Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

The Moorings 514 PC is a four-stateroom power cat offered by the Moorings for crewed charter in the BVI, and Power & Motoryacht Deputy Editor Jason Wood brought his wife Erica and daughter Zuzu along for the trip. Come along on this visual travelogue of their trip.

By Jason Y. Wood

January 25, 2016

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
With four staterooms and abundant deck space in the cockpit, on the foredeck and on the flying bridge, the Moorings 514 PC is an excellent platform for charter. Even large groups would have plenty of room to spread out.
The well-trodden cruising grounds of the British Virgin Islands offer up a chance for Deputy Editor Jason Y. Wood and his family to reconnect with each other and their passion for the water on a Moorings crewed charter.
**Read the whole story here. ▶**

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Watching a seaplane come and go in St. Thomas, USVI, was our entertainment as we waited for the fast ferry to deliver us to Road Town, Tortola, BVI, and the Moorings charter base.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Once on the ferry the breeze helped us blow off the stink of a couple of flights to get to the islands.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
The Moorings charter base is an enormous facility with plenty of amenities, including a restaurant, a pool, a couple of bars, hotel rooms and a shop. But the real appeal is its location in the thick of some of the best cruising grounds in the world.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Zuzu decided to make some sketches of some of the things we saw in the islands. This is the treasure caves on Norman Island, considered the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s *Treasure Island*.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
And we’re off! Our crew of Capt. David Blacklock and First Mate/Cook Deb Mahan were quick to stow our gear and get us off those docks. There were reports of a storm in the offing and they were itching to get us cruising.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Just what the doctor ordered. We spent the first night on the hook, and decompressed after a long day…

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
The 514 PC is the same basic boat as a Leopard catamaran and the boat had plenty of room. The main saloon and galley area was roomy and nicely appointed and the least-used space on the entire boat, at least by us. We came to be outside, and ven when some weather came through we spent most of our time in the covered cockpit or on the flying bridge.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Nice to take some time and reconnect with family. And sunsets on the flying bridge were the ideal backdrop.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Up on the flying bridge, the views were fantastic, with each island beckoning us to drop anchor and enjoy their scented breezes in the lee. Capt. Dave and Deb had a delightful itinerary planned for us.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Zuzu sketched the steep hills of Mountain Point on Virgin Gorda—great snorkeling here.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
That galley was terrific, or at least when Deb made it look so easy to produce the most delightful treats almost as if by magic—fresh-baked bread, homemade pizzas, and delicious island specialties.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
The islands are quiet in late August. Other than the threat of storms coming through, it’s a nice time to visit.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Swimming around the boat at the anchorage was easily our favorite activity of the trip.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
A barracuda with a nasty-looking wound in its back was hanging in the shadow of the 514 PC at Cooper Island. He will live on in crayon…

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Capt. David kept the boat on the move, finding the right anchorages for the prevailing wind conditions and showing us the sights.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Crabcakes. Need I say more? (Other than: “Thanks Deb.”)
The well-trodden cruising grounds of the British Virgin Islands offer up a chance for Deputy Editor Jason Y. Wood and his family to reconnect with each other and their passion for the water on a Moorings crewed charter.
**Read the whole story here. ▶**

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
We took on water at Leverick Bay and explored the town a bit. The 514 PCs forward lockers hold plenty of gear in addition to the water tank.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
A brief hike up the hill of Leverick Bay let us stretch our legs.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
A mural chart of the BVI let Zuzu look at our itinerary more closely.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
We saw plenty of flying fish on our long cruising leg to Anegada.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
The expanse of the beach at Loblolly Bay gave us some off-the-boat time to frolic in the waves and build a sand castle or two.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
A large yacht skirts past Virgin Gorda, home of the Bitter End Yacht Club.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Saba Rock, the bar and restaurant situated right off Virgin Gorda, was closed for a respite when we passed.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
The Moorings 514 PC has four similar staterooms, two in each sponson.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
Deb ran the anchor, scooting up to the foredeck before serving a delightful lunch off Necker Island. Capt. David told us this anchorage is off limits to bareboat charterers, since a bit of local knowledge is required for safe navigation.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
A snorkeling field guide invited some relaxing research in the cockpit…

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
…And inspired a sketch of what is finning along beneath the boat.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
We used the boat’s sea kayak a bit, a great way to explore the many anchorages.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
As the wind began to blow as Tropical Storm Erica bore down on the Caribbean our Moorings charter was called back to the base. Nothing like a painkiller (or a frothy coconut drink) to ease the tension.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
With more space and better views (and terrific eating) we stayed on the boat at the dock.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
What’s a little rain and wind when there’s a swimming pool?

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
We’ll always remember the beach at Savanna Bay on Virgin Gorda, where we anchored and enjoyed ourselves as a white van with a killer stereo serenade our cocktail hour.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
We’ll never forget those sunsets, moody skies and warm island breezes.

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter
And thanks to the Moorings 514 PC and her spacious decks,
we’ll have to think about who we’ll invite to join us on a return visit. Crayons required.
The well-trodden cruising grounds of the British Virgin Islands offer up a chance for Deputy Editor Jason Y. Wood and his family to reconnect with each other and their passion for the water on a Moorings crewed charter.
**Read the whole story here. ▶**

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Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

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Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

Moorings 514 PC BVI Charter

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Jason Y. Wood

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