Welcome to the Madcap sailing adventure.

We are James D. Bissell and Elizabeth Lusby - now known as Jim and Beth from Madcap - and this is where we will share our cruising story with family and friends - old and new.

Madcap is a Bayfield 36, built in 1988 in Clinton, Ontario. You'll see lots of pictures throughout this site, and will perhaps come to understand how we fell in love with her and purchased her in 2003.

As much as we enjoyed sailing in the 1000 Islands and Lake Ontario, the desire to explore further and to use this sailing vessel as "home away from home" on a long journey has grown, and so...

We left Trident Yacht Club, near Kingston, Ontario on June 17, 2007 to spend the next 16 months on a Madcap journey down the great St. Lawrence River to the Maritime provinces, and then south along the Eastern Seaboard, into the Intracoastal Waterway that winds along through the US, then across the Gulf Stream from Florida to the Bahamas and to Cuba. Our return route and precise timing are still in the "let's wait and see what happens" folder.

We'll make postings from time to time on our experience, and will let you know where we are so you can track our progress if you like.

You are welcome to e-mail Beth at madcapmum@hotmail.com or Jim at lusbybissell@sympatico.ca, or leave comments after the postings.

Come along with us through this site - we enjoy your company!
...............

...and an afterword or two... although we are land based in Halifax from the fall of '08 until fall of '09, we continue to welcome visits by cruisers and interested landlubbers. We plan to explore the waters of the Maritimes during the summer of 2009 and head south again in the fall. You might even find a few postings about Nova Scotia over the next few months!

Comments [9]

We left Lee Stocking Island at 8 am and were anchored off Volleyball Beach in Georgetown by 2 - after a leisurely trip down the coast and in through the harbour. On the way we met and waved goodbye to Mary and Bill (Southern Vectis), saw Nighthawk but never got to meet them even though their name has cropped up time and time again as being really great Canadian folks, and exchanged VHF hello and good bye with Sundance V whom we didn't see at all this trip. Too bad! We also heard a new VHF radio exchange. A boat was calling the Exuma Veterinary Clinic. The Dr answered and an appointment was made. This is the first time we've heard a vet clinic with a VHF radio. I wonder if any clinics in seaside towns back home have them? It would be a good idea.

As we approached Volleyball Beach, a Bayfield 36 pulled out so we took its place! Unfortunately we were too busy to take note of the name but it wore the same colour trim as the one in Little Farmer's that had left before we got up to that end of the harbour to say hello. Maybe we missed our chance again!

With the anchor set, and a dinghy trip over it with the lookey bucket (clear bottomed bucket that all of us carry) to make sure, we set off to reconnect with old friends. Mike and Kathy (Sapphire) were a few boats over (with a big Irish flag flying in honour of St. patrick's Day!) and as we climbed on board, it did not seem like two years since we spent time cruising with them. After a non-stop catch-up conversation, we left them to their happy hour preparations and went by Cygnus just in time to say a quick hello to old friends Mary Lou and Bob as they arrived back. They were headed out again so we'll visit them tomorrow.

As part of the never ending round of parties and activities that make up the fabric of Georgetown life, there was a gathering at Hamburger Beach at 5, so we threw together a plate of food and headed over there. Unlike the gatherings of a dozen or so folks in other anchorages along the way, there must have been well over 50 people there! Culture shock! After meeting several new friends and some familiar faces, and chatting some more with Mike and Kathy, we stopped by Oz for a visit with Connie and Ken. We last saw them at a distance as they, Star of the Sea and Katmandu headed south from Warderick Wells when we were on our way there from Staniel Cay. Doug and Pat (Beltane) were already there; Peaches and Chris (Star of the Sea) dropped by too and Connie offered a tray of scrumptious bruschetta - with even the bread made from scratch. Mmmm gooood!

We'll stay here a few days to spend time with friends and do some re-stocking of the larder, the wallets (there are banks here!), and the water and fuel tanks. The Music Festival starts today so we'll take in some of that too.

Comments [0]

We left Lee Stocking Island at 8 am and were anchored off Volleyball Beach in Georgetown by 2 - after a leisurely trip down the coast and in through the harbour. On the way we met and waved goodbye to Mary and Bill (Southern Vectis), saw Nighthawk but never got to meet them even though their name has cropped up time and time again as being really great Canadian folks, and exchanged VHF hello and good bye with Sundance V whom we didn't see at all this trip. Too bad! We also heard a new VHF radio exchange. A boat was calling the Exuma Veterinary Clinic. The Dr answered and an appointment was made. This is the first time we've heard a vet clinic with a VHF radio. I wonder if any clinics in seaside towns back home have them? It would be a good idea.

As we approached Volleyball Beach, a Bayfield 36 pulled out so we took its place! Unfortunately we were too busy to take note of the name but it wore the same colour trim as the one in Little Farmer's that had left before we got up to that end of the harbour to say hello. Maybe we missed our chance again!

With the anchor set, and a dinghy trip over it with the lookey bucket (clear bottomed bucket that all of us carry) to make sure, we set off to reconnect with old friends. Mike and Kathy (Sapphire) were a few boats over (with a big Irish flag flying in honour of St. patrick's Day!) and as we climbed on board, it did not seem like two years since we spent time cruising with them. After a non-stop catch-up conversation, we left them to their happy hour preparations and went by Cygnus just in time to say a quick hello to old friends Mary Lou and Bob as they arrived back. They were headed out again so we'll visit them tomorrow.

As part of the never ending round of parties and activities that make up the fabric of Georgetown life, there was a gathering at Hamburger Beach at 5, so we threw together a plate of food and headed over there. Unlike the gatherings of a dozen or so folks in other anchorages along the way, there must have been well over 50 people there! Culture shock! After meeting several new friends and some familiar faces, and chatting some more with Mike and Kathy, we stopped by Oz for a visit with Connie and Ken. We last saw them at a distance as they, Star of the Sea and Katmandu headed south from Warderick Wells when we were on our way there from Staniel Cay. Doug and Pat (Beltane) were already there; Peaches and Chris (Star of the Sea) dropped by too and Connie offered a tray of scrumptious bruschetta - with even the bread made from scratch. Mmmm gooood!

We'll stay here a few days to spend time with friends and do some re-stocking of the larder, the wallets (there are banks here!), and the water and fuel tanks. The Music Festival starts today so we'll take in some of that too.

Comments [0]