Mid-day, 76 miles off Cozumel, Viento Azul is averaging 5-6 knots across the inky blue sea. Behind us is Islamorada, Florida. Just five days prior, delaying our departure to Guatemal, Hurricane Idalia passed by the Florida Keys and made landfall up the coast near Perry. Fortunately for us, the seas have been calm. The winds have been light, causing us to run our motor.

With three nights out to sea and a couple more to go, fuel consumption will need to be monitored. We need more wind to make our way to Livingston, Guatemala, otherwise we will be out to sea for a while.

The night sky has been spectacular, filled with a million, billion stars! A story book picture and a moment of time where you would say “pinch me, is this real?” Then looking across the horizon, the orange ball of the moon begins to rise, hiding many stars but shining bright, lighting the way across the sea.

Sunrise and sunset are a constant beauty painted across the sky, reminding us of God our Creator and His gracious love.

Along with Captain Ted and Gail, aboard are Jeri and Kirk from Illinois, our friend Jesse from Bahamas Sea Base, and Mike, our buddy form the Florida Keys. It is a great crew, and we have a few cooks on board, so every meal has been prepared with a variety of flavor and fun.

Fishing this year has been down -- let’s say catching! On this crossing a few barracuda have been on the line and finally one Mahi-Mahi took the bait…which was quickly bathing in fine herbs in the pan.

As we roll down the way one wave at a time, celestial navigation becomes a topic of discussion and is practiced. Modern electronics are great, but we don’t want to lose the art of the past. In the blink of an eye, with current day events, our futures have the potential to regress to the past. In life, it is wise to have a backup plan, and on the sea, it is vital. Anything can happen at any time.

One of the most joyful moments of sailing is when the porpoise come to play. They joined us for a few mornings, racing in front of the bow, diving down and breaking the surface. This is a sight I never grow tired of.

As our trip continued, the rain fell throughout the night. Surprisingly, the sea and the wind never picked up. The sea was glass-calm with a wind of zero, eventually reaching four knots. We needed some time for refreshing. Putting Viento Azul into hov-2, we all jumped in the most brilliant blue sea of 18,000 feet. Totally refreshed, with our sails in place and the motors running, we were 65 miles off Santa Cruz Lagoon, Belize. The sun was out, the sky was filled with numerous clouds, and we ended the day with no rain and another beautiful sunset.


We had three visitors come aboard during our journey. The first was a large, dark-colored sea bird, and the second was the cutest, tiny sea bird coming to take a rest. The third tiny bird enjoyed investigating the entire boat inside and out, then went to heaven lying in our main salon. What a sad moment.

Day turns to night, and it all becomes a dreamy blur. The fuel tank was low, but when the wind eventually filled in to 7-10 knots, it was a time to rejoice! With one motor purring at 1,500 rpm, we were able to move across the sea averaging a speed of 6.5 over ground. After our fifth night at sea, Glober Cay, Belize, came into sight and cell signal gave us sporadic bar or two. The peace of the sea is neither day or night -- it just is.

Entering our sixth night out, at 8:30 p.m., we dropped our anchor off Livingston, Guatemala. Now our mission begins again!

Thank you for your prayers! Viento Azul arrived Islamorada, Florida, after a smooth sail across the Bahamas Banks and into the Gulf Stream. The many surrounding storms remained at bay until we secured our lines in Venetian Shores! Then the sky let loose -- how blessed we are! The sky lit up and the rain fell from heaven. Welcome home, Viento Azul, for a brief moment in time.

When feeling tired and weary, the first step off the boat onto the dock is always interesting. I am never sure if the world is going to spin out from underneath my feet. On this journey nearing Florida, the storms surrounded Ted and me. The waves picked up and there were moments in time where you just want the rocking to stop, and the end of this trip was one of those times for me. Captain Ted keeps on rocking and rolling, no problem. However, for myself, the desire of flat calm water was the thirst of my soul. I really am not that seaworthy despite the many miles I sail. Snake Creek was just that, wonderful relief! Vinny Bob opened the bridge and the lights reflected on the water in a beautiful way. Ahead, the houses glowed, surrounded by tall palms, ever so beautiful. It has been a long time, and the Keys look as glamorous as Miami Beach. The many years have passed by and our sweet little Florida Keys, once a sleepy fishing village, has now grown into a whole new world.

My most favorite part of sailing, which is not always the easiest, is night watch. Fighting to keep your eyes open in the wee hours of the morning is a battle. However, the night sky is brilliant. In the dark of night, we crossed over the Bahama Banks without a moon overhead. Looking up, it was like diving into the Milky Way with all the wonders of God. The vast greatness is so beyond everyday life. Despite wanting to soak it all in forever, you cannot, it is just too big! Looking into the stars, I felt a glimmer of the heartbeat of God, Who loves us so. In the dead of night, I was overwhelmed in my heart as I experienced a degree of the suffering hearts in the world, along with the compassion that God has for each individual person. As much as we may like to alleviate the pain of others, there is only One Who truly can. That one is Jesus. There are some things in life that only you, yourself, can do. It is there on our knees that love and grace abound.

My prayer is that compassion rules in the heart of mankind, that we would get right with God, but we can only do that for ourselves. It is by each individual decision that the group will be made whole. Each one of us as an individual will meet with Jesus one day. Sooner is better than later. Often, we block out from ourselves the very thing which we desire. You matter, you were created, you exist.