We begin our trip back to the US tomorrow. Keep track of us and our little fleet at the ARC USA BVI to Florida YB tracker at
http://www.worldcruising.com/arc_usa/eventfleetviewer.aspx You can also text us to our satellite phone once we're underway at
https://messaging.iridium.com/ and use our #8816 2243 7869.
It's a thousand miles and we hope to leave with the fleet (unlike our Nov trip down) and complete the run in 6 days. In general it's a more sheltered route as once past Turks and Caicos we're in a protected channel with the Bahamas to the east and the series of islands to our west beginning with Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Cuba and then Florida.
The ARC rally starts in the BVI with 40 boats total with 160 participants when you count up the crew. The majority of boats leave here and head for Bermuda, 845 miles due North. Those heading for the east coast of the US pick a weather window and finish up the 655 miles West. The remainder head for the Azores, a small group of islands in the north atlantic off the coast of Africa, 1800 miles to the East followed by another 800 miles East for the Mediterranean. Most plan for about 6 weeks for that trip across the atlantic.
We decided after 6 months of 85 degree weather that a trip to Rhode Island in May sounded chilly, so we're joining the smallish group of thin skinned skippers and crew to head up the 'old bahama' channel and catch the Gulf Stream magic carpet and ride it north on the East coast for the summer. So get your calendars out and pick a time to come and see us. We'll travel the Florida Atlantic coast till June 1st when we have to be north of the hurricane zone. We'll park Big Frisky for a car trip back to central Indiana for a few Dr's/Vet apts and to see some friends. We'll then resume our trip north exploring coastal GA, SC, NC and then make a jump to new England and see the fabulous cruising grounds we flew by last fall on the way to meet the Caribbean 1500 in VA. Once the leaves begin to turn we'll make some decisions on our winter plans and head South again.