Trip Log: Our Caribbean Sailing Adventure

After a lengthy flight from SF, we arrived in St. Martin.  We hit the docks and boarded Exodus, our charter boat for the next week.  She is a 2 year old Fountaine Pajot Ipanema 58 catamaran.  Our captain was there to greet us, as well as our chef for the week.  Peet and Kate are as amazing as our new home.  The sweetest part of the boat is the open fly bridge.  The helm is up here and seating for about 10.  It totally opens the boat up with its decadent sofas, fridge and wet bar.  We are in heaven!  We motor up to a nice cove and set the hook.  Dinner is served at 7pm and we are impressed!  After some nice conversation and a few bottles of wine, we settle in for some games and reading.  We are all a bit tired from the overnight flight, so we call it an early night.

T
The next morning after a delicious breakfast, we set sail for Anguilla.  Frank and I had been there in 2014 for a boys week and had a blast.  We anchored off the same beach and the memories of that week flooded back.  We had some boisterous winds for the sail over and covered the 5 nautical miles quickly.  I had time for some hammock (my hammock has traveled with me all over the world since I received one as a engagement gift way back in 1992) and a swim before dinner.  The meals have been fabulous and they keep getting better. 

The next morning was beautiful, and a swim was in order.  We headed back towards St. Martin with the winds in the mid 20's and anchored in a nice cove for lunch.  After, we tried to get into a cove but it was too busy so we ended up in the same cove as the first night, Grand Case.  We headed out for a snorkel and then some spirited bocce games on the beach.  What fun to play patonk on the French side of the island (the other side is Dutch).  We had a very nice steak dinner and I did some reading and then off to bed. 

Tuesday is a big day…we are heading for St. Barts.  Because I am a Latitude 38 reader, I have read about and seen many vids about St. Barts.  The editor of L38 spends winter and spring in St Barts and writes many a story on this gem of an island.  The wind is about 26 true when we depart and it is a beautiful sail of about 17 miles.  Along the way we have some fun and spot a few dolphins off the port side.  We arrive at lunch time and set the hook at the far side of the anchorage in Gustavia.  We have a fine lunch and then take the tender into town. 

Frank and I strolled thru Gustavia with its upscale shops and bars and then headed to the beach.  We find the beach bar Shellona and take a seat.  What a cool vibe.  Lots of boats anchored out, beautiful people sipping Rose an a lovely afternoon, and a nice beach.  We hung out for about an hour and a half.  Our ladies showed up for a glass of wine too.  We headed back to the boat for a glass of Champagne and a green flash to boot!  That might be my 10th green flash.  Then it was on to Maya’s for a nice fish dinner by the bay.

 Fly bridge!

We have been eating well as our chef Kate has prepared some fine meals.  This morning it’s Eggs Benedict.  We take off about 10am for a jaunt around the corner to a cove named Columbier.  About 10 boats are in the cove and we pick up a mooring ball near the beach.  We swim, hike and play bocce on the beach with a glass of wine in hand.  Good times indeed.  Plus, I had a glorious nap in the hammock in the bow.  With the gentle swaying from the breeze, it felt like I was in the womb once more.  However, this is a womb with a view!

We are celebrating a few birthdays so tonight we start with Champagne, fine wines from Napa and a scrumptious dinner from the galley.  We have a great night and the temp is a perfect 78!

Thursday, we take off for Nikki Beach.  We anchor off the beautiful Eden Rock Hotel and go for a swim.  Whenever I swim in an anchorage, I am very watchful for passing boats and especially jetskis.  I was nearly killed back in 88' when a passing jetskier decided to buzz our ski boat.  I was retrieving an overboard item and popped to the surface inches from the passing jetski.  That would have been a tragic ending.  Back to the islands!  At 1pm, we head in for lunch at the famous Nikki Beach Restaurant and Beach Chalet.  There is a large wedding party and the mood is festive.  Its very loud as the DJ is pumping up the jam!   As we wait for lunch to arrive, Bridget and I go for a walk on the beach as she is very sensitive to loud music.  After lunch, we move down to the beach and continue drinking from a very large bottle of Rose.  I go for a swim and enjoy watching the wedding guests frolick in the water.  After a short game of bocce on the beach, we return for a nap and another awesome dinner aboard. I could get used to this!

On our last full day aboard Exodus, we snorkel a bit and then head to a beautiful spot on St. Martin.  We anchor next to a nearly deserted anchorage and beach.  I see a small Hobie go by and head to the beach to see if I can rent one.  Soon it becomes apparent that the guy sailing the Hobie is out of his league.  He soon capsizes and needs to be rescued.  They send out a jetski and bring back the wayward sailor.  One of the employees is now attempting to sail the Hobie back but the winds are in the high teens and he is having trouble.  The manager asks if I could help.  She whisks me away on the jetski and I board the cat.  In no time, I am back up wind and enjoying some fine reaches out into the outer waters and much more wind.  These boats are fun to sail and a blast to sail fast.  I head back to the beach and get a hero's welcome from the staff.  Back to the boat for another fine meal and early to bed.  The group stayed up late playing Skipo, but I was out cold by 10pm. 

On Saturday we say our goodbyes to the crew.  What an amazing week it was.  I was very surprised how windy it was every single day.  In all our sails, the wind was over the mid 20's.  The weather was fantastic with a only a shower or two.  If you ever charter a large cat, make sure it has a fly bridge.  This is a must as it gives you a great view and another place to relax and hang out.  We loved the two beach bars on St. Barts as the vibe was as cool as the people.  Everything was top notch and we would not hesitate to book this cat and crew again.  Bon voyage indeed!

Big Wave Award Winners!

Tube of the Year!


Full screen please.

Rogue Spinnakers

Had a battery go bad on our electric engine last week.  Hope to get a replacement this week and get out for some more sailing adventures soon.

My buddy John, who has owned about 5 sail boats over the years, recently bought a 1981 Newport 30 because he loved the way ours sailed.  High praise indeed.

Extreme Is My Middle Name

Back from an amazing sailing adventure in the Caribbean!  We boarded a 58' cat in St Martin and explored the waters of Anguilla and St Barts.  Our crew (captain and chef) were exceptional, as was the boat.  I ended up rescuing a rescuer of a small Hobie on the last day.  Had a blast sailing the boat back to it's home.  All in all, a very memorable trip to the islands.  I will have a full report later this week.

In the meantime, enjoy this vid.

Americas Cup Starts One Month from Today

Racing begins May 26th in Bermuda!  This year's boats are much smaller in an effort to bring the cost down.  In 2013, the boats were 72'.  This year they will be 48' and capable of speeds of 50 knots.  Because the winds are more variable than SF, the races will be more tactical. 

AC 35 has attracted five challengers: Land Rover BAR (GBR) with Sir Ben Ainslie on the helm, Artemis Racing (SWE) with skipper Nathan Outteridge, Groupama Team France with Franck Cammas, Softbank Team Japan with Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand with Glenn Ashby. Jimmy Spithill, 2013's winning helmsman, will again skipper Team Oracle USA.

Bonehead Moves on the Water... Kitesurf Edition

These are some extreme examples of the dangers of kitesurfing.  Do you feel it is a dangerous sport?  Please comment.

Pics of the Week

XXL Biggest Wave of the Year Nominees

The winners will be announced this weekend in LA.  Hope to have a recap soon.

Departing for Charter in the Caribbean

We are departing this week for the Leeward Islands of the West Indies.  St. Martin, St. Barths, Saba and Anguilla.  Our 60' cat, Exodus, is awaiting our arrival.  My wife hates sailing, however, when you throw in a modern day cat, a captain and gourmet chef, she will follow me to the end of our watery planet.  Include our best friends and she will happily jump on board!  We have wifi on board our lovely yacht and I hope to be putting out some dispatches from the field.  Tales of large rum drinks invading the fly bridge and maybe a tale of a friendly pirate or two.  It's going be a blast and I cannot wait to jump aboard.  Join us for a trip of a lifetime to some of the most tranquil islands in the world.  Check out Exodus here.

We might not have this much fun but we are going to try!

Pics of the Week

Paddle Only

Growing up in Delaware, our waves were not very big.  Once in a while a storm would come thru and we would get a little action.  I would surf all day in those days and got pretty good.  We took a trip to Hawaii when I was 17.  We were on Ohau and headed to the North Shore for the day.  We arrived at Sunset Beach and could see the waves way out there.  Looked like a good day.  We waxed up and headed out.  The waves were at least a half mile away.  After paddling for a long time we arrived at the break.  Oh my!  These waves were monsters and I was way out of my league.  I watched a couple go by and the locals surfing them skillfully.  I decided they were way too big for me and paddle back in with my tail between my legs.  We ended up at Haleiwa and had a much better situation to surf my first of many Hawaiian waves.

H2uh0 Celebrates 12 Years this Month!

On April 2, 2005, two sailboat accidents on the bay prompted me to start this humble blog.  The first of the two, happened at the Golden Gate, when a Santana 22 got too close to the south tower and a wave picked them up and took them into the surf zone.  Boat sank and they were rescued by the surfers.  The other accident happen during a race to and from the Farallons (a small uninhabited island 28 miles off the coast of SF).   A racer had popped the chute for the run home when he got overpowered and the kite put the boat on its side and he lost control of the boat.  The spinnaker pulled him onto the beach and the boat was lost.

My motivation in starting this blog was to alert sailors of accidents and hopefully we can learn from them.  The blog has become much more than that and it has become a joy to share my experiences on our Newport 30 as we explore the bay and beyond.

The next phase of this blog is to chronicle my journey into buying a new to me boat in the fall and our adventure to Australia in September 2018.  I having been dreaming about this trip since the early 80's when I first started sailing on rent a boats with a friend on the bay.  It has been an amazing process and one that I am very proud of.  Some of the highlights include: owning our boat for almost 17 years, six Baja Haha's, chartering boats in the BVI, Belize, Mexico and the Grenadines, 5-7 day trips on the bay and Delta, sharing the wonders of sailing with 100's of friends and family on our bay and having the America's Cup sailed in my own backyard with the flying 72's going 40 knots plus across the bay.

I hope you will join us we sail down the west coast to Ecuador and beyond into the South Pacific.  We depart in 16 months, and 22 days, 3 hours, 25 minutes and 23 seconds!!!!!

Pale Blue Dot

Happy Easter!  Going out on the bay on Saturday to enjoy some old and new friends.  Also heading to see Toots and the Maytals on Friday.  I love this song.  An oldie from John Denver.

If I Won the Lottery

When I drive home from the boat, there is a big lottery sign that shows the current amount you could win.  Usually it's about $150m or so.  I like to think abut what I would do If I won the jackpot (we all do, right?).  Well, if I won, I would buy one of these boats and sail away.  What is your lottery wish?

"Best Regatta in the World"

Les Voiles de St. Barth

Big week in St Barts with the race of the year taking place.  1000 sailors will compete at one of the most beautiful islands in the West Indies.  We will miss the race by two weeks as we depart for our charter adventure on the 29th.  Can't wait to see this beautiful place.


Les Voiles de St Barth 2016 by drone from St Barth Fly Cam on Vimeo.

Pics of the Week

Winds are picking up on the SF Bay!  This week we were out for some 30-35 knot winds and flying.   A storm hit Thursday with winds up to 64.  We did not sail in that.  Some of the boats at the boat show got heavily damaged due to temporary docks not being able to stand that much pressure.

Wipe Out of the Year Nominees

Off to the boat show today.  I have been many times to kick tires and jump aboard some beautiful yachts.  Today is a little different as I am on a mission.  I am on the cusp of buying the boat that will take us to Australia.  I will be looking for brokers and getting their info as my quest for the perfect boat begins in September.  Wish me luck.

Good Advice!

Dear Abby:

I have always wanted to have my family history traced, but I can’t afford to spend a lot of money to do it. Any suggestions?

Sam in Cali

Dear Sam: Yes. Run for public office.

 Dear Abby,

I am very worried about my husband of 3 years.  We will call him Max.  The last three times I have entered the bathroom, I have caught Max masturbating.  The first time was one thing, but three times in the last 2 weeks?  I am very concerned about his actions and need your advice right away.

Perplexed in Pennsylvania

Dear Perplexed,  I have one word of advice: KNOCK

 

40th Anniversary Issue

Our friends at Latitude 38 began writing way back in 1977.  Richard Spindler had a dream and started his publication on a boat in Sausalito.  The mag has been a wild success.  He now has three boats (Europe canal boat, a 64' cat that is the mother ship for the Baja Haha, and a 42' cat in St. Barts).  He and his writing crew have done well.  He recently sold the rag to an associate, but still writes his columns.  Download this month's issue here.

Download the PDF version for easy reading.