Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) commissioned its newest vessel, the $450k Spirit of Tortola. Photo: VINO

Champagne popped to the cheerful roars of those present at the commissioning ceremony held at their Road Reef base last evening October 15, 2018. Photo: VINO

Present at the gathering to commission the boat was Governor of the Virgin Islands His Excellency Governor Agustus J. U. Jaspert, as his debut visit to the base of which he is the Patron. Photo: VINO

The vessel commissioned last even is the fourth of it’s a kind to be named "Spirit of Tortola” was purchased from Poland with some $450k raised through charity and fundraising activities. Photo: VINO

A large crew from both Tortola and Virgin Gorda completed an advanced medic course, taught by Dave Watt of Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine who came in for commendation at last evening's function. Photo: VINO

Champagne popped to the cheerful roars of those present at the commissioning ceremony held at their Road Reef base last evening October 15, 2018.

Present at the gathering to commission the boat was Governor of the Virgin Islands His Excellency Governor Agustus J. U. Jaspert, as his debut visit to the base of which he is the Patron.

"Coming here and seeing the base up and actually restored, looking fantastic fills me with joy and then seeing the boat ready to go is excellent," Gov Jaspert told the volunteers and sponsors present.

Spirit of Tortola

"The boat is called Spirit of Tortola but it's actually the spirit of everyone here in the BVI. It represents everybody coming together whether its donors, whether its people that give up their free time, whether its people that go out to help others, whether its people who help across all the islands, all together. This idea symbol of that and VISAR is the heart of everything...." he further said.

The vessel commissioned last even is the fourth of it’s a kind to be named "Spirit of Tortola” was purchased from Poland with some $450k raised through charity and fundraising activities.

"Fundraising for this vessel started almost two years ago and has truly been a community effort to get it on station. We couldn't have done it without the financial support of from Roger Harris who donated a very generous amount in his late wife Elizabeth Ann Harris," President of VISAR's Tortola base Mr Gerard Kraakman said.

In addition, significant funds cane from Ms Jòan Braithwaithe sailing trust from the United Kingdom (UK) who, according to Kraakman matched donations after hurricane Irma, "As they wanted to make sure we were up and running as soon as possible. Tropical shipping was a high help getting the vessel over from Poland." He was also high in praise for their other partner and sponsor Cary Olsen.

30 years in the Virgin Islands

This year VISAR marks its 30th year in the Virgin Islands and as part of their celebrations, they have named the newly renovated Tortola base in the name of the late wife of a major done -The Elizabeth Ann Harris Memorial Base Station.

In reflection, Kraakman said, "as we all know this has been a very long year in the rebuild process for the BVI and we are happy to have our base almost back up to normal." The current team of volunteers for VISAR number at around 40 persons. "We have a number of new crew members who've worked extremely hard this past year to make the crew."

Recently, a large crew from both Tortola and Virgin Gorda completed an advanced medic course, taught by Dave Watt of Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine who came in for commendation at last evening's function.

"We are happy to congratulate the 15 crew members who spent the last two weeks after work and over the weekend getting their advanced adventure Medic certification from Dave Watt."