Posted by Maya
on 1/27/2009, 5:21 pm
75.176.27.142
Cap'n Paul -
Hello there! In an attempt to rebuild the archives, I'm re-submitting the email I sent to you after BBS 2008 that you'd posted on the message board.
******
Before the trip, I had several basic, newbie questions about BBS and now I have the answers!
Here are some of my comments from the perspective of someone completely inexperienced with sailing and the BBS. Clearly none of this is new news to you, but it may be helpful for future first-timers:
* MONEY- was told to bring ~$200 in cash and a card. I think I ended up spending more like $350 while using a card as often as possible (general expenditures, not shopping/buying souvenirs). Travelers cheques were fairly widely accepted (at least accepted everywhere I tried to use them), so those came in handy. I was able to use the ATM at the Westin to get the additional cash I needed to make it through the end and get back home, but I would suggest that the $200 ballpark figure be upped.
* PACKING - I didn't come anywhere close to getting my stuff in one gym bag. 
However, I did heed the advice (read: threat) to only use bags that completely fold flat. Couple of packing comments:
* SHOES - people mentioned sandals, flip-flops, boat shoes, and/or old sneakers. The only time I wore shoes was on land - never on the boat and never on the dinghy. I didn't see a need for any special "boat shoes" or sneakers. I had water shoes, 3 pairs of cheap flip flops, a pair of sneakers, and a nice pair of sandals for the Westin. I only used the water shoes one day and only wore two pair of the flip flops the rest of the time (though 90% of the time, it was just one pair). The only time I felt that I had the wrong footwear was at The Baths. The trail is very tricky, so it would have been nice to have sturdier shoes (perhaps the water shoes). However, we just put on our flip flops when it made sense and took them off when we needed to. No biggie. So, with regard to shoes, I'd say one pair of flip flops/sandals for the boat will do you right. Just make sure that whatever shoes you bring can get completely wet...constantly. Don't worry about whether or not the shoes match your outfit--people rarely "match" and no one is looking anyway. You may choose to bring another pair for the Westin portion of the trip.
* CLOTHES - definitely had too many of the wrong types of clothes. For women would suggest:
- Swimsuits - only brought 5 which worked ok. Up to 7 would be fine too.
- Cover-ups - I brought a few too many "resort"/beach vacation cover-ups (i.e. - sarongs). What worked best for me was simply a pair of shorts over the bathing suit. Easier to get on/off the boat/dinghy in shorts than in a long sarong. Need lots of shorts though because they get wet and smelly over the week.
- Clothes - I brought a couple of "nice" outfits for dinner on shore. This was only needed at the Westin, definitely not during the boat portion of the trip. Even my casual clothes were a bit too much sometimes as others were often just in swimsuits and shorts or something similar even at dinner. Whatever you'd wear on laundry day or to clean up your house would probably suffice. I don't really wear a lot of dresses in general, but if you do, one versatile sundress, a white outfit, another decent outfit for St. John, and a bunch of shorts/tanks (more shorts than tanks since your swimsuit is often your "top") is all you'll need. Again, nothing needs to match. By Tues/Wed. you will select clothes based on what is dry and what smells the best. Also, don't bring anything that can't get wet. Even on the dinghy, chances are you'll get off with at least a soggy bottom...if not back and front...
* ZIPLOC BAGS - I packed 95% of my stuff in Ziploc bags and these were VERY handy, particularly for keeping the Westin clothes clean and smelling fresh after a week on the boat. I also kept 1-2 in my backpack so that I could either store dry things or separate out the wet things. I had quart size, gallon size, bodybag size, you name it. You can never have enough Ziploc bags.
* BACKPACK - this was definitely one of the most important things to have on the trip. Don't come without one. I got a small, fold-up one from Lands End that worked perfectly. Large enough to hold several items, but not too big to get in the way.
* SAILING GLOVES - didn't need these (maybe because we rarely sailed). Anyway, I'm taking mine back...
* IPOD - bring your iPod and some party tunes to share at the BBS parties. You can get an adaptor at the marina to play the iPod on the boat - no y-cables, etc. needed. Of course, I brought my y-cable and portable speaker b/c I didn't know if I'd need it or not.
* KITCHEN/COOKING - our boat was about average size (Moorings 4300), so we had a modest kitchen with a refrigerator, a freezer that got to freezing temps in certain zones, a stove with two gas eyes, an oven, and a sink. There were most of the basic kitchen implements you need - knives, mixing bowls, pots, etc. though we didn't have a cutting board or blender. As we did not have A/C, cooking is a HOT ordeal. You have to turn off the kitchen fan and close the windows over the sink when cooking, so the temperature rises quickly. Accordingly, when you plan your meal to cook, the quicker you can get in and out of the kitchen, the better. Keep it simple... I assume this is not an issue in boats w/ A/C.
* DIVING - I was very hesitant to leave most of my gear at home, but there really isn't enough room or water on the boat to rinse and air out/dry your equipment. I only brought my skin, my snorkel, and my mask and that worked out fine. The rental BCD didn't fit nearly as well as mine does, but I also didn't have to tote it around, rinse/dry it, etc.
* HAIR - (This is girl talk, Cap'n Paul!) This was definitely an area of concern for me. I ended up just coming with my "normal" relaxed hair - no braids, extensions, etc. Though I brought every hair accessory known to man (bandanas, scarves, hats, etc.), I made it by with just a hair elastic and a ponytail. Granted, after my luck getting shore showers ended mid-week, I stopped conditioning my hair so as not to use up more than my fair share of water. However, it was fine. Not particularly attractive, but fine. 
No one really cares anyway. I did, however, bring my flat iron for use at the Westin. That's extra cargo I don't regret!
Again, this information was provided in some way, shape, or form, by past participants, but once you do something enough, you don't realize how basic the information needs of neophytes can be. So, just wanted to share...
General BBS Comments:
* It was as "rustic" as I expected, the bathroom was as small as I expected, and I spent as much time searching for showers ashore as expected -- nonetheless, I had a great time. Just adjust your definition of what "clean" means (bodies and clothes!) and you'll be fine. And remember, there's always the Westin to look forward to!
* Though there were only a handful of people there my age (+/- 10-15 years), I still had an awesome time hanging out with everyone. As a matter-of-fact, some of the most interesting moments came from interactions with the nearly/over 70 crowd. It's all about being young at heart, right? Lots of interesting people around...*never* a dull moment.
* Though I have pictures of places I can't name (hmm, which green, hilly island is this....?? *shrugs*), the surroundings were beautiful. Even though it rained and was overcast sometimes, it was still great. As a matter-of-fact, when the sun did come out, we were kinda hoping for a few more overcast skies and a little extra shade.
* The website and Facebook page are great sources of info - please keep this up.
* Cap'n Paul ROCKS and always answers all of my questions.
Message Thread:
« Back to thread