Description: Like many who never knew until they arrived in this part of the world, I only learned on my visit to the tiny Virgin Island of Jost Van Dyke about its big reputation as the fun getaway point in these waters. Jost is a four-mile long patch belonging to the British Virgin Islands, located off the northwest tip of bigger Tortola. It’s also a very sparsely populated place with only about 200 full-time residents (and even fewer cars). After just over an hour’s ride in our power yacht from St. Thomas, we landed in Great Harbour, rode over in our power dinghy to the pier, then walked down to the customs office, where one officer had us fill out the forms for landing on what’s still a British protectorate.
You walk a few hundred yards to Foxy’s Tamarind Bar, the major point of interest in Great Harbour. Foxy’s is the hub of action several times a year when owner Foxy Callwood hosts round-the-clock parties marking major local events such as the Halloween Cat Fight – a catamaran race culminating in a Halloween party; the Wooden Boat Regatta every May; and the New Year’s eve party that draws the biggest international crush of revelers. At such times, up to 40 vessels of various sizes and description are anchored in little Great Harbour. The premises are closed between late August till the beginning of October, but open for lunch from Monday through Friday the rest of the year. The menu here includes barbecue items, hamburgers, steaks and local lobster. Part of the international flavor that Foxy’s exudes is found in the countless souvenirs people have left to mark their visit – everything from caps to T-shirts, license plates to sandals attached to the roof.
The other major point on Jost is White Bay, reachable by land or water taxi. Again, one of the most creamy little beaches with a heavenly view makes White Bay somewhere you could sit and watch the horizon forever. There’s no dock at White Bay so you either swim or powerdingy in. We headed past the Soggy Dollar Bar area to their restaurant for some lunch; the menu here ranges from hamburgers to chicken rotis to flying fish sandwiches. This is also the time and place to sample the Painkiller, a rum mixed drink said to have been first created at the bar here. If you want to stay over on Jost Van Dyke, one of the best bets is at the adjacent inn, White Bay Sandcastle, consisting of six cottages--only two have air-conditioning, all have bath and shower and minus telephone, radio or television. There’s also a campground (Tel: (284) 495-9312) at White Bay, just east of the Sandcastle. The waters here are among the best for snorkeling; for fishing, try your luck near the rocks at Changes Point on the west end of the bay.
Foxy’s Tamarind Bar: Tel: (284) 495-9258; credit cards OK, reservations before 5 p.m.
White Bay Sandcastle: www.sandcastle-bvi.com
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