Trellis Bay

Seaduced
John & Jane Craven
Sun 15 Jan 2012 23:46
After a night on a mooring at Marina Cay, we crossed the bay to Trellis Bay. This is on Beef Island, just off eastern Tortola - there is a bridge between the two islands. Trellis Bay is famous in the cruising world for it's Full Moon Party. We had missed January's party but intended to return for the one in February. The party involves the lighting of huge sculpted metal Fire Balls on the beach and there are 'Jumbies' - these are stilt walkers in bright clothing said to represent the local equivalent of the 'bogeyman'.
Trellis Bay is also something of an artists hangout and the beach is lined with galleries selling all kinds of pottery, sculptures, t-shirts and other items. From the mooring field the beach side looked lovely, all palm fringed and very Caribbean but on landing it was a different matter, although the galleries had lots of interesting and beautiful items for sale, none of which were at all practical on a boat, the beach area was quite disappointing as it was quite dirty and there was a lot of rubbish strewn around. Some of the moorings nearest the beach had deflated, half sunk dinghies attached to them - the locals, unusually, seem to take no pride in the area at all which was even more strange bearing in mind that it is 'must do' in all the guide books. Whether we return in February is yet to be seen, we will have to see where we are by then and decide.

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A seemingly perfect palm fringed beach

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The galleries along the beach front

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The 'Full Moon Party' fireballs