Traveling the Caribbean by sailboat is something that I've dreamed about for years. And I can now confirm that the actual experience is even better than I expected. After saying goodbye to our college girls, Sarah, Jimmy and I departed Antigua and started heading "up island," as they say around here. We hit Montserrat, Nevis, St. Barths and Anguilla. … Continue reading Up Island
Adventure
College Girls
Our college girls, Maddie and Caitlin, came for a visit last week. We don't get to see them as much now that they are away at school and starting their own lives. And this makes the times we get to spend together even more special. It was so great to see their smiling faces, listen … Continue reading College Girls
Clockwise Around Antigua
Another week of our adventure is in the books. Last week found us on a clockwise loop of Antigua and Barbuda with our good friends the Pellinos. Added bonus: the charter company I'm working with gave us a complimentary upgrade to a brand spanking new Lagoon 450 cat that just crossed the Atlantic. The boat has … Continue reading Clockwise Around Antigua
Landfall Without a TSA Agent in Sight
There are different ways to travel. By car, by plane, by foot, by bus. You get the picture. But one thing that I've discovered on this trip is that there is nothing quite like arriving in a new country on a sailboat. Before I go any further here, let me start with a caveat: there are … Continue reading Landfall Without a TSA Agent in Sight
Back in the Saddle
We are sailing again! We departed Grenada on a Leopard 43 catamaran last week and made our way through the Grenadines and up to St. Vincent. Grenada has been good to us, but boy did it feel good to put the island in our rear view mirror and start our long, slow trip northward. Our … Continue reading Back in the Saddle
A Sunday Night with the Southern Cross
“Well, the boat is not sinking,” my friend Chris Rundlett yelled to me over the noise and hiss of the wind and waves. It was 11:30pm and we were a few miles off the west coast of St. Vincent. We were delivering “the boat” in question—a Catana 47 sailing catamaran—from Port Louis, Grenada to Rodney … Continue reading A Sunday Night with the Southern Cross
On The Hard–Stuck in Paradise
We are back on dry land. "On the hard," as sailors say to confuse the landlubbers. After a great sail from Grenada up to Carriacou and Petit St Vincent, we have now retreated back to the SE Coast of Grenada. Stuck in paradise--otherwise known as the Grenada Marine Boatyard in St David's Harbour. Every boat is … Continue reading On The Hard–Stuck in Paradise
Until Next Time Dominica
The second phase of our adventure starts tonight. We are leaving Dominica, flying to Grenada and moving onto a sailboat, which is waiting for us in the Port Louis Marina. The catamaran La Bella Vita will be our floating home for the next +3 months. That sounds very strange to say. In fact, as I … Continue reading Until Next Time Dominica
Bush Rum & Grandma in the Bathtub
Friday night. If we were back in Wisconsin, Sarah and I would likely be out with friends having a traditional Wisconsin fish fry and a Brandy Old Fashioned. But we're in Dominica, so instead we spent last night drinking Bush Rum and playing Dominos at Toto's Rum Shop. Toto's--The Reason I Slept in Today Every Dominican … Continue reading Bush Rum & Grandma in the Bathtub
The Jacko Steps
Between 1600 and 1870 approximately 4 million West African people were imported to the Caribbean as slaves. A mind boggling number. Many of these people fought against and escaped their captors. These escaped slaves, known as Maroons, often set up their own communities out of the reach of the planters and European powers of the … Continue reading The Jacko Steps