Tropical Sailing Adventures

Vessel Name: Maestro
Vessel Make/Model: 72' Custum Irwin Ketch
Hailing Port: Dover, Delaware
About:
"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and wihtout borders, where life is lived in the present. [...]
18 February 2016 | Mexico - Puerto Vallarta
08 February 2014
23 October 2013 | Phuket, Thailand
02 October 2013
22 August 2013 | Raiatea, French Polynesia
22 July 2013 | Island of Huahine - least commercial island in French Poly
26 June 2013 | French Polynesia
01 June 2013
25 May 2013
13 May 2013
11 April 2013 | Marquesas
02 April 2013
30 March 2013
21 March 2013
19 March 2013
15 March 2013 | Galapagos
03 March 2013 | Galapagos
24 February 2013 | Galapagos Islands
07 February 2013 | Ecuador
Recent Blog Posts
18 February 2016 | Mexico - Puerto Vallarta

19 months & counting

Trenten Reef Paul turned 19 months yesterday and I can hardly believe how quickly the time has past since his birth in Papeete, Tahiti. We have been on quite an adventure, as always.

08 February 2014

Thailand/Malaysia

Severely behind in my blog update but we've been busy!

23 October 2013 | Phuket, Thailand

Up on dry land

(Above photo flying into Sydney, AUS on our way to Phuket, Thailand)

02 October 2013

Bora Bora

10/2/13

22 August 2013 | Raiatea, French Polynesia

GOOD FORTUNE IN RAIATEA

8/22/13

22 July 2013 | Island of Huahine - least commercial island in French Poly

Huahine

7/18/13

26 June 2013 | French Polynesia

Moorea

We have, (sadly), just dropped Christina and Nicola off at the airport in Tahiti after a week out anchored off the island of Moorea. What a wonderful week full of fun. The ladies hit the spa!, hiking and swimming with Sting Rays and Sharks. The water in Moorea is really clear blue hues. We had a [...]

01 June 2013

Surfs Up Tahiti

http://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/8812-big-wave-madness-continues-in-teahupoo (10 days ago we had another big southern swell)

25 May 2013

Papeete, Tahiti

We are anchored off marina Taina in Papeete, the main city on the island of Tahiti. This is the only 'big city' (250,000) we have seen in several months. It is a mix of European French & casual islander. The large verdant island soars into the sky and is mostly surrounded by a coral barrier reef. [...]

Pacific Crossing

30 March 2013
3/30/2013 - 1300

Finally a window to give an update!

We have been sailing non-stop since my last post. The wind had been between 25-40kts with 3-4M seas, plus wind wave chop. The first 4.5 days of sailing we encountered at least 9 (lost count) gale force squalls day and night. It was like a squall train! One after the other. Maestro was able to sail through each of them without much difficultly at an average of 8-10.5 kts. Wind was in good direction so no course alteration was needed. After the first couple days the seas started to stack up. On a particular day where it was gale force for the better part of the day we were hit by a rouge wave - unknown height. It was higher than our hardtop which measures about 14ft - Len couldnt see the top of it. The wave picked us up and knocked us over at least 40 degrees - i was launched from the settee in the cockpit to a perpendicular pushup looking down at the sea. The back side of the wave pushed us back up as quickly as she went over - projectile items throughout the salon but all was well... little stunned.

We were listening on the nets and we seemed to be the only boat getting weather? (of course!) But we realized we were the most westerly vessel. Everyone to the east of us is now getting slammed - tired voices heard over the radio. Catermaran vessels deploying drogues. May everyone get through fine.

We have just come out of this particular weather system last night. The seas are still settling down and the wind has dropped to 13kts which is causing the genoa to back-fill in swell. The swell direction has made us change course for comfort - we may loose a day or more of heading if it doesnt pick up a little.

Less than 900 Miles to go! Hoping this leg is a little calmer.
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