We sit here watching Tropical Storm Bret run over Trinidad and Grenada and slowly peter out before it reaches the ABC (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) islands. We have friends in Grenada and Bonaire and they report that the storm was not too bad with winds in the 30 to 40 knot range and lots of rain. Damage to the islands was minimal with a few roofs blown off but no one seriously hurt. This is all good news as this storm could have been so much worst.

The weather across the North Atlantic still looks dubious for our attempted crossing. A major storm is blowing our way and should hit us on the 25th. Another series of storms dance across our potential route to the Azores on the 28th, 29th and 30th. However, that is so far out that the model just is not worth relying on for that prediction. If it does turns out to be true, then that would signal the end of our hopes of sailing across the Atlantic for the Med.

We have received more suggestions from friends stating the we should consider sailing up to Bermuda and sit there until the weather to the Azores settles down. We have been studying that option daily for the last few weeks but since most of the storms have been coming from the continental US, poor Bermuda and its surroundings have had its share of very bad weather. Plus, when they aren’t having storms rip over them, a number of storms have popped up between us in Sint Maarten and Bermuda, barring our way to get there. If you watch the video of the slideshow that I posted within the last blog, you can see what I mean. While not marked on the graphics of the slideshow, Bermuda is located about 10 degrees or 600 hundred miles ESE of Cape Hatterus, North Carolina.

To cheer us up, we invited Angela and Gabriel over to sundowners this evening. We had a wonderful time with them as the picture to this blog shows. They are such interesting and nice people and we are envious that they will be sailing across the South Pacific next year. To us, and most blue water cruisers, that is the absolute best cruising grounds in the world. We wish them all of the best.