One year ago I was at home in Washington DC writing about our failed Labor Day weekend sailing trip, in the Chesapeake Bay; Antare's engine would not start. This year I am again writing from home. We didn't go sailing either but for a different, this time good, reason. Antares is not around; she is waiting … Continue reading From Spanish Wells to Georgetown Exumas – Part I: preparations
I m writing from Antares' navigation table while at anchor at Meeks Patch. It is, indeed, a small patch at the north west end of Eleuthera, our final destination. We have prevailing winds blowing from the east so we dropped the hook on the west side, right off the beach. We won't be able to … Continue reading From Marsh Harbor to Eleuthera
We spent two nights anchored at Crab Cay; the last two nights at anchor. In the other cays we were always docked in a marina. This was for convenience. My son Juan David and his GF joined us at Green Turtle Cay and they were renting rooms, not sleeping in the boat. Below are … Continue reading Cruising the Bahamas over Christmas and New Years Part III (Crab Cay, Spanish Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Treasury Cay, and March Harbor)
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
