guys also had a few disasters…Ryan lost Pippi over the side and had to go back and rescue her and then they had a collision with an anchored sail boat. Well done guys! Oh and a massive thanks to Hannah who typed this while I am in bed sleeping zzzzzzzz. Yeah thanxs for that Hannah, i didn't say u could add to it.

St Maarten- St Barts- Barbados.

IRIE! Absolutely loving the Caribbean. I can definitely say that it is better than the Med trip that we just did. We have spent most of our time in St Maarten, part of the Dutch Antilles, since our arrival mid December. We left for a 1 week charter to St Barts with the owner and a 4 day crew holiday in Barbados to get our visas for America.

St Maarten is where I flew into to join the boat. She was moored in a marina called ‘Isle de Sol’ back to back with one of the islands infamous bar ‘The Sand Bar’. We were berthed in the marina with around 30 other Super Yachts, including ‘Xtasy’ the biggest Super Yacht of her time, owned by Chelsea manager Abromovich. To stand on our sundeck at sunset was a chance to witness a beautiful sight. The sun would set over all the other boat’s masts and it just looked surreal.

We worked our normal 9-5 weekdays and enjoyed the weekends off. Each evening we’d have sundowners in ‘The Sand Bar’. At the weekends we would hire a car and venture off to explore the islands beaches and shops.

I spent Christmas day here and had an excellent one. Christmas eve a few off the crew went to the casino, where I proved to be quite the shark- walking out 300 dollars better off. GO ME! Christmas day we all woke up to a feast and a half. The chef had been slaving away in the Galley since the wee hours of the morning and provided us with everything form pancakes to Champagne. After our feast we hit the ‘Orphans Beach Party’, a party that anyone without a family to see on Christmas gathered in mass. We took our cricket set and played all day. I was sent to field in the sea and spent hours swimming after stray tennis balls.

Shortly after this day we were sat in a bar and a man came up to me and Hannah for a chat, as the Yanks do. He told us that he had spent Christmas day at the Orphanage handing out presents, to which Hannah replied “Oh! We were at the ‘Orphans Party’ too.” He said “ No, not the ‘Orphans Party’, a real orphanage.” Shame Hannah! Maybe next year you can be Mother Teresa.

Then after a few games of volley ball we headed back to the boat for Christmas day and presents. Our captain dressed up as Father Christmas and handed all the presents out. Its was a great day!

Our guest arrived shortly after and we sat sail to St Barts (French Island) for a week long new year charter.

Although we had the guest on new years eve it was still something special. I managed to sneak off the boat with one of our deckies for a few celebratory beverages. Then we had the count down on the boat, 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1… Ow my God! The 100 Super yachts anchored in the bay all chose this second to flash every light, ring every bell, sound every horn and set off every fire work. It was the loudest, craziest, most amazing moment of my life.

After the charter the crew were ‘forced’ to take a 4 day break in Barbados to get our Visas. Seen as the boat insisted on paying for our flights and full wages while we were there, we didn’t mind too much. He he he. We flew from St Maarten to Barbados, a 2 hour flight, but after sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours waiting for a slot and then waiting in Barbados for the rest off the crew on a different flight, it took the best part of a day to get there. The crew on the other flight didn’t eve arrive till the next morning, they ended up delayed in St Lucia all night, Caribbean airlines eh. Our accommodation was unreal, the had hired us an old plantation house with 10 acres of land. We had 5 Bedrooms and a swimming pool, it was lush. We did the usual days at the beach and evenings dining out. We stayed in one night and two ladies came to cook tea for us. Then we sat on the porch and played a really funny game, the game goes, each person writes down 10 famous people, the names go in a hat then u split into 2 teams, one person as a minute to try n describe as many names as they IRIE can then over to the other team and so on. When you get to drinking you get some pretty fount ones. For example, Pippi, our stewardess, had to describe Heidi Klum She did so by saying “Er er er, you know, the gorgeous blonde Slovakian model, married to Sean.” Who’s Sean? “ Ow come on guys, you know Sea, really famous singer.”. It turns out she meant “ The German model, married to Seal.”.

Anyway we made our way back to St Maarten and are now heading to the British Virgin Islands to await our boss.

I’ll let you know about all the mayhem we cause there.

xxxx

Going to the Carib, IRIE!!!

Hello Guys,

This is just a quick update of my comings and goings over the last few months. October saw our arrival into Palma for a two month shipyard period. All crew were seriously looking forward to the Monday- Friday, 9-5 job that we very rarely get to experience. I was definately ready for my 5 weeks of holidays that I knew were coming up before Christmas.

The Shipyard period was good, ill give it that. It was a break from the norm and a chance for the crew to recharge after our Mediterranean season. Most of us joined a gym and went there after work each night, then we would spend our evenings chilling on the boat or go out for drinks. We spent our weekends cruising around the island, mainly hitting shopping centers as it was a bit wintry for hitting the beaches- October in Palma, a little chilly. The one time we attempted to lie on a beach we somehow ended up on a nudist beach and then the heavens opened up.

Nothing overly exciting happened at shipyard, just had a good time- that’s all that matters right?

All the crew took it in turns to take their holidays. October 30th came and it was my turn. I spent the first week with Mum, Dad and Bro in Ibiza, then headed to Bolton just in time for my nephews Christening on the 4th November. He was so cute when the Vicar was saying the vows to him. Brandon kept on nodding and smiling in agreement although he couldn’t possibly have had a clue what was going on. The Christening was a great opportunity for me to see all of my family in 1 sitting, RESULT!!!! Not much effort needed on my part. As always my dads great and he hired me a car. It’s amazing the freeness that comes with a pair of wheels, I just love jumping in the car and going for a drive. It’s a thing that most people take for granted or maybe not, some people don’t like to drive I guess, but I love it!

I drove to Berwick Upon Tweed for a couple of days at my room mates parents house there. Hannah and I have shared a cabin on the boat for 7 months and she came to stay with my parents in Ibiza. It was a 4 hour drive from Bolton to Berwick and spent the whole time driving there screaming (as opposed to singing) to my ipod. Berwick was so lovely, a great difference to Bolton. Small town where everyone knows everyone (especially Hannah’s dad who taught most of the town music at the local high school). I decided to stay there for 4 days instead of 2. Also I had a little drama there with my car key. I parked the car in town and when I went to get back in it the key phob wouldn’t open it so me and Hannah had to take it to a garage where they claimed there was nothing they could. A few phone calls later the Saab dealer told us that if you pull the key phob apart then there is a key in it. Back to the car we went and all was well.

After the holiday in Berwick-Upon-Tweed I planned to spend the next two weeks of my break in Switzerland skiing for a week then in the Caribbean for a week of sun awaiting the boat there after its trans Atlantic from Palma.

My Auntie Sue and I arrived in Saas Fee, same as the year before but this time we had planned our accommodation in advance- learning from last years mistake. After our first week there we decided to stay instead of going to the Caribbean. We skied everyday and really felt broken after that holiday. I did find myself in quite the dilemma one day after coming out of the restaurant at the top of the mountain to find my skis gone. A girl rocked up an hour later when she figured out she took the wrong skis. Think next time I’ll be trying my hand at snowboarding.

Well now its off to St Maarten for me to meet the boat after its Atlantic crossing from Palma. I’ll keep you posted.

Apologies for there being no pics as my iphoto as crashed. I’ll tell you all about my Christmas and New Year n the Caribbean once the problem is rectified and I can add pics.

So Ciao for now xxxx

Summer 2007

Well, well, well. Hello Blogspot it as indeed been a while.I do have all of my excuses and explanations for not updating you for so long readily prepared, so here goes.......

i couldn't be bothered! no no no- just kidding.

Last time you all heard from me I was in Siracusa, Sicily on Speedo watch, ow the good days, then my first Mediterranean season began.

We started by heading north to the South of France. The sea was rough on this crossing and many of the crew suffered because of this. My cabin on the boat is the most forward and by far the worst place to be in such conditions. All of the girls headed aft to the guest saloon and set up camp there for a few days.There was many a chick flick and a lot of tears shed.

Whilst on the subject of chick flicks, I recommend all women to watch "The Notebook"- great movie.

Places we visited in the South of France included Cannes and St Tropez, the super yacht hot spots of the Med. We had the guest on for 3 months and visited many places in the Med. When we have guest on the crew are limited to a few hours an evening to check out each of the places, so we don't really get to explore too much. When we do its usually straight off to the nearest bar.

We did go to Ibiza for a few days and I got some time off to spend with my Dad and brother. One of the other places we went I would like to mention is Corsica, purely because I loved it! Most of the island of Corsica is a national park so it is breathtakingly beautiful. The people are French speaking but are nothing like their mainland relatives. The people of Corsica are lovely and their island is probably one of the most stunning in the med. There are beautiful beaches and many sail boats to occupy you in the summer and in the winter you can head to higher land and enjoy one of the ski resorts.

For the few days we didn't have guest on we spent the time in Palma, majorca and yes I am sad to say we partied it up in "maga- ruff" for a night. Proper Brits abroad sites to be seen.

We left Palma on the 1st of September and did a 4 day crossing heading East towards Venice. All of this, like most of our crossings that are more than a day, was without guest.

Venice was something that I am glad that I have now seen. One of those been there, done that things. You know when you go there that there are no cars but you don't really think into it, it does take you back when you see the locals pulling up to their houses in a row boat and unloading all of their shopping bags etc. Imagine going for a big night out then having to row home, NOT FUN! After going to Venice I actually watched my first Bond movie, Casino Royal, of which the ending is set in the stunning San Marco Square.

Then we spent a month in Croacia, without a doubt my most favourite place of the trip. Altogether we probably had about 2 weeks in Croacia without guest on, meaning we had a chance to explore and explore we did. Me and my room mate Hannah ( The Ugly Kid as she is known by my mum. If she was an ugly kid then she had the ugly duckling syndrome because she is gorgeous.) hired a car for 2 days and drove the full length between Porec and Pula, stopping at all the major attractions along the way. We spent the night at a 17 dollor a night hostel, met some great peops there- hello you Irish bums! and became acquainted with the most funniest card drinking game ever. After our time off the owner of the boat arrived and for 2 weeks we toured them around the Croaction Arcagpelo.

Now crew and yacht are heading to Tunisia to refuel then to Palma where we will be based until December. I'll be visiting London this weekend then i will be in Bolton for the 1st 10 days of November.

I'll add some pictures of the boat soon. xxxxxxx

VICE- Speedos

Now here's a fact about Italy- it is SPEEDO CERTRAL. My brother and a few others (Norbert) will appriciate that comment.

There are so many Speedos here that you stop making fun of them, so Dad, Mum, Sean n Norbert I sugest you come here to overcome your phobia of "The Speedo!".

You have my room mate to thank for these photos. I share a cabin with two girls, Hannah from Scotland and Ania from South Africa. Ania has a fetish for taking photos of inadequetly attired people for a magazine called "Vice"- hence these shots. This a pic of her sneaking a shot at the guy in pink pants.

Siracusa, Sicily.

Siracusa! A little island off the eastern coast of Sicily is where I am right now.

Most evenings, after my mandatory 45 minute run, I spend chilling with a coffee in the sea front ice cream parlours- this island as got to have the best ice cream I have tasted! Most of these quiet evenings would somehow end up with me in the bars, enjoying the nightlife.

Right now I’m enjoying a day off, sunbathing on Siracusa’s rocky coastline. The water is so clear you don’t need a mask to enjoy the underwater view.

Yesterday we hired as minibus and 8 of our crew ventured out to Sicily’s greatest natural attraction, which is also its highest mountain, “Mount Etna”. Mount Etna is an active volcano, its summit reaches 3350meters and it has so many craters that when it explodes nobody knows where the lava will come gushing from. Upon arrival we toured around one of the lower craters at 1986meters (my DoB) and enjoyed a random game of throw n catch directly in its centre with the tennis ball I conveniently brought along. Finally we decided to hike “Etna”. This is a picture of us outside the ticket office after finding out that not only is it 50euros each to take the 4wheel drive bus just 400meters higher than we actually were but then u would have to pay to spend the night in the tour company’s hotel and join the group tour of Etna at 9am- SCANDALOUS!!!!!! Our crew is actually freakishly organised-to the point of “OCD”- so the fact that no one researched the volcano and its entrance fee is actually quite surprising.

The Malta Experience

Well it has been a little while since I last wrote my blog. Last you guys heard I was in Egypt and about to make my way across the Southern Mediterranean Sea to Malta.
I am glad to say that I made it safely and have been enjoying it here in Malta for the last 2 weeks.
In the 2 weeks here I have had a total of 3 days off work. I have been to Malta’s capital “Valletta” and it as got to be one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. Valletta is a fort on a peninsula, the whole city is this peninsula, its coastline is high walls with built in cannon holes and little secret passage ways all through it- the cannons actually have the English Crown Emblem on them. Its clear to see that Malta was under British rule from the world war until around 1975, it has got the same post boxes, phone boxes and the lamps outside the police station as in England, plus they drive on the left hand side of the road. Other than this I’ve not really seen that much of Malta, been working too hard and long hours trying to get the boat “blinging”. The one bit of advice I do have for anybody planning on going to Malta is, avoid the taxis, they are way too expensive and the public transport is great and cheap.