Month: March 2022

Monday March 28, Day 1, technically when we reach 75.53W longitude, we will have completed our circumnavigation of the globe. This line runs through the Inter Coastal Waterway in North Carolina near the Alligator River and the Great Exuma Island in the Bahamas. It is the farthest point East we sailed when we started this journey in 2019.

By 8am we were off the mooring ball and on our way.

On a moonless dark night, there is a sky full of stars, the North Star to Starboard, the Southern Cross to Port, the Milky Way and separately bioluminescence in the water!

Tuesday March 29, Day 2, 145 total nautical miles traveled in the past 24 hours.

The Atlantic Ocean decided we needed a few more days of 20 plus knots of breeze by bringing the Trade Winds back for three days. I guess she’s just saying thanks, hope you had a good ride. For dinner I made a triple batch of each rice and shredded chicken with black beans, corn, onion, peppers, mixed with two jars of salsa. Dinner enough for three nights.

Wednesday March 30, Day 3, total nautical miles traveled 304, 159 nautical miles in the past 24 hours.

Wind was 20-24knots all day with 5-8ft waves.

Oops it happened again, a bird landed on top of the mast, knocked out our wind speed and direction. It did briefly come back in so maybe it’s just loose and not broken. Too much wind and waves to go up the mast to check it out. I think we need to add anti-bird devices up there.

Thursday March 31, Day 4, total nautical miles traveled 481, 177 nautical miles in the past 24 hours

Friday April 1, Day 5, total nautical miles traveled 640, 159 nautical miles in the past 24 hours. The wind as predicted has decreased down to 10knot, then 7. We’ll be motor sailing through the night.

Trance played an April fools joke on us. After a reset of the navigation system, the wind direction display magically appeared only to realize the numbers were not reasonable therefore not true, the wind vane is actually missing.

Another moonless night, a sky full of stars, the Milky Way the North Star to Starboard, the Southern Cross to Port.

Saturday April 2, Day 6, total nautical miles traveled 760, 120 nautical miles in the past 24 hours. At some point in the early morning we crossed 75.53W longitude, officially completing our trip around the world!!!

Overnight sightings, Marlene: 3 cargo ships, 1 cruise ship
Dan: 1 cruise ship “Mardi Gras”

Not much wind today, we’ve been motor sailing in 6-10knots of wind. Our target arrival is 10am on Monday to the Ft Lauderdale area.

There’s a lot of large boat traffic heading to and from the USA mainland via the Northeast & Northwest Providence Channels, which pass through the northern Bahama Islands. Approaching from the east, during the day we counted 10 ships.

Sunday April 3, Day 7, total nautical miles traveled 876, 116 nautical miles in the past 24 hours.

Overnight sightings, Marlene: 1 100 foot long Sailboat; 2 Cruise Ships; 2 Cargo Ships; 1 more Cargo Ship without AIS on, likely a Russian vessel
Dan: 1 Cargo Ship

Monday April 4, Day 8, total nautical miles traveled 987, 111 nautical miles in the past 24 hours.

Overnight sightings, Marlene: 10 Cruise Ships; 5 Tanker Ships; 6 Cargo Ships… all near the western end of the Northwest Providence Channel and into the Straits of Florida.
Dan: 3 Cargo Ships; 1 Cruise Ship

Crossing the Gulf Stream, a 40nm wide, fast moving, current stream of ocean water, flowing north along the coast of Florida and eastern USA. So you point the boat one way, yet the boat is moving another way… sideways.

We ended-up early, and crossed the 2nd half of the Gulf Stream real slow. The difference between our coarse and heading was 45-50 degrees.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Dan’s brother Marty and Nancy his wife, along with Michael who is letting us dock Trance at his house.

Total passage miles from St. Thomas, 994 nautical miles!

Monday March 21, after the morning rain had stopped we went by dinghy to customs and immigration to check in. One form, no duplicate questions it was simple and quick, next we had show our QR code’s from USVI Travel Portal. No passports stamp, no checking in required when get to Florida, officially we’re back in the US of A!

The Dutch West India Company established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657. The land was divided into plantations and sugarcane production became highly profitable traded item that became dependent on slave labor. In the late 1680’s the largest slave auctions in the world were held there. After the Danish Revolution of 1848, slavery was abolished resulting in higher labor costs weakening the status of the sugar producers.

In 1917, Saint Thomas as well as other islands, were purchased by the United States as a defensive strategy to maintain control over the Caribbean and the Panama Canal during the World War I. US troops were also based here during WWII. After the embargo on Cuba, tourism greatly increased.

Several years ago along with Dan’s siblings we took a Carnival Cruise that stopped in St Thomas. I don’t remember there being shop after shop of jewelry stores or the picturesque alleyways. As with most shopping areas we’ve visited there were many closed stores too.

Tuesday March 22, it rained the majority of the day, so we stayed on Trance. A few boat projects were worked on, there are always boat projects!

Wednesday March 23, Dan and I took a taxi in the morning to the St. Thomas Yacht Club. There is a big regatta this weekend we decided to see if they needed any volunteers, they told us they didn’t need anyone. Had lunch at the club then called a taxi, went to a Cost U Less for a few items. It was like a Costco without a membership, they even had several Kirkland brand items and it smelled like a Costco.

Thursday March 24, another rainy day here in the Caribbean. much of the day was spent on the boat, till late afternoon we dinghy’d in for dinner to a little restaurant off the beaten path to The Sugar Cane Grill.

Friday March 25, walked around town to see some of the nearby sites and explored a few grocery stores. Blackbeard’s Castle was boarded up closed as it it still under repair from the last two hurricanes that hit St. Thomas. Later we hung out at The Box, an outdoor bar, for happy hour then returned to Trance.

Saturday March 26, departed our anchorage at Charlotte-Amalia for Red Hook. Our water tank being almost empty, we had a slow ride around the corner to make water. We are renting a mooring ball from Skip and Andrea at Island Yacht Charters. They offer bareboat charters with their fleet of Island Packet Yachts.

Sunday March 27, the day was spent with Hayden and Radeen Cochran s/v Island Spirit. They administer the Island Packet Owners Facebook group and are great ambassadors for the yachts.

Tomorrow, Monday March 28, we will depart St. Thomas USVI for Ft Lauderdale. It will be around 1000 miles and should take about 8 days. The circle is almost complete!

Friday March 18, Day 1, departed Port St Charles, Barbados at 1 pm. Wind 18-22knots, cruising 7-8 knots with main and staysail. Later, soft Tacos for dinner.

Received our PCR test results just before midnight as we were sailing near St Lucia. The internet signal was quite strong and I was able to upload the results along with our vaccine certification to the USVI Travel Portal. Four hours after the upload they replied, our screening status was approved!

Saturday March 19, Day 2, 165 nautical miles traveled.

Once we cleared the shadow of Martinique, winds and waves in the Caribbean increased to around 18-22knots for most of the day, at one point it dropped to 11knots. Cruising at 7-8knots with full main and staysail.

The prevailing trade winds coming from the east across the Atlantic have been quite brisk lately. A little uncomfortable, but after almost 2 1/2 years, we’re getting used to it.

Sunday March 20, Day 3, total nautical miles traveled 323, 158 nautical miles in the past 24 hours, 112 miles to go.

While provisioning for this passage, we purchased fresh blueberries for our Sunday morning pancakes! What an adventure that bake was during a pop up squall we didn’t see coming! Dan likes his syrup warm so he puts a coffee mug containing syrup in the microwave to heat it up. When he opened the microwave door, the mug slid out spilling all over the counter running down the pots and pans cupboard. This cupboard is a lift up door in the counter. The pancake mix spilled on another counter. The orange juice was frozen, it was touching the cold plate so orange slushies it is. Eating pancakes out of a bowl, they were delicious! All cleaned up now.

Monday March 21, Day 4, total trip nautical miles traveled 437.5, 68 hours. Arrived at Charlotte-Amalie, St Thomas USVI, dropped anchor at 8:56am.

Monday March 14, in the morning we pulled up anchor in Carlisle Bay, sailed a few miles north to Port St Charles Marina. We had lunch at the Pier One Restaurant in the marina, a restaurant bar and pool with sun bathing area. We met two couples from Canada had a great afternoon poolside together.

Tuesday March 15, we both slept late did a few boat projects then went out to dinner with our new Canadian friends at Local & Co. Our table was on the sand under an umbrella. The waves gently crashing on the beach with a fantastic sunset. It was a great evening!

Wednesday March 16, factory tour of the Mount Gay Rum distillery. Started with rum punch, ended with sampling 4 different aged rums.

Thursday March 17, a bus ride back into Bridgetown, we stopped for lunch then watched a couple hours of a four day game of Cricket at the Kensington Oval, West Indies vs England. The crowd was 80% from England. We sat next to several really nice Brits who were explaining the game to us as watched as well as answered our questions. This was a “ Test Series“ match kind of like an All Star game. They are called Tests because the matches are long making them mentally and physically challenging. It’s a four inning match which may last up to five days. We arrived just before England scored 503 points, then “declared” to West Indies making it their turn “at bat”. The West Indies star player and number one at bat was out after four “pitches” the crowd roared and broke into song!

Friday March 18, provisioning and COVID test morning, taking the bus into Holetown, thats where the was closest testing facility.

The Port St Charles Marina has a Customs and Immigration office here which made it very convenient. Passports stamped! We are off on a 2-3 day passage to St Thomas USVI.

Monday March 7, Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. In November of 2021 she became an independent country. It is also the only island in the Lesser Antilles that is not formed by volcanic rock. The island is sedimentary rock and coral.

After arrival in Barbados we were instructed by Port Signal Station to go to the shallow draft basin and wait for Port Health. We were required to stay on our boat. Several hours had past as well as a few radio calls to Port Signal Station, at 3pm Port Health finally arrived. After a discussion regarding PCR tests, that they required 48hrs prior to arrival, Dan convinced him our 10 days at sea was in fact a quarantine. The officer was really nice and offered to drive Dan as well as the captain of another sailboat that arrived just before us to the customs and immigration office. Passports stamped!

Along with the other boat s/v Naomi we both decided to stay the night on “the wall” and leave by 7:30am to anchor in Carlisle Bay.

Tuesday March 8, at 6:30 am we were awoken by dock workers who wanted us to leave as a cargo ferry needed to dock where we were. We left and anchored in the bay. After getting settled, we took the dingy into Bridgetown to find a restaurant for breakfast. There is a dingy dock up the river under the lift bridge we parked at.

Afterwards we walked around a bit, went back to the boat, I took a nap. Later we went to the Boatyard restaurant beaching the dinghy, for happy hour and dinner,

Wednesday March 9, beach day at the Barbados Yacht Club. We stayed till dark for most of the jazz concert. They were good when they were playing.

Thursday March 10, Dan visited a dermatologist for the persistent issue with his toe. Diagnosis, nothing serious. Afterward we stopped for a light breakfast at this cozy coffee shop/florist.

We spent the afternoon at the Mount Gay Visitors Center. Sampled 4 Rums and had lunch there.

Friday March 11, we took an Island tour on air conditioned bus by Ted of Ted’s Tours. It was a very entertaining ride with Ted’s humor and history. The drive went around the entire island stopping for lunch in Speighstown. Other stops were Cherry Tree Hill, Bathsheba, the fourth was supposed to be at St John’s Parish church but a funeral was in process so an alternate stop was made. Each stop also included beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks. At the conclusion of the tour, the bus drives by Oistiens Fish Market. Several people exited the tour here including us.

The Oistiens experience- this is a Barbados must! An open air out door seating fish market with several food and beverages vendors to choose from in colorful huts as well as arts and crafts being sold under tents. There was also live music on this night. We had dinner with others we met on the tour it was a very enjoyable night.

Saturday March 12, took the bus to check out Port St Charles Marina, we have heard mixed reviews and comments of the place wanted to check it out before sailing up here. Lunch was at a small bar on the beach. Later we hailed a cab to Holetown. This is the high end shopping area, we stopped for ice cream then took the bus back into Bridgetown.

Sunday March 13, yacht club beach day which also included a little bit of snorkeling. Then walked back into town to our dinghy.