Recovery Takes Priority While Damaged Boats & Infrastructure Make BVIs Not Ready For Tourists
This is an update to an earlier post.
There is now an official word from The Moorings. The Interline Regatta will not take place in 2017.
Hurricane Irma roared through the Virgin Islands in early September and they are so much in recovery – and even survival – mode that there was no chance the islands are able to host the event, which was scheduled for Oct. 10-17.
For the full statement of the cancelation from The Moorings, click here.
In the days after Irma, there were power outages, downed power lines and health concerns on all the islands. Many buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed. Tortola and Road Town were hit especially hard.
Several of the famous watering holes and stops for the nightly theme parties suffered damage, such as Foxy’s and the Soggy Dollar Bar, and the Bitter End Yacht Club and Bomba’s Shack (which was not on the 2017 schedule tho everyone likes to go there for its famous Mushroom Tea) was completely destroyed.
All the owners contacted by PubClub.com vow to rebuild.
PubClub.com has learned that Foxy is fine and so are the Soggy Dollar owners. Gertrude, who runs the little shack Gertrude’s just down the sand from Soggy Dollar, was injured but she was helicoptered out and is reported to be fine.
Her bar – which made the best Bushwackers in the BVIs – and the adjacent Sydney’s One Love did not survive Irma.
Beyond all the damage to the islands, businesses and infrastructure, there’s another issue that pretty much seals the fate of the Interline Regatta. The Moorings and several other sailboat charters has most of their boats destroyed by Irma.
Here’s statements from The Moornings and other another sailboat charter company. A friend of PubClub who owns and charters a 50-foot catamaran has said it is damaged beyond repair.
The Moorings has set up this relief fund for employees.
So while ya gotta regatta, for now, the BVIs have to recover from Irma.
More Virgin Islands Hurricane Irma Posts
• Post-Hurricane Irma Updates – Foxy’s, Soggy Dollar Bar & Sailboat Charters
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