Red sky in morning sailors take warning….
The best shift on the deck of my sailboat is the 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. shift. Watching the sun come up and feeling the warmth on the skin with a gentle breeze is a special sensation after a night at sea. We were 350 miles north of Antigua. The winds were light, and we […]
We Have a Problem….
“We have a problem,” said Jeff. I had passed out on my bunk after finishing my shift at 1 a.m. when he awoke me. What now? I thought. The boat was gently rocking on the swells and the soft sound of slicing through the seas seemed to indicate the boat was moving well. I quickly slipped […]
I thought I escaped unscathed…
I ran into a fishing net with buoys sailing to Antigua off the coast of Barbuda. It was wrapped around the propeller, rudder, and keel. I lost all ability to steer. In the middle of the night, it was pitch black. The seas were rough, and the wind was howling. A strong wind and current […]
We caught a fish…..well two at the same time!
A strong wind blew steadily from the Northeast. As we departed from the charming Jolly Harbor in Antigua, the sun was just beginning to appear on the horizon, its rays only faintly illuminating the sky. It was Barbuda, an island rendered iconic by the late Princess Diana’s fondness for its secluded shores, that we had […]
Living for the moment……
In St. Martin, the aroma of French pastries filled the air, contrasting with the salty breeze from spectacular beaches and fiery sunsets. The central location of the Marigot marina allowed us easy access to French cultural experiences, from the vibrant sounds of the market to the delicious smells of traditional cuisine. View from our dock […]
There’s always something wrong with the boat …… and its’s usually my fault….
Approaching the dock in Nanny Cay Marina was easy; the colourful buildings gleamed in the sunlight, and the sound of happy chatter drifted from the nearby restaurants. They assigned me to dock D3, a bustling hub of activity with the sounds of seagulls and the salty smell of the ocean. With a deep breath, all […]
Life is Good
I need to see their passports before I can sign these departure papers,” said the customs officer shaking his head. He glanced at me like I was an idiot and should know these things. I was sitting in front of him with in the British Virgin Islands customs office. “When I called earlier, someone told […]
“I want the full experience……”
A 22-knot wind had shifted to the southeast, coming from behind us. It was dark; the sun having set three hours ago. I was alone in the cockpit, Marco and Matthew were catching up on their rest below deck before their three-hour shift later in the night. The enormous Code Zero sail remained hoisted, propelling […]
Human Traffickers
The gentle wind had S/V Ileana heeled at a comfortable 15 degrees as we sailed to Los Haitises National park across the bay of Samana. In the Dominican Republic, even when the Armada has processed the boat papers upon arrival, it is necessary to get their permission before moving the boat to another place. Shep, […]
The Guatemala Mission
The laparoscopic image on the monitor went black. The image had vanished from the screen. “Can someone fix this?” yelled the surgeon. “I’ve got bleeding. I need to control it! Hurry!” A flurry of activity resulted, with people rushing around and shouting instructions. In a blur of motion, the nurse sprinted to the monitor, the […]