Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands (March 18, 2010)–Irish eyes were shining on the North Sound & Eustatia Sound marine environments on St. Patrick’s Day. The second annual “GO GREEN” St. Patrick’s Day Beach clean-up at the Bitter End Yacht Club again brought in the debris: rusted pontoons, discarded jerry jugs, torn fishing nets, and bags and bags of various “boat detritus”  and flotsam and jetsam. By the time the day was done, the participants marveled at the wide variety of items that wash up on the beaches and get lodged into the mangroves of the BVI.

Mother Nature helped the cause, providing a calm, summerlike millpond from which to gather goods! Bitter End Yacht Club’s Chief Operating Officer, Sandra Grisham, pointed out that “it was a perfect day for all of us to do our part to clean up the beaches of the BVI…we are happy that so many people joined us to do their part.” She added “North & Eustatia Sounds are beautiful, and we want to do everything in our power to help keep them that way.”

Photos by Guy Clothier for YachtShotsBVI.com

As with last year, teams of hotel guests aboard Bitter End’s fleets of Boston Whalers, were joined by captains and crews from visiting private and charter yachts moored, docked, and anchored in North Sound. Together and apart, they combed the shorelines of Prickly Pear and Eustatia Islands, and the beaches and mangroves of Virgin Gorda (surrounding North & Eustatia Sounds). Participants ranged in age from five to 75. According to BEYC’s Watersports Director, Jerome Rand, “it was great to see so many kids of all ages get involved in such a worthy undertaking.” Rand added that “the kids were so proud to receive their GO GREEN certificates for each bag they gathered; and the parents were VERY happy to receive a drink coupon for each bag they turned in.”

A fun St. Patrick’s Day party followed at the Bitter End Pub. As promised last year, it is the Bitter End’s sincere hope that this will call attention (among boat visitors and hotel guests alike) to the need to maintain the pristine beauty of the BVI, one area at a time. We thank everyone who participated this year, and hope to see an even bigger turnout next year.