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Cruising to Far-Away Places -- Mostly Warm!

Join Us (Vicariously or for real) on our adventures on Altair!

Vessel Name: Altair
Vessel Make/Model: Saga 48 - Hull No. 1
Hailing Port: Cushing, Maine
21 September 2013
29 May 2013 | Eastport MD
27 May 2013 | Rhode River, Galesville MD
26 May 2013 | Solomon's Island
22 May 2013 | Reedville VA
21 May 2013 | Hampton VA
18 May 2013 | Hampton VA
15 May 2013 | 35 34.8'N:76 17.9'W, Alligator River, ICW, North Carolina
12 May 2013 | Beaufort NC
11 May 2013 | Wrightsville Beach NC
10 May 2013 | Wrightsville NC USA
09 May 2013 | 31 39.3'N:78 54.1'W, Opposite Hilton Head in the Gulf Stream
08 May 2013 | 28 16.7'N:79 36.7'W, Midway Up Florida in the Gulf Stream
07 May 2013 | 25 51.4'N:77 47.0'W, Passing Berry Islands, Bahamas
05 May 2013 | 24 44.9'N:76 50.3'W, Allen Cay, Exumas, Bahamas
03 May 2013 | 24 23.6'N:76 38.1'W, Warderick Wells, Exumas, Bahamas
30 April 2013 | 24 11.1'N:76 27.6'W, Big Majors, Exumas, Bahamas
29 April 2013 | 24 06.1'N:76 24.2'W, Black Point, Exumas, Bahamas
27 April 2013 | 23 30.9'N:75 45.4'W, Georgetwon, Exumas, Bahamas
25 April 2013 | 23 50.9'N:75 07.24'W, West Bay, Conception Island
Recent Blog Posts
21 September 2013

New Blog Address!

We have started out on another cruise to the Caribbean and back. Be sure to follow us at our new blog address. Www.sailblogs.com/member/rjpalm

29 May 2013 | Eastport MD

Owen and Eli

Altair is snuggled into Bert Jabins Boat Yard near Annapolis until June 14. We had a quick visit with grandsons Owen and Eli (their parents too) last night in Towson MD. Owen is finishing third grade as well as his lacrosse season. He will come up to Maine again for a week in July by himself and take [...]

27 May 2013 | Rhode River, Galesville MD

999 Miles!

We've put 999 miles on the boat since leaving Puerto Rico on April 14. What a wonderful way to return from the Caribbean. In years past, we've had to hustle on the way home...it's been nice to take our time.

Boo Boo Hill Boat Signs

03 May 2013 | 24 23.6'N:76 38.1'W, Warderick Wells, Exumas, Bahamas
Julie
The Exuma Land and Sea Park is an archipelego of islands protected as a wildlife preserve. Warderick Wells is a beautiful, protected anchorage at the north end. We re-upped our membership to the park for another three years and earned two nights on one of their moorings as part of the package. The trails are well marked and traverse mangrove swamps, beaches, caves, and limestone cliffs.Lots of lizards, butterflies,and green herons. At night, the hutias come out --- a rodent about the size of a guinea pig that is a cross between a rat and a rabbit.

We wandered around several of the trails reading the signs that pointed out names of vegetation (poisonwood, mosquito bush, back bush...) and how each had adapted to this windy, salty climate. Boo Boo Hill, we learned, is named in honor of the ghosts from a wrecked ship that still wail when the wind blows in the right direction. We've climbed that hill twice now and still haven't heard the ghosts yet. But at the top of BooBoo Hill, cruisers leave signs with their boat name that they have made from driftwood found along the side of the trail. We looked for signs left by boats we know. No Stolen Hour or Ohana...but Katahdin is still there. So is Troubadour. It looks like the hurricanes of the last season have destroyed many of the signs from previous years.

This evening, we met a French couple from an island off the coast of Bordeaux. They are in the Exuma Park doing a documentary for the Natural History Museum in LaRochele. The fellow used to work with Jacques Cousteau and has done films, usually about nature and/or French history for years. We learned that the island of Re that they live on is known for its rose wine and that the district in which they live is called Cognac.

Back at the boat, we are watching an attention-getting lightening show in the clouds north of us. Thankfully, it is going the other direction. But it is indicative of the unsettled weather that is between where we are now (The Bahamas) and where we want to go (Cape Hatteras). We will have to take it one day at a time from here. It is good that we are on no particular schedule to get home this year.
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Altair's Photos - Main
Long Island is an island of 4000 people, 80 miles long and four miles wide. Known for its bone fishing. People are very friendly.
No Photos
Created 21 April 2013
The lions are painted by prominent Puerto Rican artists. They are really cool standing guard in the parks of Ponce.
10 Photos
Created 13 April 2013
Cabo Rojo is the cape at the southwestern corner of Puerto Rico. The beach is miles long, but the beach towns are noisily honky-tonk. The lighthouse and its cliffs and iguanas are most impressive
4 Photos
Created 13 April 2013
The northwestern corner of Puerto Rico is blanketed with caves, jungle, dramatic limestone outcroppings, and Taino Indian ruins. Fascinating!
10 Photos
Created 11 April 2013
Tom and Sue had been on St Martin for a week before we arrived and were excellent tour guides for us. The island is far more than just The Lagoon!
10 Photos
Created 11 April 2013
Tom & Sue Maynes were on board with us in Anguilla. Our first visit to the island and we loved it. Festival, boat racing, and generally enjoying the beaches.
18 Photos
Created 11 April 2013
5 Photos
Created 17 March 2013
A great time with Dutch and Elaine on board Altair in the BVIs!
8 Photos
Created 15 March 2013
Our new hyrdrogenerator!
8 Photos
Created 15 March 2013
16 Photos
Created 26 November 2012
12 Photos
Created 25 November 2012
Sept.-Oct. 2012
12 Photos
Created 21 September 2012

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