Some say Anegada British Virgin Islands is boring but read on to find out why this simply isn’t the case:
Written by Bambi Alexander of the charter yacht “Cool Running’s”.
ANEGADA is often described as the Cuckoo in the nest of the VIRGIN ISLANDS; it is low, lying only 28 feet above sea level and made of coral and limestone, whereas all the rest of the islands are mountainous and from the volcanic formation. The island is approximately 11 miles long, surrounded by a reef, a treacherous coast that has since days of old wrecked many, many unwary ships and sailing yachts.
Thankfully today, there is a buoyed route into a calm, safe anchorage through the reef, which is accurately plotted on nautical charts. We like to anchor off Pomato Point for a night and avoid the hub of the anchorage. This is the epitome of a ‘quiet spot,’ and the true beauty of Anegada is the feeling of isolation, being far from the maddening crowd. I always love to watch the expression on guests’ faces as they gaze across the island. And follow the mile upon mile of silvery-white sand that frames the entire island. As well as crystal transparent butterfly blue water gently lapping at the beach. It is an expression of disbelief and pleasure! they dive into the cabins to fetch their cameras and exclaim ecstatically that they have landed plum in the middle of a unique travel brochure. Anything this perfect just cannot be true.
The following day we moved around to the anchorage in front of the Anegada Reef Hotel. In addition, there are traps filled with enormous lobsters at the dinghy dock in the shallow water. Anegada is the “Lobster Mecca” of the Virgin Islands. Most of the lobster are caught out here on the reefs by local Anagadans and have been for donkeys for years. They supply Tortola retailers and other island restaurants. Prices are not cheap, on the other hand, we have tried on many occasions in other areas to catch our own and have worked extremely hard doing so. Lobsters are wily creatures and hide very well. A haphazard collection of buildings rims the anchorage. Most of them are restaurants selling the famous lobster or wonderfully fresh line fish and huge jumbo shrimp.
Apart from seafood, they do a delicious Honey Stung Chicken. This is my favorite, and they have the recipe just right. With chicken smothered in a herby crust ‘stung’ with honey and fried until crispy and succulent. My Captain thinks I am baffling. He says I have a banquet of all the delights of the sea before me, and I chose chicken. He exclaims, “You’ve gotta be nuts!” No, certainly not nuts, thank you, the chicken will do just fine, Yum!
Our guests usually take a taxi. Well, a truck with seats bolted to the flatbed at the back) to Cow’s Wreck Beach. Of which is a very remote outpost on the northern shore. On quiet days the “honor” bar system applies; if there is an influx of visitors, the owners take control. The small restaurant serves simple if rather wonderful lunches. Lobster is the show’s star, simply steamed and served covered with garlic and butter.
For years, many ships passed this way on passage to the western Caribbean. They came to grief on the eighteen-mile Horseshoe Reef, which guards the island. Cow’s Wreck got its name from the cow skulls and bones washed ashore from ships that wrecked, carrying tons of bones for bone meal fertilizer. You can sometimes still find a very brittle, bleached skull above the high watermark. This sprawling atoll is low, lying at the highest point, only 28 feet. The vast reef protects the island to a large extent from flood during rough weather.
I was surprised that this reef is considered one of the longest in the world. The DIVING AND SNORKELING are a must, not only for the wrecks. But also for underwater caves and abundant sea life and corals. The effort required for snorkeling after the huge lobster lunch is sometimes just too much for our guests; they prefer to lounge in the shade of the palm trees while sipping icy beer soaking up the peace and wonderful quiet.
Some say ANEGADA British Virgin Islands is barren and dull, with little to complement it other than mosquitoes. But we don’t see it that way. The beauty of a flock of pink flamingos quietly wading in the salt ponds, sixteen miles of uninterrupted pure white beach, reefs rich in coral, fish, giant rays, and turtles — and for me, the flocks of the sweet busy sand piper’s who are always in a hurry to nowhere — are anything but boring.
The Rock Iguana made his home here thousands of years ago and almost reached extinction. When people arrived to occupy the island, they introduced cats either as house pets or to control the rodent population. Over the years, some cats were abandoned and turned feral they ate the Rock Iguana young and almost eradicated the entire species. Quite recently, the cats were caught and neutered, and the grand Rock Iguana is again resuming its place on the island. I have never seen a fully grown Rock Iguana, they say they are frightening to look at, and they grow to six feet; imagine strolling down the beach and meeting a six-footer, heart attack stuff, man! I can’t see how any of this can be considered barren and boring.
Special Thank you to Bambi Alexander, host and chef aboard catamaran charter yacht COOL RUNNING’S, for writing and submitting this article to www.bvisail.com.
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