June 19, 2019 This time I’m witting from the cock-pit, with the sun behind. Antares is facing south and I am facing the trade winds, which are blowing, making the sound of an oboe. We are not sailing though, we are on the hard. Antares was hauled out yesterday morning. The impact with the USO … Continue reading Ponce
Punta Cana – Las Pargueras
June 12, 2019 I crossed the Mona passage yesterday. It was a long, long crossing. Winds were never above 13 Kts and most of the time between 8 and 11, but the swells/chop came from stronger winds somewhere else. Big chops and little wind is not a good combination. I had to make long tacks … Continue reading Punta Cana – Las Pargueras
Samana – Grenada (#1)
June 9, 2019 I'm writing from Marina Cap Cana, still in the DR. This was not part of the plan but after hitting what seems to have been a reef yesterday at around 3am, I didn't have the choice. After two days at marina Puerto Bahia preparing the boat, yesterday (June 8) I got my … Continue reading Samana – Grenada (#1)
South Arabia, Madagascar, and a Short Cruise from Puerto Plata to Samana DR (March – May 2019)
June 5, 2019 I m writing at a coffee shop in Moscow airport. I left Beirut yesterday night bounded for Dominican Republic where Antares is waiting. Alas, no direct flights. Not even with one stop somewhere in Europe. Instead, two stops: one in Moscow and one in NewYork. I m going back to DR for … Continue reading South Arabia, Madagascar, and a Short Cruise from Puerto Plata to Samana DR (March – May 2019)
Old posts from Ecuador – Jan 13-31st
I did go back to Beirut as planned and I'm now in Washington DC. Arrived Sunday afternoon. More on that later. These are some old posts that were never posted... ' Fred’s 60thBD – Jan 18 Fred is French and his partner, Graciela, Argentinian. They live a few kilometers past Punta Galera, a small … Continue reading Old posts from Ecuador – Jan 13-31st
Casa Blanca, Deluge
Drove 5 hours yesterday: Quito-Nanegalito (1h); Nanegalito-Los Bancos (1h); Los Bancos-La Union (1h); La Union-Quininde (15 minutes); Quininde-San Mateo (1h); San Mateo-Casablanca Same (45 minutes). At night, I was having dinner with friends in a restaurant at the beach when the deluge started. It continued overnight. Several houses were flooded. Stones fell from the edge … Continue reading Casa Blanca, Deluge
Ecuador, 27 hours, and the Pope
I am in Quito, Ecuador visiting my parents. Arrived Saturday. It took me 27 hours from Beirut with stopovers in Frankfurt and Panama City. Didn’t sleep much. I was seating in economy class, middle of the plane, window seat. At least people don’t bother you there when they go to the WC. Watched four … Continue reading Ecuador, 27 hours, and the Pope
Wrong Year, Adaptation, Preparations for Grenada
Time started to run very fast since the last passage in Antares. I was looking forward, then, to the holidays season and my daughters' visit. It's all over now. They are back to DC with their mother and I am here, in a city dispirited by winter, trying to get some work done. And for the … Continue reading Wrong Year, Adaptation, Preparations for Grenada
Antares @ Puerto Plata – Dominican Republic
Beating into fresh trade-winds for over 36 hours is some form of masochism. But we really didn't have the choice. Since my last post I have been rather busy trying to get some work done (therefore the silence). I could only schedule 7 days to sail Antares from Turks and Caicos to Dominican Republic. Richard … Continue reading Antares @ Puerto Plata – Dominican Republic
Beirut: Chaos,Greek Gods, 260 Kms
It's Friday morning and my landlord's driver, Hossein, is taking me to the department of motor vehicles in his white Vespa, slaloming between cars in the freeway. I'm seating in the back tense and immobile so as not to disrupt the balance. We have a mission: registering the motorbike and getting new plates. Can it … Continue reading Beirut: Chaos,Greek Gods, 260 Kms
