MsChievous

Our ensign (national flag) has taken a beating this year. They usually last a couple of seasons, but the higher winds we’ve encountered this year have taken their toll, much more so than on other national flags we've seen. That’s probably because other countries’ are usually a single piece of printed [...]

12 April 2024 | Portsmouth, Dominica

All aboard - and hang on!

Susie solved a problem that had been perplexing us since we got to the Caribbean: if we were to swim off the dinghy, how would we get back in?? (The tubes are big, and the freeboard is over a foot.) We considered a variety of steps/stairs, but nothing fit. A common problem was your legs disappearing [...]

10 April 2024 | Anse Joli, Ile de Saintes, Guadeloupe

On the seas again! (Sorry, Willie)

We had a great two weeks home for Summit's 7th (!!) birthday, seeing family and friends and enduring two dumpings, the second of which caused us to scramble and change our return flights - but we made it back to Antigua . There were, of course, lots of boat projects in our bags, but I wasn't expecting [...]

20 March 2024 | Jolly Harbour, Antigua

Italian tonight!

Last night in the islands before we head home for a few days. Susie does great Italian dinners, but we're eating out tonight. (Last night, too - great Mexican wraps aka burritos and margaritas that took us down for the count!) Finished up our pre-departure projects today and had a refreshing dip in the [...]

18 March 2024 | Deep Bay, Antigua

Antigua

We've been having such a good time on Antigua that I forgot to keep posting! The clearance was tortuous (2 hours and most of the forms filled out online - and printed - were ignored!) but things got better quickly. English Harbour and Falmouth were filled with megayachts, and we got to see some behomoth beauties sailing. We went to a community BBQ (with reggae and steel drum band) atop a beautiful vantage point (Shirley Heighrs) with two other Hylas owners and ran into other friends we had made several islands ago. They are a delightful young British couple who sailed across the pond earlier this year, and we shared the wild beauty of Antigua's (shallow, reef-strewn) North Sound a few days later. We're now heading to the marina where we'll leave MsChievous for 10 days while we head home for a "vacation" and Summit's birthday.

08 March 2024 | Deshaies, Guadeloupe

Another old friend

We've returned to Deshaies (day-hay) in northwestern Guadeloupe - our first landfall south of the Virgins two years ago. We had a delightful three days in the Ile de Saintes and spent one of them on a ferry/rental car adventure to the big city of Pointe-a-Pitre (Clown Point -!!) to their spice market. Got a lot of nice stuff. Had a great dinner at a restaurant on the island we've visited before, and it didn't disappoint our memories. Today was a 12-mile sail to get to the leeward side of Guadeloupe, then a 20-mile motor in flat seas to our destination. This town is far smaller than Terre de Haut but equally charming - and with another spectacular restaurant we'll visit Sunday before heading to Antigua. Saturday, we plan on visiting the lively botanical garden - more fun with old friends!

Let's try again

07 August 2019 | Friday Harbor

Jim AuBuchon

Friday Harbor? What are they doing there??? On our way to Neah Bay, we thought our AIS (automated identification system that lets us see other ships and them see us) and our VHF (marine) radio were not working properly. During our lay day (morning) in Neah Bay, we confirmed these problems and decided to return to civilization to get them fixed as they're both kinda important! That was accomplished this afternoon, so we're planning a nice Italian dinner out tonight and then heading back down the Strait of Juan de Fuca tomorrow morning, this time hopefully getting to the open ocean!

The only consolation is that yesterday's return sail was with a 25 knot following wind and a tidal push - great fun - and we got to see a gorgeous sunset and a spectacular deep red moonset before dropping anchor at 11 pm.

Wish us luck in finally heading for warm water!

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