We are back. Just a few short weeks ago Sarah, Jimmy and I stepped off the boat that had been our short term home and began a 22 hour journey from Tortola, B.V.I., that included a ridiculously dangerous taxi ride, a ferry ride involving the rescue of a capsized sailboat, two long flights, and a 1AM … Continue reading Re-Entry—It Isn’t Just Hard On Astronauts

“Welcome back,” the Cruz Bay Customs Official said to me as I stepped up to clear into the United States on the island of St John. After the longest absence of our lives, we were back on U.S. soil. I have to confess that it felt good in a familiar sort of way. Like walking … Continue reading New Friends & Sad Endings

“I think I just saw an old colonial woman out there,” Sarah said to Jimmy and me as she rejoined us at the helm. Having not seen the movie Bridesmaids, I didn’t immediately get the joke, but quickly realized that I didn’t need to worry about a sea rescue. “Wow, is it dark out here . … Continue reading Into the Dark

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

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

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

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

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

“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