We had a memorable Christmas Eve anchored at Great Salt Cay. In the morning, after breakfast, my father and I put the dinghy on the water and installed the outboard. We took turns going ashore to explore the cay and collect shells (an activity mainly practiced by my mother and the girls). While in … Continue reading Saling Northern Bahamas Over Christmas and New Year (Part II)
Carla, Richard, and I stayed a couple of days at the West End after our arrival, resting but also cleaning the boat and storing gear. I was alarmed by the discovery of these nasty, minuscule, monsters: the nats. You can barely see them yet they sting you with fury and soon your body is covered … Continue reading Sailing Antares from West End to Marsh Harbor over Christmas and the New Year (Part I)
It is difficult to explain how I got into that situation. A combination of things: my overconfidence on GRIB files, not reading properly the text forecast, and not having told the organizers of the Salty Dawg that I was not receiving Chris Parkers' weather forecasts; he was sending them to my gmail address instead of … Continue reading From Hampton VA to Bahamas (Third Part)
Despite the alcohol I didn't sleep well that last night in Hampton. I woke up early to an overcast and cold day, with a knot in the stomach. I spent the first part of the morning trying to install the Iridium e-mail App on my old, backup, iPad. It took me a while, in part … Continue reading From Hampton VA to Bahamas (second part)
Hampton VA to Bahamas (1st part) There is not much to do in Hampton. A place that at some point in history had some strategic importance because of its location (Fort Monroe was built on its eastern shore), it failed to grow into a dynamic city that would attract businesses and workers. It is … Continue reading From Hampton VA to Bahamas (first part)
Whitehall to Hampton VA It was 11:30am Thursday October 29 when we finally took the docking lines off the piles and headed out to the bay. The original plan was to depart early Tuesday to be able to stop on our way a couple of times and avoid sailing at night in the Chesapeake. … Continue reading From Whitehall Bay to Hampton Virginia
As I had mentioned in a previous post, Antares was in Brandford when I bought her. I went there a couple of times, by train, during the fall of 2013 to get to know her and do a survey. She was on the hard with her winter cover on and no mast; you couldn't … Continue reading From Branford Connecticut to Whitehall Bay in the Chesapeake
At around 4pm Saturday everything was ready for our departure; the girls had unpacked and folded their clothes, food was stored, wine was chilling in the fridge, the dogs were on board and I had just finished checking the various systems. I went to the cockpit to turn on the engine but after cranking for … Continue reading Disapointments During Labor Day Weekend
We came back from Ecuador six weeks ago or so; it feels much longer. Over there, in Casa Blanca - Same, we had settled into a languid routine that involved uninterrupted hours of reading, runs and walks on the beach, an occasional swim in the ocean, hikes through the jungle, copious meals with a variety of seafoods and … Continue reading Coming back and a new start
Sailing to the Pacific 