Summer visits from Salty Dawg friends reminded us of the joys of spending extended time aboard, so Elaine and I are looking forward to our next opportunity to be in the Caribbean during the winter months. After two summers of "ordinary" coastal sailing, it's finally time for a bit more bluewater sailing. DAWN will spend her winter in Virginia having some updates and enjoying warmer weather than Maine presents in the dark months.

In less than a week, Greggus Yahr and I will go aboard and leave Maine waters headed to the Chesapeake (weather permitting, of course). We'll prepare DAWN for storage in Irvington, and, with a bit of luck, get to say 'hello' to Salty Dawg friends in the same creek.

This little junket and helping on planning a Cuban visit for the Salty Dawg are serving as a pleasant reminder of our first extended cruise and whetting our appetite for the next one.