The first time I saw Island Lady, I knew she was meant for me. A Tartan 4400, launched in 2007, with the grace of a dancer and the soul of a voyager.
The final countdown echoed across the bay, a long-anticipated moment: “5… 4… 3… 2… 1…BEEEEEEEEP!” Just like that, a flotilla of 140 yachts was off, sails hoisted all around, headed across the Atlantic, a 2,800 nautical mile navigation towards the Caribbean.
Having sold our house and cars, we downsized our belongings and packed what was left onto our dream boat, a new-to-us 1990 Gemini 3200 catamaran, and set sail for a life on the sea.
When we started discussing sailing on our own boat across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, one of our first questions was: what would we do with our pets??
A north wind in the Caribbean Sea is as rare as a seagull landing on a stern rail empty of fish bate. It is even more rare under an almost full moon.
Grenada is situated in the Windward Island chain and encompasses the southernmost islands of the “Grenadines.” The stunning islands offer protected anchorages, high-quality marinas and boatyards, a wide range of yachting and marine service facilities, and international air connections.
Admittedly, I wasn’t thrilled on arrival. We sailed into the large anchorage just west of Big Majors Cay across from Pig Beach, and there were a ton of boats. I emphasize a ton. Preferring the more secluded anchorages, I begin to worry we have plopped ourselves in the center of a tourist trap.
There are songs about sailing, but not about golf. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Beach Boys, Lyle Lovett, Jimmy Buffet, Phish, and Christopher Cross are amongst those whose song lyrics have imparted important life guidance delivered through sailing (or boating) metaphors. Sailing and golf can each be described as sports, hobbies, or passions and they are, similarly, both significantly impacted by the weather.
After spending 11 years in the Virgin Islands and Eastern Caribbean running charters aboard my Lagoon 410, Guiding Light, it was time to set sail westward
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary. While known for its expansive waters, ideal for sailing and cruising, it is also encompassed by over 100,000 navigable rivers, creeks, and coves. We may be tempted to hurry past those tucked away places, many of which are less than a few hours apart, but the coastal towns
and serene settings of the Chesapeake’s southern shores are worth the slowdown.
