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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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From Shark Attacks to Pirates: Victor Mooney’s Memoir Chronicles Epic Row Across the Atlantic

Sometimes fact is much better than fiction! This certainly will be true of the memoir Atlantic rower, Victor Mooney, will publish this year. Mooney visited Island Water World in St. Maarten in August to share his book plans to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his four-month-plus transatlantic row in a 24-foot Brazilian-built rowboat from Maspalomas, Grand Canaria, to St. Martin, FWI.

Victor Mooney. Courtesy Victor Mooney
Victor Mooney. Courtesy Victor Mooney

As a sneak peek, Mooney lost 80 pounds of body weight along the way, and his Spirit of Malabo was damaged by a shark, the latter of which was refurbished by Island Water World and Custom Fit Marine during his stopover in St. Martin. He then continued his row, with stops in the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Mooney was hijacked by pirates in Haitian waters but recovered his boat in a multinational effort. The boat was sent to Miami, where RMK Merrill Stevens made repairs. Mooney finally arrived at New York’s Brooklyn Bridge on November 29, 2015, completing his mission to encourage voluntary HIV testing in memory of his brother who died of AIDS.

Victor Mooney: Faith, Hope & A Strong Arm

“I was grateful to return to St. Martin/Sint Maarten with my wife, for she is the Captain of the Spirit of Malabo. I hope this forthcoming book will inspire people from all walks of life to never give up and not to be afraid to dream,” says Mooney.

Victor Mooney visited Island Water World in August to share his book plans. Courtesy Victor Mooney
Victor Mooney visited Island Water World in August to share his book plans. Courtesy Victor Mooney

Mooney plans to launch his book on June 27, 2024, at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino, and Spa with side events in St. Martin (FWI) and Anguilla. www.facebook.com/VictorJMooney/

The Sailing Sculptor

Sunsail Commemorates its 50th Anniversary with BVI Flotilla in 2024

Celebrate a half-century anniversary in the British Virgin Islands. Sunsail, a Clearwater, FL-headquartered world leader in yacht charters, is offering a special flotilla to mark this monumental occasion. Set for July 27 to August 3, 2024, the one-week charter features stops in Jost Van Dyke, the Baths in Virgin Gorda, and pirate-vibed Norman Island. Highlights include welcome drinks, a beach party, treasure hunting on Norman Island, and a prize-giving and final dinner. Prices for the BVI Flotilla start from $3750 for a Sunsail 41.9, 3 cabin, 2 head classic yacht. www.sunsail.com 

Photos Courtesy Sunsail
Photos Courtesy Sunsail

The Life and Times of a Caribbean One Design Fleet – St. Maarten’s Jeanneau 20’s

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Back in the 1990s, a leading charter company set up a small boat sailing experience in Antigua. It was very successful, but the property lease was eventually terminated. Among the equipment were ten Jeanneau 20’s in various states of repair. They were scattered all over Antigua with only two still in sailing condition.

“This was in 2004,” says Robbie Ferron, avid sailor and founder of the Budget Marine Group. “By a wide range of methods we managed to get the boats to St. Maarten. “A couple were sailed, some went on friendly large vessel decks, and most were towed. Once they were all in sailing condition, we rented them to tourists and also started racing them. Great racing happened over the next fifteen years.”

PR’s Atlas Yacht Sales Expands as Exclusive Jeanneau Dealer 

Everyone wants to sail one-designs, but usually, Caribbean buyers’ choices don’t result in a single vessel type, Ferron adds. “When you do manage to get that boat consistency right, the one design magic happens.”

The Jeanneaus were used for a range of competitive events including women’s regattas, match racing, weekend racing, and special events racing. The boats have swing keels with internal ballast which makes it possible to haul them on a trailer, but this does not affect their sailing performance. They are not planing race boats, so they are not ‘downwind flyers’. They do have a good ‘rocker’ so they tack very easily, which explains why they were perfect for high-level match racing. 

“The boats were taken over by a foundation aimed at youth training but it ran into problems and as of June, sold 5 of the boats to private owners. The owners are all well-established sailing families and all six have agreed to keep the boats in their one-design configuration. So, the stage is set for a repeat of the long era of tight, competitive one-design racing combined with youth and adult training,” says Ferron. 

One-Design vs. Handicap: What’s the Future of Caribbean Racing?

Luxury Awaits at the Virgin Islands Boating Expo: Yacht Shop, Wine & Dine, Stay & Play

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. There’s nothing like cruising a luxe new yacht through the Caribbean seas. Fulfill that dream by attending the Virgin Islands Boating Expo (VIBE), set for May 10-12, 2024. Book your tickets at vibe.vi/attend/. This exclusive boutique destination show, hosted by the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA), ticks the top three boxes of what yacht buyers today want in a 2.0 yacht sales experience: the ability to yacht shop, wine and dine, and stay and play, all in the extraordinary venue of Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas, four-time winner of International Superyacht Marina of the Year.

“We welcome our attendees, both the public and those flying into our award-winning destination, to visit with yacht dealers, manufacturers, exhibitors, and our local and global vendors. Experience the best of what the U.S. Virgin Islands offers on land and sea and shop for a yacht while you’re here,” says Joseph Boschulte, USVI Commissioner of Tourism.

YACHT SHOP

Take advantage of duty-free tax benefits when buying a yacht in the USVI. Additionally, the Government of the Virgin Islands supports infrastructure on shore to maintain charter business interests such as an Economic Development Commission Tax Incentive Program for charter yachts. Charter company professionals, financial companies, and Marine Expo vendors with global and local products will be on hand to talk about charter management opportunities in the USVI.

Find the latest models of top brands like Bali, Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Leopard, McConaghy, Azimut, and Boston Whaler, to name a few. Yacht buyers benefit from St. Thomas as a hub destination for transport ships delivering yachts from foreign manufacturing facilities. Walk the docks, tour the yachts, and meet the professional crew. Attendees receive a fully immersive experience on board, with the opportunity to test-sail directly from the show berth through the scenic Charlotte Amalie harbor to world-class cruising grounds.

“Teaming up with Waypoints Yacht Charters, our luxury yacht charter sister company, we will bring attendees a dynamic duo that not only meets but exceeds market expectations,” says Laurent Fabre, vice president of sales and marketing for Fort Lauderdale, FL-based Atlantic Cruising Yachts, which will feature two stunning Fountaine Pajot catamarans, the Aura 51 and Alegria 67. “Discover the epitome of luxury and performance as our Yacht Consultants unveil the revolutionary Fountaine Pajot Smart Electric propulsion system, designed to enhance the experience for private owners and elevate charter fleet operations.”

Daily yacht viewings combine with live music and cultural performances, starting with the Exhibitor’s Opening Ceremony & Reception on May 9, from 5-7 p.m.

WINE & DINE

VIBE and Cutlass & Cane, Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas’ newest restaurant, have partnered to produce a curated Food & Wine Experience, with lunch served daily from Noon-3 p.m. including wine pairings. Cutlass & Cane boasts a Michelin-worthy seafood and upscale Caribbean menu, plus crafted mixology offerings.

All attendees can also visit a variety of pop-up bars featuring many beverages distributed by West Indies Company, including St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands-made Mutiny Island Vodka, the world’s first and finest Island Vodka made from breadfruit and Caribbean rainwater, and St. Thomas-crafted Leatherback Brewing Company’s products, which offers craft beer made with Caribbean-grown ingredients.

Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas is home to over a half dozen restaurants offering several cuisines.

STAY & PLAY

Getting to St. Thomas is easy! There are direct flights from the U.S. cities of Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Newark, New York, Orlando, and Washington-Dulles. No passport is required to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands for U.S. Citizens. Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas is a 15-minute drive across the beautifully historic Charlotte Amalie Waterfront from St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport.

Strong show partnerships have translated into reduced room rates at some of St. Thomas’ top resorts, including the Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef; The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas; Margaritaville Vacation Club St. Thomas; Bluebeards; and the Pink Palm Hotel. Discounted VIBE attendee rates are available at vibe.vi/accommodations/.

In February 2024, the U.S. Virgin Islands was nominated for Leading Beach Destination, Leading Destination, and Most Romantic Destination in the World Travel Awards. Miles of bays and beaches, a historic town that dates to the 1600s, fine dining, duty-free shopping, and much more make St. Thomas the ultimate vacation destination. Add to this that neighboring St. John, home of the Virgin Islands National Park, is a half-hour cruise away.

BOOK NOW!

Visit vibe.vi/attend to book tickets to attend VIBE 2024 now!

• General Admission: One-day General Admission VIBE tickets cost $49 per person, with children under age 12 free. This includes access to the marina for yacht viewings, the Marine Vendor Expo in Harbor360, and two free drinks.

Or purchase a 2-for-1 General Admission 3-day Ticket for $73.50 and bring a friend.

Or buy the VIP Admission 4-day ticket is $399 and includes the opening ceremony, priority yacht viewing, tickets to the Food & Wine Experience, plus champagne on arrival and VIP Lounge Access.

• Food & Wine Experience: This three-day experience is included in VIP tickets. Or purchase as an add-on to a General Admission VIBE ticket for $55 per day.

• Exhibitors Opening Ceremony & Reception: Pay only $99 per person. Includes cocktails, canapes, live music, and cultural performances.

For more information on VIBE 2024, visit www.vibe.vi. For information about the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) visit www.vipca.org

Photo: Fountaine Pajot Aura 51, Cruising World’s 2024 Boat of the Year. Courtesy Atlantic Cruising Yachts.

St. Lucia Unveils New Ally for Superyachts: Blanchard Yacht Services

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Yachts, especially superyachts, have a new friend in St. Lucia. Troy Blanchard, formerly manager of the world-class Marigot Bay Marina, is now the owner of Blanchard Yacht Services and a yacht agent for vessels arriving in all ports and anchorages on the island. 

“Captains are usually concerned about the complexities of regional regulations and customs procedures. As a yacht agent, I am very familiar with the rules and regulations for entering the island ports, as well as the various taxes and fees associated with yacht operations. There is also the concern of VISA requirements for certain nationalities on yachts. By staying informed about these issues, I can assist my yacht clients avoid costly mistakes and ensure a smooth cruising experience,” says Blanchard, who brings over two decades of professional experience and a deep understanding of the marine industry to his new business. 

Lucky Dog – How to Make a Yacht Refit into a Home

In addition to Customs and Immigration clearance, Blanchard’s services also include airport transfers, access to high-end luxury transfers, private jet landing arrangements, provisioning, laundry, flower arrangements, marina dockage reservations, moorings for yachts at the Pitons, hotel, and restaurant reservations, fuel bunkering, helicopter rides/charters, brokerage services for parts and shipments, and island excursions.

The Caribbean superyacht marketplace is growing. There were an estimated 500 superyachts in the Caribbean over the last yacht charter season. Yet there are over 5,600 superyachts in the world, a figure that is growing quickly with record numbers of new-builds over the past three years and new builds that are larger and larger vessels.

Secrets of Long Island

“There is a huge opportunity for St. Lucia to grab a chunk of these yachts visiting the region. St. Lucia is frequently rated among the most beautiful islands in the world, with its breathtaking natural beauty, a diverse range of activities, and welcoming atmosphere and hospitable people, offering an unparalleled experience for those who choose to visit by yacht,” says Blanchard.

www.blanchardsyachtservices.com,

Email: blanchardsyachtservices@gmail.com  

Cell/WhatsApp: 1 (758) 721-1653.

Sailing With Charlie: Help!

Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend: Reimagined by History’s First Female Master Blender

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When Trudiann Branker became Mount Gay’s first-ever female Master Blender in 2019, one of her first tasks was to “reimagine” the company’s Black Barrel and XO offerings. Branker is quoted as saying, “…I knew which pieces of the puzzle needed to fit well together to enhance these blends to create bold, multifaceted rums…) In 2020, with some “tweaks” to the recipe and a total repacking effort, Mount Gay XO became Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend (MGXO.)

Branker’s journey began at Howard University, where she double majored in science. From there, she studied at the Siebel Institute and the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. She attributes her confidence in distillation and blending to her solid foundation in science. Branker returned to Barbados and eventually took on a Quality Assurance Manager role at the oldest rum distillery in the world. Former Mount Gay Master Blender Allen Smith mentored Branker and set her on the path to become not only the first female Master Blender but also only the fifth Master Blender in the company.

The new XO is produced using molasses from a variety of sugar canes. It is distilled in both copper pot batch distillation and traditional continuous column stills, and aged between five and 17 years. But the significant change is given away right there in the name. The “Triple Cask Blend” refers to the rum being aged in American Whiskey, Bourbon, and Cognac barrels and then carefully blended to get precisely the “tweak” Branker was looking for.

Review

The golden rum coats the glass and takes its sweet time rejoining the liquid. The nose presents green bananas, coconut husks, and young pineapple with oak hanging behind the curtain. While the nose has a tropical feel, it’s not overly sweet. The palate is drier, with the coconut husks being the dominant note. There is a slight sweetness that takes a while to present itself. If you hold the liquid on your palate and let it move around, you can feel the richness of the rum. As you release the liquid to the finish, there is a flash of molasses before cloves take you through the finish. The warmth of the cloves hugs your chest like a warm blanket and keeps you cradled until you decide to experience another sip. No surprises and no understudies want more attention. The experience is pleasantly consistent from start to finish.

Overall

While we are spot on with our tasting notes, the ratings are surprisingly different. Clint would give this a 4.25 because of its consistent notes from nose to finish, leaving him little to contemplate. Terry would rate it a 4.5 or slightly higher because she didn’t have to think and explore. The notes were there every time she sipped. To her, there was something meditative about sipping MGXO. The rum was exactly what she needed as the setting sun ended another day. At $67/bottle, it’s worth every penny.

P.S. It makes an outstanding Old Fashion.

Rating 4.40 of 5.0


About Clint and Terry: We have sampled many a dram over our 33 years of marriage and quite often we don’t fully agree. Could be the difference is male/female taste buds. Or, somebody is just wrong.

Uncovering the Gems of St. Martin and St. Barts: A Top 10 Chronicle

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This month’s Top 10 list finds us in French and Dutch territory as we visit Saint-Martin (northern French side) and Sint Maarten (southern Dutch side), but we will simply refer to it all as St Martin. I also want to include the French island of Saint Barthélemy (St Barts) since it is only 15-20 miles away.

The island of St Martin has been split ever since 1648 with the French owning roughly 2/3 and the Dutch 1/3. This is purportedly because a man from each nation started walking in opposite directions and where they met was the border. Well, the Frenchman drank wine on his walk, while the Dutchman drank a stronger gin making him walk slower. Haha

Now onto the list of my favorite spots in St Martin and St Barts!

Border Crossing
Border Crossing

10. Little Bay – What I like about this bay on the Dutch side, just west of the capital, is the fact you can see the Spanish built Fort Amsterdam on the point and in the water you will find a helicopter, plane, and submarine to snorkel around. I love snorkeling and find it really cool to check out wreckage.

Philipsburg Court House
Philipsburg Court House

9. Philipsburg – The capital of the Dutch side is a pretty great location because you, more or less, have whatever you are looking for. It has a great beach, shopping, some great architecture, 3 forts, remains of the salt industry, and fun bars to hang out in. Just stay away when cruise ships are in as it can get overcrowded.

8. Colombier Beach – Situated on the far west end of St Barts, this bay has no roads to it. This means the bay is just for boaters and those people that want to hike over to it. The beach is nice and the snorkeling along the north side is good. The best part, besides the quietness of this bay, is it is one of the few calm bays around St Barts when the swell picks up.

7. French food – On both the French side of St Martin and St Barts you will find lots of restaurants and stores with yummy French food, but the best place to stock up on the vast French wines, cheese, and bread is at some of the bigger grocery stores in the capital of Marigot, on the north side of Simpson Lagoon.

Maho Beach
Maho Beach

6. Maho Beach – I know it is touristy, but how can you not love a beach that has passenger jets flying 50 feet over your head as they land at the airport. Then you have the daredevils that hold onto the chain link fence as the jet wash from the biggest jets take off. Add to this the electric vibe of the crowd, the crystal-clear water, tasty drinks, and darn good fresh aloe massages and you have a pretty awesome beach.

View from Pic du Paradis
View from Pic du Paradis

5. Pic du Paradis – The highest point on the island at 1400 ft is accessible by car…most of the way. You will either need a 4×4 or hike the last 20 minutes to the top. From there the views are unbelievable in almost every direction. On the way back down, you can stop at Loterie Farm for drinks, lunch, and an obstacle course/zip line called “The Fly Zone.” I am going to cheat a little and mention another zip line at Rockland Estate, which is a totally different location. There you will find the Flying Dutchman, which is the steepest zipline in the world. Plus, the inter-tube track was a blast.

Anchorage
Anchorage

4. Île Fourchue – A little farther than halfway from St Martin to St Barts is an island that is only accessible by a private boat. The island itself is fairly barren and not much to look at. What is wonderful about this island is the protection the western bay offers, the seclusion, and the snorkeling. I spent several nights anchored here during a front and loved it. Of course, it did not hurt that I found over $200 worth of boating treasures in the water…rope, chain, dinghy plug, etc. Got to love that.

Ile Pinel Iguanas
Ile Pinel Iguanas

3. Ile Pinel – Just off the east end of the French side of St Martin is a great island that you can reach by ferry, kayak, or a private boat. Yellow beach is lots of fun to hang out at with 3-4 different bars/restaurants. I took some friends here for the day and the kids loved playing in the sand and water, while the adults hiked across the small island. To top it all off, there is a pack of iguanas that is hard not to be intrigued with.

Dutch Bridge
Dutch Bridge

2. Dutch side bridge – There is a peninsula on the west side of St Martin and taking up most of this peninsula is Simpson Lagoon, the largest lagoon in the Caribbean. The lagoon is split in the middle by the two sides and each has an entrance with a drawbridge over it. The Dutch side bridge is the one used most often and it only opens two or three times a day. In the afternoon it is quite the spectacle to have drinks at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club and watch the mega yachts pass through the channel with mere feet to spare

Gustavia - Harbor view from Fort Karl
Gustavia – Harbor view from Fort Karl

1. Town of Gustavia – The island of St Barts changed hands several times throughout history and Sweden had control for a short time, thus the name of the town that surrounds the rectangle shaped inner harbor. Simply walking around this red roofed town is a delight. Throw in the three forts, Shell Beach, amazing customs agents, churches, the old Swedish Clock Tower, huge ancient anchor, shops, restaurants, and museum and you have something quite special. Additionally, this is the place for the millionaire club at New Years time.

Captain Shane and 1st Mate Lily are getting ready for a new charter season in the Virgin Islands. Check out svGuidingLight on the web or social media to follow along.

Savor the Season: Delightful Recipes with Seasonal Superfoods

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Celebrate the season by cooking with fresh ingredients and enjoying good health. Adding more seasonal superfoods into your recipes can make your favorite dishes much healthier.

PEPPER SHRIMP
Prep time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 15 minutes. Serves: 6
1/2 cup (4 oz.) unsalted butter
5 large garlic cloves, minced
1 fresh Scotch bonnet chilli, stemmed, unseeded, and minced (about 1 Tbsp.)
1-1/2 tsp. peeled, minced fresh ginger
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 sprig of thyme
3 lbs. unpeeled head-on raw large shrimp, deveined
1 tsp. kosher salt

Melt butter in a large pot over medium. Add garlic, chilli, and ginger; cook, stirring often, until aromatic and tender, about 5 minutes. Add lime juice, vinegar, and thyme; bring to a simmer over medium. Increase heat to medium-high; add shrimp, and cook, stirring often, until shrimp are opaque and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with salt; serve immediately. Hint: This can be made for an hors d’oeuvre or main course.

Celebrate the Season and Garnish for Good Health

CHIA PUDDING WITH BERRIES
Prep time: 5 minutes. Sitting time: 15 minutes. Chilling time: 6 hours or overnight. Serves: 4 (about a cup each)
2 cups coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk
1 very ripe banana
¼ cup chia seeds
½ cup each of fresh blueberries, blackberries and raspberries

In a blender, blend the coconut milk and banana until smooth.  Pour into a bowl. Add the chia seeds and stir well; set aside for 15 minutes. Give it another good stir then add berries, another good stir; refrigerate overnight or at least 2-3 hours. To serve: Divide into 4 attractive wide top glasses, like large martini glasses. Top with a couple of extra berries. Enjoy!

How to Cool Off with FOOD and DRINK (instead of Air Conditioning)

HIGH PROTEIN AND CHICKPEA SALAD
Prep time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 15 minutes. Serves: 6
2 (15 oz.) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed (roasted optional)
1/8 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1 cup dry quinoa or 4 cups cooked
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
1-1/2 cups diced red onion
2 cups diced English cucumber
½ cup plus 1 Tbsp. hemp seeds or hearts
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup cilantro

Dressing:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp. sea salt or taste
¼ tsp. black pepper
Optional: ½ tsp. red pepper flakes

Roast the chickpeas (optional): Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Dry the chickpeas between layers of a kitchen or paper towels. Transfer them to a large bowl. Add a generous dash of paprika, garlic powder, and salt, plus a drizzle of olive oil. Toss until evenly coated. Place them on a large-rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 15 minutes. Change the oven setting to broil and cook for about 3 minutes more or until crispy. Cook the quinoa: according to direction on the packet. Set aside for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Transfer to a large bowl to cool.

Make dressing: Mix all the Dressing ingredients together. For serving: Add to the bowl of quinoa … tomatoes, onion, cucumber, chickpeas, hemp seeds, parsley, basil, and cilantro; toss all with dressing. Hint: Cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days. 

The Dish: Seasons Change

Jan Robinson, Health Coach, Chef Competition Coordinator/Judge, Charter Yacht Consultant, 2019 CYBA Hall of Fame and author of the Ship to Shore Cookbook collection; available on Amazon and www.shiptoshoreinc.com CaptJan2@gmail.com

Miss Pfaff Rocks: The Unlikely Companion of Our Cruising Voyage on S&S 41 SY Pitufa

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Other girls enjoy knitting and crocheting, but I always considered myself too much of a tomboy to touch any needlework. Before we set out to sail towards the horizon on our S&S 41 SY Pitufa in 2011, we read all kinds of how-tos for sailors and also the accounts of pioneer cruisers who were equipped (and mentally prepared) to mend basically all their gear themselves and we stocked up our inventory of tools and spare parts accordingly. Mending sails was of course also mentioned, so we bought a cheap, old German-made Pfaff sewing machine on ebay–more as an afterthought. Little did we know what an indispensable help “Miss Pfaff” would turn out to be!

What is in Your Sail Repair Toolkit

We were horrified when a huge parcel arrived: the all-metal 70s sewing machine seemed ridiculously heavy. Where would we store that monster in our already crammed, floating home? It didn’t fit in any locker, so finally we put it on a shelf in the salon, secured with hooks and lines on passage. There, the big box sat for a long time, while I kept postponing upcoming canvas projects out of fear of having to tackle this new field of expertise. During a particularly wet rainy season in Panama in 2012 with a constantly flooded cockpit, the level of suffering became so high that we finally unpacked the machine. While I browsed the manual showing a dainty 70s housewife threading needles with long, painted fingernails and pressing the foot pedal with high heels (What had I gotten myself into? I owned neither adequate footwear nor fire-engine red nail polish?!), Christian oiled the engine and all moving parts. Operating the machine was much simpler than I had feared: straight or zigzag–a no-nonsense-approach without special programs. Once we had hooked face yarn and under thread, I hesitantly pressed the foot pedal and off we went! Trying different materials and folded layers we were impressed by the stamina of the old machine: everything that fits under the little foot gets sewn—leather, 8 layers of sunbrella, no problem! From then on we count ourselves lucky to have Miss Pfaff as a crew member.

Saved the trickiest for last. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
Saved the trickiest for last. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer

The first project turned out slightly crooked with uneven seams (the fault was entirely mine, no blame for Miss Pfaff), but functional: a big piece of canvas that covers our old (leaking) bimini and has rollable side flaps that do not only keep the cockpit dry, but also feature a little gutter that can be connected to water collection hoses. Christian as a perfectionist criticized my habit of using rest pieces to make flaps and mounts that are all different shapes and sizes, but hey, why waste expensive material? After this positive experience my confidence was boosted to a level that made me think I could redo the salon upholstery. Two weeks passed (and lots of curses, sweat and occasional tears) until I had actually finished them in a gradual learning curve from the rectangular ones, to the tricky, curved ones—each one a special invention (and of course I had forgotten all that 10 years later when I had to redo the chafed and discolored sofa and settee once again).

From High School Sweethearts to Sailing Scoundrels: 53 Years of Love, Laughter, and a Little Chaos

Scrap material jerry can suit snake costume and UFO BBQ in background. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
Scrap material jerry can suit snake costume and UFO BBQ in background. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer

We were seriously glad that we already had plenty of experience with the sewing machine, when our 30 year old gennaker ripped on passage, right as we had to reach our destination without a usable engine before the arrival of a nasty front. Doing the repair in a rolling salon was a seasickish and rather unfunny experience, but a few hours later we were underway again! Lightwind sails are relatively easy to repair despite their huge size, as the thin material can be squeezed together tightly, because that is the one big disadvantage a house-hold sewing machine has: everything has to be rolled up to fit, so we cannot do repairs in the middle of a big dacron sail. Repairs on the outer areas (e.g. chafed-through leech lines) are relatively easy and we have managed those several times—even though the headsail fills up most of the salon…

Making DIY Canvas Seam Sew Easy

UV protection flap over zipper. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
UV protection flap over zipper. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer

The UV light in the tropics relentlessly grills everything on deck. After replacing the zippers on lazybag, cutter sailbag and even on the sprayhood (not a big deal thanks to Miss Pfaff!) we decided to sew sun-protection flaps on top. These are kept down with velcro and guarantee a long life for zippers! Hatch covers don’t only protect the hatches from UV light, they also shade off the interior of the boat, so when the professionally made ones started tearing, I made repair after repair until there was basically no original material left and I had to tackle this tricky 4D project. (The fourth dimension comes into play when you try to imagine what the 3D result will look like in the future on deck, while working flattened and 2D in the machine…)

Thinking 4D. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
Thinking 4D. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer

Generally the salty, marine environment is harsh on metal, rubber and plastic, so we got into the habit of making sunbrella covers for everything that is too big or bulky to be stored below deck. The railing BBQ looks like a UFO in its blue hood, the tank for the dinghy got a tight-fitting customized suit and even the hose of our out-door shower on the stern got a funky snake-costume to stop the PVC from getting sticky and discolored in the tropical sun. We have a watermaker, but still carry some jerry cans to collect rain and have the option to get water from shore. As those live on deck, they also got their covers, but in this case I took my policy of material retrenchment to a new level and made them entirely from left-over scrap parts. Each one of them got a creative solution and I actually thought that they looked quite cool, but Christian made fun of their outfits. I didn’t buy his argument though that they would get bullied at the public water tap by other jerry cans, as those are forced by their owners to go NAKED.

Birgit and Christian have been sewing and sailing their way from the Med via the Atlantic to the Pacific and are currently cruising in Fiji. To learn more about their adventures, visit their blog www.pitufa.at, follow SY Pitufa on facebook or read their book “Sailing Towards the Horizon” (available on Amazon).

Watch this! Tech Obsession and Moral Bankruptcy

Confession: I have an Apple Watch. Worse, it’s an Ultra 2. What’s that mean? That means that I’m morally superior to Ultra 1 owners and, frankly, that I find older, dumber watch owners running Watch OS 10 beneath my contempt. 

Seriously, they’re like short people… they have no freak’n reason to live!

That’s right—the AppleSphere is a very, very mean place. But, hey, that’s part of the joy of being able to afford one of these status-gizmos-on-steroids, from which you can ask Google ‘how to solve world hunger’ and then laugh and laugh. 

I, personally, laughed when told that my watch was totally ‘carbon-neutral’ during Apple’s Annual Self-Love Fest—even its two-hundred-dollar cotton band helps to reverse climate change.

Am I saving the world, or what!

…poor folk should applaud as I strut by with my nose in the air! 

The Ultra 2 is big. Its screen is so big I could comb my hair in its reflection—well, if I still had hair. The watch is heavy, too. Yes, I had to have my seamstress wife sew up a custom PFD for it, should I both MOB and WOB (Man OverBoard and Watch OverBoard).

Why?

Because I’m a frugal sailor, that’s why! I can quickly figure out discounts—even the ‘steep discounts’ advertised on these pages—on my watch’s calculator. (In case you haven’t noticed, a lot of marine chandleries offer 3% discounts on their 2000-times-marked-up products.) Nice!

Plus, because of my watch’s calendar, I never miss appointments with my… er… my ‘massage therapist.’ This makes her happy-happy!

In addition, you’ll never miss another drug buy, er… er, appointment with your pharmacist either!

There are other advantages to an iWatch, especially for a marine journalist like myself. A lot of people want to kill me because I spew inane articles like this one—well, the literate ones that can read, anyway. Thus, if I’m murdered, the cops will immediately know TOD, Time of Death, before they sell my watch to the hackers who will drain its bank accounts, so my wife will receive no benefit for my existence—not that she ever has thus far. 

Yes, I have iSailor on my watch. All I have to do is ‘screen capture’ and my lat/lon position is saved forever… along with, of course, a digital record of my every orgasm. (Of course, I voluntarily share this salacious info with the voyeuristic Apple so they can ‘fund raise’ off it. Donald ain’t the only smart American, there’s Tim Cook too!)

The watch is wonderful for timing yacht race starts. It not only does the ‘time on distance’ bits beautifully, but with proper app integration, it will even reveal the video watching habits of prominent, passionate race committee members—extremely useful data if you’re called Into The Room for a protest hearing.

That’s right—if you’re about to get tossed out of a race for running into a competitor while on port tack—merely because the lucky bastard just happened to be on starboard—looking the chief international judge in the eye and saying under your breath ‘I, too, prefer reverse cowgirl!’ just might change the outcome of the protest!

Of course, my watch is useful for animated learning. I have my knots tied for me digitally, in cyberspace! How cool is that? (Another bonus: no chafe!) Plus, there are animated racing rules! And we haven’t even gotten to the Karma Sutra yet!

The ‘instant translation’ feature is quite useful, especially while cruising in Go-Go Asia. For instance, as I stroll through crowds in Sing-Sing-a-Pour, I have my watch automatically scream, “Make Money or Die! Make Money or Die!” in Mandarin. 

…then we all high-five each other. 

Far out, eh?

Why be merely greedy when, with the proper watch apps, you can be hyper-greedy!

Let’s face it—Blackberries and other smart phones are passé. 

Physical location is no longer important. I can do lots of intimate things (like divorce my wife, stop paying her alimony, even propose matrimony to my mistress… all from my Apple Watch and its Romance-on-the-Go app!

And the Wallet feature is divine. Not only can you board almost any bus or MRT train with just a press of its button; even local hitmen in Bangkok use Apple Pay! If you’re in the slums of Hong Kong and need a new kidney and aren’t particularly concerned about how that kidney was procured (why worry about the past, right?) use your watch!

Recently I was mugged—and, of course, asked my robber if he was using an Apple 9mm or Samsung 38?”

“…a Glock, actually,” the robber replied sadly, then inquired timidly, “This isn’t allowed in the AppleSphere?”

…obviously NOT!

I can’t wait for the AppleCar. Rumors from the Apple campus in California are that it will automatically run Tesla’s into the ditch if you have paid for the ‘F-Elon’ plug-in. (Where did his money go? Well, X marks the spot!)

We use the HOME features a lot to run our bilge pumps and change our Perkins engine’s lube oil. There are lots of uses for an Apple Watch other than just ego-tracking!

In Asia, we old folks are worshipped. I’d write more about this—but I forget the exact details! (For all you young folks snickering—as a young man I knew I was a rotten person but now that I’m old and my memory is fading… Well, every day I have a more virtuous opinion of myself!)

Garmin unveils Ultra High-Definition scanning sonar 

Anyway, my LUMI app constantly asks me about how much I exercise and how much I’ve cut back on sugar, but it can’t tell a ‘white lie’ from a black one. Thus, with a falsehood here and falsehood there, I score points that are then redeemable for healthy products at 7-Eleven stores. These products can hence be traded on the black market for herbs, spices, and various alkie products—far out, dude!

Plus, I get exercise running back and forth between stash houses pulling off these scams—a total win-win for me and my thrilled wife (who, admittedly, has never been exactly showered with presents!)

Now, some folks are worried about AI. Not me. 

For instance, I asked ChatGPT to delete any emails asking me for money or wanting me to pay back any money I owed… anyway, I haven’t had a time-wasting email since!

…actually, any email for that matter.

Yes, AI is better and more ego-flattering than a mirror. I ask my iPad almost every day, “Who is the best American writer alive today—and guess whose picture stares back at me? 

…yes, quite an ego-boost!

Of course, AI must be trained. For instance, it couldn’t understand why all my really, really good friends were filed, quite descriptively, in the folder GULLIBLE in my contacts. 

Of course, I don’t always have time to exercise due to such unexpected developments such as laziness and sloth. Thus, I often have my daughter’s maid ‘run-my-watch up a hill or two’ to keep my stats up. Yes, Apple watches put a premium on exercise—which is why so many too-rich users are seen idly shaking their left arm in the backseat of their limousines. 

Yes, there are numerous timers on the watch—you don’t want a poor equatorial maid dying of heat prostration, do you?

I particularly love the international time zone graph with day-and-night sine waves… how else would I know when I’m missing appointments in, say, Africa, Cocos Keeling, or in Madagascar?

I like the audio book feature too. I’ve written a dozen books—one of which got a glowing review in the late ‘70s. I play that review the entire time I’m cycling with my AirPods in. What writer can resist a fan fawning over them with such approval as, “Thanks for making the paper softer in your second book!”

…its things like that that keep a creative artist going!

Yes, it has a special Yachtsman Compass (with Joshua Slocum’s image on the watch face) that not only shows your yacht’s course and its angle of heel; but it remembers where you parked your car in the marina as well. 

Damn, that’s convenient! 

Not everything functions well. I ride my bike a lot, but the Cycle Tracking feature leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, there’s no way to explain to the app that neither I nor my bike ovulates!

I haven’t even tried the DEPTH feature. Frankly, I prefer to keep the dimensions of my depravity to myself. 

My heart rate during the start of a yacht race is extremely fast—too bad about my boat-speed. 

My iWatch has a ‘mindful meditation’ feature as well. But, really? I mean, even as old as I am, I can still remember to ogle the chicks! 

Did I point out the medication reminder? Of course, if I’d have had that gizmo in the 1960s, I wouldn’t be alive today. 

Some days, of course, I get tired of singing my own praises—that’s where podcasts-on-your-wrist come in handy… to hear other yachties singing my praises. (Well, only one podcast so far but, hey, I’m confident the number will grow)!

Yes, the Ultra 2 has a loud siren I can trigger in an instance—which I do if any Evangelicals stumble too close. (I’m not into religion because I obeyed one of the Ten Commands once—and, well, being truthful didn’t work for me!). 

Yes, I use the voice memo feature—but not the pedo-centric walkie-talkie feature which is so popular in parks and public bathrooms frequented by the trench coat set. 

I haven’t checked out the STOCKS feature because, hey, I don’t need to immobilize anyone’s head and hands. Yes, I’m extremely fond of the sleep app—especially if my wife asks me to take out the garbage. (“I’d love to honey—but my iWatch is in the middle of recording my REM sleep cycle!”)

The revamped Apple weather app is amazing. I get real-time weather updates for suitable ‘windows’ to screw off, go-missing, or get drunk.

There’s no end to the amazement of the new iPhone 15 either. You can have it remind you to insult your spouse every ten minutes—or even more often if the special ‘blonde’ mode is turned on. 

There’s even a ‘sextant option’ that allows you—if you raise your wrist to the lower limb of the sun—to adjust the index arm of your virtual Plath and thus determine the old fashion way if you’re at sea or still tied up to the dock. 

F’n A, right?

The Best Baked Apples

Did I mention the $1,200 life raft app? Amazing! I mean, only Apple could cram a six-man raft inside that tiny case!

While the life raft app needs to be recertified every twelve months (to check air pressure in the bottle and to replace the flashlight batteries, I guess)—I can’t wait to see the raft (version 2.0) inflate and make a fool of my skeptical wife!

I know, I know—just think of how many times Robin Knox Johnson could have sailed around the world if he’d had
an Apple Watch paired with an iCloud subscription? Dozens, maybe?

That’s it for now, faithful readers—I gotta find 5 volts and recharge!

Beyond Nassau & Freeport: Unveiling the Bahamas’ Top 10 Cruising Gems

I was telling Lily about my time in the Bahamas, back in the day, and she asked which of the islands were my favorites. I explained there were over 700 islands, but they could be grouped together into 14 or so areas. That got me thinking this would make a great Top 10 article and here we are.

Remember these Top 10 articles are simply my opinion and if you have been to the Bahamas, you might put them in a different order. If you have never been then this might be a good overview of the country. I personally prefer more nature-oriented islands so both New Providence (with Nassau) and Grand Bahama (with Freeport) did not make the cut. Nor did Samana, Mayaguana, and Inagua islands, because they each only really have one anchorage and not much cruising. 

Andros - Swinging at Uncle Charlie's
Andros – Swinging at Uncle Charlie’s

10. Andros Island – This is simultaneously the largest and least visited island in the Bahamas. For some reason cruisers do not come here and that is a shame. Almost the entire west side has an amazing coral wall a mile offshore with wonderful snorkeling. The bottom half has three different bights going clear through to the other side of the island. At the village of Coakley, you can visit the Androsia Factory and there are also blue holes, Mennonite farms, and Morgan’s Cave to explore.

Come Explore the Sites of Andros Island

Shipwreck
Shipwreck

9. Bimini Islands – Straight across from Miami, and only a stone’s throw from the Gulf Stream, this small island group is a sport fisherman’s dream location. Don’t believe me, then trust the master of them all, Earnest Hemingway! Having drunk from the Fountain of Youth on South Bimini and snorkeled the SS Sapona shipwreck (the training target of the famed US Navy Flight 19) I loved waiting out a northerner here and it is a great introduction to the Bahamas.

Underwater Christmas Trees at Raccoon Cay
Underwater Christmas Trees at Raccoon Cay

8. Jumentos (Ragged) Islands – Starting between Grand Exuma and Long Islands this 60-mile-long chain stretches south halfway to Cuba. The Ragged Islands are a smaller version of the Exuma Island, which you will read about soon, except with no people until you get to the town of Duncan at the end of the chain. As long as you like beaches, snorkeling, sandy bays, blue holes, and palm trees you will love it here.

Relaxing at Big Gaulding Cay
Relaxing at Big Gaulding Cay

7. Berry Islands – Near Andros Island and the Bimini Islands is another small chain. At the north end you will find two islands cruise ships use for their guests and at the south end Chub Cay Resort and Marina. In between you will find a wonderful collection of private and public islands with deep water to the east, sand flats to the west, and hardly any other boaters around.

Front of Hermitage
Front of Hermitage

6. Cat, Conception, Rum, & San Salvador Islands – This “group” of islands is a bit different, because they are each separated by deep water. With that said they are still within 10-25 miles of each other. Each one has a special charm waiting to be discovered. Cat Island has the Hermitage Father Jerome built in the 1940’s as his retirement home. Conception Island is a national park with the interior containing an amazing tidal creek to explore. Rum Island has some amazing pre-Columbian petroglyphs, but it is the welcoming nature of the community you really want to experience. It is the last of this group, but first for Christopher Columbus as this is the first landing the great navigator made in the New World.

French Wells - Small Boat Channel
French Wells – Small Boat Channel

5. Acklins Island – This is a group of three small islands in the shape of a triangle with a shallow bay in the middle. What I loved about this group was finding my favorite lighthouse on Bird Rock Island, exploring the jail and church on Long Cay, the anchorage at French Wells, and the cherry on top is Hogsty Reef about 25 miles away. This is a 5-mile by 3-mile atoll right out of what you imagine the South Pacific to be like.

Long Island Lagoon
Long Island Lagoon

4. Long Island – For an island that only really offers two anchorages due to shallow water to the west and deep water to the east, there is a lot to do on Long Island. You have a choice between Christopher Columbus monuments, bat caves, beaches, the 2nd deepest blue hole in the world, amazing father Jerome built churches, old salt pans, and more. There is so much to see you will need at least two days with a car rental to even have a chance to take it all in.

3. Exumas Islands – Now we are to the cruising mecca of the Bahamas and it all starts with the anchorage off Stocking Island. The good news is that with 400+ boats comes an amazing cruising community and a daily list of activities available to participate in. As you move up the chain of islands you will find so many things to see. These notable highlights include Musician Mermaid underwater sculpture, Oven Rock Cave with water inside, Black Point settlement with Lorraine’s coconut bread and a blow hole, Thunderball Grotto made famous by a James Bond movie, swimming pigs, the Land & Sea Park, Shroud Cay with endless tidal creeks to explore, plane wreckage to snorkel, and iguanas. It is easy to spend a couple months in the chain alone.

Replacing the Windows on the Dodger

Guana Cay - Nipper's Tractor
Guana Cay – Nipper’s Tractor

2. Abaco Islands – The other popular cruising ground is the Sea of Abaco between Great Abaco Island and the barrier islands to the east. Here you will find one of the cutest tropical towns ever with a candy-striped lighthouse. From Hope Town you can head south to the Pelican Cays Land & Sea Park and the most amazing Little Harbour where you will feel years removed from the hustle and bustle of Marsh Harbour 10-15 miles away. Heading northwest you will find other wonderful settlements on Man-O-War Cay and Green Turtle Cay. The Sunday pig roast at Nipper’s is not to be missed and Double-Breasted Cay may be my favorite sand flats ever.

Glass Window
Glass Window

1. Eleuthera Island – As amazing as everything above is, they can’t compare with Eleuthera Island for me. Spanish Wells is as industrious as it is beautiful. The Devil’s Backbone is an exhilarating trip to Harbour Island with the famous pink sand. I had a blast swimming in Current Cut at 7-8 knots and the Glass Window is awesome. Heading down the narrow island is the extensive Hatchet Bay Cave and Ocean Hole in Rock Sound. In between are countless beaches to explore and the western side of the island is a huge shallow bay to sail.

The good part of doing a Top 10 for the Bahamas is I got to reminisce with Lily and get her excited to visit someday. The bad news is that I barely skimmed the top of how great this country is. In the future I plan on doing a Top 10 list for most of these island groups to deep dive into the magical cruising ground that is the Bahamas.

Eleuthera Bound

Captain Shane and Lily are back in the US and Mexico visiting family while they wait for hurricane season to end so they can continue to explore the Caribbean. Feel free to join their adventure on the web or social media at svGuidingLight.

Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour Reborn: A Total Transformation Unveiled

Set your course for the BVI’s Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour (VGYH), now the preeminent and most complete marina on the island. Over the last 18 months, there’s been a new management team hired, significant infrastructure work, and expanded marketing of the marina including a new website with a first-time online booking and payment platform. There’s also a new dinghy dock, significant improvements to the docks, new shops, a spa, new eateries including a coffee shop, and extensive landscaping and signage upgrades. This work will continue into 2024 with further enhancements in the boatyard as the property prepares for the hurricane hauling season that starts in June.

“One of the most exciting upgrades to VGYH is the addition of a seasonal calendar of events designed to attract visitors to the marina and Virgin Gorda while creating a new buzz for the destination,” says Russell Harrigan, secretary of the BVI Investment Club, whose portfolio includes VGYH, Village Cay Marina, Coralisle Insurance, and desalination company Ocean Conversion.

The calendar kicked off with a successful inaugural New Year’s Eve celebration, dubbed ‘More for 2024’. This event was built around the concept of sustainability and trash to treasure. Old cars, empty oil drums, used pallets, scrap wood, and old bicycles were among the décor items.

Destination: Virgin Gorda — Devil’s Bay and the Baths

Courtesy Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour
Courtesy Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour

The ‘More for 2024’ event spanned three main areas across the marina. First, the Children’s Village was hosted in the 9,000-square-foot supermarket building. Decorated with hundreds of Chinese paper lanterns, the space became a magical oasis that catered to children of all ages with festival food, face painting, basketball, swings, inflatables, air hockey, and more. The artist in residence, Tia Modeste, created numerous pieces of work, paintings on cars and bikes, backdrops, and several pieces for the children’s village. Most of these artworks will remain on permanent display at the marina, perfect for Instagram and other social media opportunities. The event also featured art by Tiea Lettsome and Allysa Kaddoura. The second space was dedicated to general admission, with the main stage and food and beverage vendors, while the third space, the rooftop offered a more intimate space and an ideal platform for viewing the fireworks. An incredible performance by USVI artists Rock City ended the evening. Plans are already in the works for New Year’s Eve 2024. www.vgyh.vg 

Land or Water? Flitescooter Takes E-Foiling to New Heights (and Makes it Easy!)

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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s Fliteboard’s newest water toy – the Flitescooter. The Australian-based electric hydrofoil brand and creator of Fliteboard brought this new toy to market in May. The addition of removable handlebars and new technologies dramatically increases the ease of learning and riding a Flitescooter. It’s perfect for beginners with no watersports experience, families, and those looking for a more leisurely way to fly, with a more relaxed forward-facing riding position, mimicking that of a scooter or bike. What’s more, Flitescooter uniquely allows riders to eFoil without entering the water. This creates an elegant alternative for traveling from boat to dock to restaurant. Talk about making an entrance! Just step on and go. For riders looking to develop their skills, the removable handlebars enable the Flitescooter to be easily converted into a conventional Fliteboard for surf-style riding.

How to Maintain your Underwater Photo Gear

“We are thrilled to offer riders a new way to fly with the global launch of Flitescooter. Since I developed the first Fliteboard prototype back in 2018, I have been working on ways to encourage my wife to join me on the water. Flitescooter is the solution. It’s so easy and forgiving to learn, yet offers similar thrills to Fliteboarding,” says David Trewern, chief executive officer, founder, and product architect.

In September, the Mettawa, IL-headquartered Brunswick Corporation acquired Fliteboard. Fliteboard will operate as a business within Mercury Marine.

“Fliteboard’s exceptional brand appeal and its advanced eFoiling technology align with our ACES (Autonomy/Assistance, Connectivity, Electrification, and Shared Access) strategy, and we are excited to bring the Fliteboard team into the Brunswick family, says Dave Foulkes, the Brunswick Corporation’s chief executive officer. “Fliteboard will allow us to engage with a new wave of customers who will also have the ability to enjoy the entire portfolio of Brunswick products and services over time.” global.fliteboard.com, www.brunswick.com

Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park Gets a Colorful Makeover with 31 New Figures!

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Dive in! Visitors to Grenada will soon be able to see 31 new sculptures in the Molinière Underwater Sculpture Park. The unveiling of the figures by the Grenada Tourism Authority in August is part of an upgrade initiative for the park, the world’s first of its kind, which celebrates artistic expression and cultural richness by embracing the preservation of marine life.

Renowned artist Jason deCaires Taylor, who created the first sculptures for the park in 2006, contributed another twenty-five in a collection titled ‘The Coral Carnival’. “The collection is steeply connected to the island’s unique culture and heritage, which includes sculpted pieces of the Jab Jab, Vieux Corps, Pretty Mas, Shortknee, and Wild Indian. What makes this installation especially unique is the painting of the sculptures that reflects the vibrancy of Spicemas, which is a first for me in this terrain,” says Taylor.

Ten Top Caribbean Marine Parks to Visit

Additionally, Taylor created two replacement sculptures, ‘The Lost Correspondent’ and ‘The Unstill Life,’ for the submerged gallery.

Artist, Troy Lewis, added a touch of local ingenuity by creating four mesmerizing sculptures – La Diablesse, Mama Glo, Bélé Dancer, and Leatherback Turtle.

Landlubbers can see the sculptures on display at Prickly Bay Marina until October 2023, after which they will be immersed underwater. www.puregrenada.com

Grenada Underwater Sculptures in Marine Protected Area

DIY: How to Build a Cutlass Bearing Extractor with Scrap Material

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As long-time cruisers we have fallen into the habit of doing (or at least attempting) most maintenance and repairs on our 35 year old aluminum-built S&S 41 “Pitufa” ourselves. Christian’s background is electrical engineering, so it was only logical for him to work on our electronic and electric systems, but over the years he also ventured into neighboring fields of expertise by watching mechanics and other experts at work and has become a jack of all technical trades. Initially the main idea was to go easy on the cruising kitty, but we found that DIY also saves time (good workmen tend to be booked out) and nerves (when our impatience clashes with the “mañana-mañana approach” of tropical paradises).

Block behind the bearing in front of tube. Press on the bearing and threaded bars to tighten the gadget. Photo by Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
Block behind the bearing in front of tube. Press on the bearing and threaded bars to tighten the gadget. Photo by Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer

When we replaced our cutlass bearing 3 years ago, the only model available in the local chandlery then was all-rubber (nitrile). We didn’t think it was a bad idea at the time, but retrospectively we cursed our decision and would never buy one again–the damn thing turned out to be nearly impossible to get out again. Banging it with an array of ever-growing hammers we had to find out that the harder you hit rubber, the more violently it bounces back without budging the slightest bit. We grudgingly admitted defeat and went to find an expert to do the job with a professional extractor. Chasing mechanics we were put off to the afternoon/tomorrow/tomorrow, some never showed up, others insisted that we would have to remove the shaft in order to get to the cutlass bearing—a very complicated procedure on Pitufa that would require dismounting not only the aquadrive and gearbox on the engine side, but also the skeg on the outside! Soon we had half the yard standing around our Pitufa, discussing our problem and we heard advice from freezing the rubber with dry-ice, via melting it all the way, to cutting off the P-bracket and welding it back on. Half of the ideas required gadgets that were unavailable anyway and the rest seemed too extreme—no way would we cut off a piece of our beloved Pitufa and how would we make sure that the P-bracket was welded on perfectly aligned afterwards? No, an extractor still seemed like the most reasonable solution and if we could not find a mechanic with a professional tool, we would have to build one. We spent the evening watching youtube videos and found tutelage: smiling, confident-looking men effortlessly pulling off various designs of cutlass bearings. Neither of them was sweating and/or swearing, piece of cake, we’d simply do the same in the morning.

Caribbean Pirates and Tall Tales

Gradually tighten the nuts and counternuts. Photo by Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
Gradually tighten the nuts and counternuts. Photo by Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer

We emptied our spare-part lockers, went through our scrap metal box and finally ransacked the piles of left-over material in the yard, but couldn’t find anything that resembled the sturdy metal plates the smug guys in the you-tube videos had used for their pullers. Finally Christian decided to tackle the problem with his Mad-Max engineering approach that has often proved successful in the past when make-shifting repairs underway. 

We would simply have to make due with what was available: 2 pieces of wood, 1 piece of steel tube, 2 threaded bars, 4 big washers and 6 nuts. We carefully arranged the make-shift gadget around the shaft, making sure that the wooden blocks were nicely parallel and the tube centered on the bearing. Once everything was in place, Christian slowly started tightening the nuts in turn along the thread, gradually increasing the pressure of the steel tube on the rubber. The nuts seized twice on the threaded bars, the wood started showing cracks and we were close to giving up, when suddenly the resistance was gone and the bearing started moving! Once it was loose, he could hammer against the tube and push it out of the P-bracket. Then he cut it open with a hacksaw and we could push in the new bearing!

Compass Bearing Tricks to Get you Home Safe

Once the bearing is dislodged, it can be hammered out. Photo by Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
Once the bearing is dislodged, it can be hammered out. Photo by Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer

After wasting almost a week running after mechanics, it only took one hour to make-shift the puller and another hour to actually get off the bearing. We could have saved lots of nerves and yard fees, if we had relied on our own skills right from the start instead of wasting time wooing elusive workmen. The new cutlass bearing is made of acetal resin, will last much longer than the rubber model and should come off nicely once it is worn out (in the hopefully distant future).

Fort Lauderdale – The ‘Yachting Employment Capital of the World’

Christian and Birgit have set out cruising in 2011 from the Med and have by now repaired and make-shifted their way around half the globe. Learn more about their adventures on their blog www.pitufa.at or follow SY Pitufa on facebook. Their travel book “Sailing Towards the Horizon” is available on Amazon!

Luxury Catamarans Arrive in the Dominican Republic: Aquila Partners with Auto Marina

Now you can buy a luxury Aquila power catamaran in the Caribbean. The St. Petersburg, FL-based global leader in luxury multihull manufacturing, has teamed up with the Dominican Republic’s largest nautical company, Auto Marina. With three dealership locations in Santo Domingo, Boca Chica and Marina Chavón, Auto Marina now can sell the entire offshore, sport, and yacht line of Aquila power catamarans, from 28- up to 70-feet.

“We are excited to introduce our exceptional vessels to the Dominican Republic with our great partner, Auto Marina. Our expansion represents a commitment to providing boaters in this beautiful destination with the best in luxury, performance, and innovation. We look forward to contributing to the vibrant boating culture of the Dominican Republic and forging lasting relationships within the local community,” says Raul Bermudez, Aquila Sales Director for the Caribbean, South America, and Central America.

Auto Marina is a family business founded nearly a half-century ago that covers all segments of the marine market from boat sales to inboard or outboard motors, parts, and maintenance.

“With strong family values as one of our core values, we are happy to partner with the Aquila Power Catamarans brand not only because of the great boats they produce but also because they have continued to show their commitment to sticking with the values they started on. We can’t wait to see how much our customers will enjoy these vessels,” says Guillermo Augusto Gonzalez Baez, sales and service manager.

Aquila’s Bermudez adds, “Stay tuned for other dealer locations in the rest of the Caribbean.” www.aquilaboats.com, www.automarina.com.do 

Antigua Slipway Expands Capabilities: Largest Yacht Haul Yet Marks New Era

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The haul last March of the Island Escape Ferry set a new benchmark in Antigua & Barbuda’s marine capabilities. The lift happened at Antigua Slipway in English Harbor, where the installed and inaugurated cradle parameters measure an impressive 200 tons in weight, 200 feet in length overall, 40-foot beam, and 13-foot draft.

“We decided to reinvest in the marine railway because it is the only one in the region. Further, we want to nurture and service the classic yacht market and the marine railway is the preferred method of haul for any classic,” says Roberto Falangola, managing director. 

This cradle project was made possible through a collaboration between Jack Gifford Naval Architect Ltd., L & M Shipwright, and Antigua Slipway Ltd.

“We will be getting to 275 tons by March 2025,” Falangola adds. www.antiguaslipway.com 

Dominican Republic Oasis Awaits: Expanded Ocean World Marina Offers More Space, More Services for Your Vessel

There’s an extra good reason to make a stop on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast. Ocean World Marina & Boatyard, located in the Playa Cofresi in Puerto Plata, has expanded its boatyard to a total of over seven acres to safely accommodate 150 vessels. There’s also more room now to provide a variety of high-quality services that boaters need to maintain their vessels in perfect condition. 

“In addition to the expansion, we added a new crane and more boat stands. We can now handle vessels up to 70’ long, 19’ beam, and 70 tons of weight,” says Roberto Tejada, marine operations manager. “In 2024, we are exploring the option to acquire a lift to haul out catamarans.”

The Boatyard at Ocean World Marina is currently Expanding
The Boatyard at Ocean World Marina is currently Expanding

Ocean World Marina & Boatyard is a perfect rest stop and fuel stop for those cruising from or to the Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, and Puerto Rico. Discounts are offered to members of the Seven Seas Cruising Association, Ocean Cruising Club, ARC, NARC, Salty Dawgs, and Panama Posse. www.oceanworldmarina.com

Dive into Luxury: Cane Island Nicaragua 16 Year Rum Review

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We’ve recently become fans of Cane Island rums, giving their Venezuela and El Salvador blends 4 out of 5 in recent reviews. Most of the Cane Island rums offered locally have an age range of 3 – 8 years, so when we saw a Limited Edition Cane Island Nicaragua, aged 16 years and finished in Cognac Casks, we were all in.

Behind the Brand

The company behind Cane Island is Infinity Spirits, a rum branding company from Rotterdam, Netherlands. They help companies create a brand that fills “…the gap between private labels and well-known rum brands…” Cane Island chooses countries with “a long history in rum production, with their styles and traditions.” Depending on the partnerships they have created in those countries, the rum is branded as a “Single Island,” meaning from multiple distilleries on the island or a “Single Estate” from only one distillery. All rums are tropically aged locally in wooden casks, allowing the heat of the Caribbean to intensify the interaction between the rum and the wood.

Nicaraguan Sugar Cane Legacy:

Nicaragua’s sugar cane history dates back to the Spanish colonial era of the 16th century. By the end of the 19th century, sugarcane represented a significant part of the country’s economy. The rich volcanic soil, consistent tropical temperatures, and a modest rainy season produce the growing conditions ideal for sugarcane. The first distillery in Nicaragua was built in 1890 at the base of the San Cristobal volcano, the tallest and most active volcano in Nicaragua. Today, that distillery is known as Compañia Licorera, home to two of Nicaragua’s emblematic brands, Mombacho and Flor de Cana. 

Evaluating the Limited Edition:

Cane Island Nicaragua Limited Edition, aged 16 years, is listed as a Single Estate, using rums from only one distillery. The rum is distilled in a column still using a molasses base, then tropically aged (locally) for up to 16 years in white oak casks. It is then finished in handpicked cognac barrels. It’s not clear if the finishing is in Nicaragua. The rum is bottled in Amsterdam by Infinity Spirits.

Tasting Notes:

The thick, dark amber color clings to the glass, leaving long, slow lacing. The nose is smooth and full of fruit, revealing candied cherry, papaya, and mango. The sip is heavy, coating the entire palate and then depositing the sweet fruit on the front of the palate while a spice develops on the roof of the mouth. Once we swallow, the spice follows while leaving the fruit on the front of the palate. The spice, possibly from the oak casks, carries to the finish, leaving us to continue to enjoy the fruit on the palate. The spice smooths out, leaving a long and satisfying finish. We continue back for more to experience the tale of two rums again. It doesn’t disappoint.

Verdict:

Cane Island Nicaragua 16 Limited Edition pulls many notes from the cognac casks. It is no coincidence that Compañia Licorera is home to Flora de Cana. At $45/bottle, Cane Island rivals our review of Flora de Cana.

4.5 of 5

About Clint and Terry: We have sampled many a dram over our 33 years of marriage and quite often we don’t fully agree. Could be the difference is male/female taste buds. Or, somebody is just wrong.

From High School Sweethearts to Sailing Scoundrels: 53 Years of Love, Laughter, and a Little Chaos

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In 1952 a girl was born in Chicago to immigrant parents—with her whole life neatly laid out for her. She was to study hard and marry well—meaning she was supposed to wed a union electrician with an ‘A’ card (like her father). Once married, she was to have children and live a block or two away from her parents on the South Side. She was, in essence, supposed to live a life of wedded bliss boredom. 

Thus, her whole life was to be focused on two things—security and money. Successful people owned their own home—losers didn’t. And her hardworking parents clearly didn’t want their daughter to be a loser. They kept her on a tight leash—and only gave her an allowance of pennies. 

In order to earn some spending money, she began to sew custom doll clothes for her girlfriends. 

This isn’t easy for two reasons—one, doll clothes are small and, two, sewing machines don’t shrink to suit the project. It’s like using a large paint brush to draw a fine-lined postage stamp. 

But she did, as requested, worked hard—not only at sewing but at everything else as well. She was a straight A student and a girl scout with a million merit badges. 

In many ways, she was the girl that every parent at Gage Park High School wanted their child to be—an exemplary student and an exemplary human being. 

Gage Park was a huge school. I think there were 1,000 people in her freshman class. I was one. But I didn’t make it. Not only did I leave early, but to my eternal embarrassment, I failed English, the only subject I cared about.  ;-(

Part of the reason was that I began working as a professional actor. But another reason was because, at 15 years of age, I purchased a William Atkins’ double ender—a 24-foot wooden sloop built in 1932. I paid $200 for her, every cent I had. Why so little? Because the in-the-water vessel had been broken into, looted, trashed, wrecked, and used as a gang hangout for illiterates. Illiterates? Yeah, they’d spray-painted the word FOCK inside the cabin—as well as pooping in the bilge and ripping up the interior to make a fire in the bilge in order to stay warm in winter.

Carolyn is a hard worker
Carolyn is a hard worker

I didn’t have any money after the purchase—so I considered what I could do to improve my brand new 36-year-old woodie besides replacing the seven rotten planks or sister the 12 rotten frames. Oh, and replace the engine and find a rig. 

My mother had just been given a bolt of fabric and she suggested curtains as a way of inexpensively sprucing up the old girl. 

So, I borrowed a spoon and returned to my vessel—to spoon out the feces in the bilges. 

Occasionally I’m paid to give talks at boat shows—once I was paid $5,000 for an hour’s work—and I always say, “First, spoon the feces out of your bilge—you shouldn’t circumnavigate until you do so!”

Good advice. 

But the second thing I did back in early 1968 was to contact Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes about sewing me up some curtains… if she could find time from her job, merit badges, and advanced placement classes. 

The only thing she knew about me was that I was a drop-out who ran with the wrong crowd. (The only friends I had that hadn’t already OD’d were in jail!) 

When she came out to North Avenue and the north fork of the Chicago River to see the boat, she was totally puzzled. 

“Are you nuts?” she asked when she saw Corina. “Why? Why would anyone buy such a collection of lumber?”

“Oh, you know,” I said breezily, “to sail around the world, write a book about it, and live happily-ever-after.” 

“On this?” she laughed, looking at my boat. “Fatty, you can’t even stand up!”

It was true. Corina barely had sitting headroom—she lacked standing headroom by nearly two feet. 

I put the best spin I could on it by saying, “Well, if I wanted to stand tall with other rich yachts, perhaps this isn’t the best boat. But if I was, say, focused on horizontal activities… she’s freak’n perfect!”

Now I tell this story in two different ways—both of which are true. 

The first version is that she sewed my curtains and I didn’t have the money to pay her at the time. And the darn gold-digger has been hanging around for 55 years, two dozen hurricanes, a number of sinkings, and four circs to get her money. 

The second version, equally true, is that she kept coming down to re-measure the curtains—and to measure the mattresses, sail covers, etc. And I began to think that maybe she wasn’t so smart. I hadn’t even paid her for the first job and she was already on her fifth group of measurements. 

It was a hot day in August when she brought down the leeclothes she’d whipped up and we were both sweating as we fitted the canvas to the bunks. I decided to take off my tee-shirt (I had rock-hard abs back in those days) and while doing so I had an epiphany. There was somebody aboard that wasn’t too bright or perceptive—but it wasn’t my future wife, Carolyn.

What is in Your Sail Repair Toolkit

In Tonga, Carolyn studied basket weaving
In Tonga, Carolyn studied basket weaving

Now, of course, being a gentleman, I said, “Marry me! We’ll elope and sail down to the Caribbean—where your cement-shoe-toting Italiano parents will never be able to find us!”

“Ah, gee,” Carolyn said. “I’m only sixteen—and I’d like to finish high school before hearing wedding bells.” 

Of course, I thought to myself, “…how freak’n middle class! Am I sure I want to get hooked up with such a conservative thinker?”

Nonetheless I decided to wait for her—and as she returned to reality while I slipped free of it forever by sailing off into sea-gypsy-hood. 

I left for my summer cruise of the Great Lakes with 186 pennies and two ravenous crewmembers who’d just jumped bail—both so dumb, they viewed me as their meal ticket. Crazy!

On the other side of Lake Michigan from Chicago was a wealthy little town called Saugatuck that was filled with well-off teenage girls whose parents wanted to get them away from the bad boys of summer in Chicago—surprise!

I was a true hippie (still am) and thus I started making silver spoon jewelry which, darn it, sold too fast. Nonetheless, I told everyone I’d spend every penny I made each day by dawn tomorrow—and I kept scrupulously to that promise.  

In order to meet demand for my creations, I forced my customers to help craft their items. Soon, I was making money hand-over-fist which, unexpectedly, forced me to have a mammoth dock party each evening to burn away my profits with Boones Farm, Ripple, and far worse. 

Having a successful business boosted my ego—so I decided, as one does, to invent my own religion as well. I called it Green-Slime because the crude altar I’d constructed had burning/popping green slime (soaked in kerosene) from the harbor mixed with pieces of copper tube that glowed bluish green during the popping of the slime. 

Remember, this was 1969 and the Beatles were in India with a groovy spiritual guru—hoping to find a shortcut to God. That’s right—it was an oddly spiritual time, and if you don’t believe me—just ask Timothy Leary. 

Anyway, that evening as I was massaging green slime around on the body parts of a pair of blond twins, I had a full-on religious experience. It started with a heavenly noise, then a pulsating celestial (bluish) light from the cosmos—then FAR F’N OUT, God Himself spoke. 

I was gobsmacked!

“Put your hands in the air,” God said. “You are under arrest!”

Oops!

Darn! It wasn’t God, it was the Saugatuck sheriff and his gun-toting lackeys.

Everywhere we sail, Carolyn learns a new skill
Everywhere we sail, Carolyn learns a new skill

And as he dragged me to the jail house with my entourage screaming that there was “no jail in the Midwest that could hold Fatty Goodlander.” Well, the thought entered my head that if Carolyn had been with me, perhaps I wouldn’t have been arrested?

Carolyn, meanwhile, was named valedictorian of Gage Park High and as such gave the keynote address during her 1970 graduation. However, Mr. Hahn, the principal of the school, was horribly paranoid. He demanded to see her speech—after all, this was during the height of the VietNam war—and pinko-commies were hiding under every rock.  

Luckily, her speech was mild—and even Mister Hahn couldn’t find anything to complain about as he returned the speech, neatly typed on green typing paper. 

Of course, when the big day came, Carolyn took out her green speech, waved it at the principal to see—then read her anti-war red speech as the principal howled, “Shut off the microphone! I want that miscreant’s head on my deck RIGHT NOW!”

But the moment she completed her speech, she tossed both copies in the air—and ran down the center aisle as fast as her little legs could carry her. 

I, by prearrangement, was tacking back and forth just off the Chicago waterfront. Carolyn banged out of the school at a full-tilt-boogie… and then, with a mighty leap… leapt over downtown… and landed with a graceful thud on my foredeck. 

“Trim, trim,” I shouted as we hardened up (on all levels) and lived happily ever after. 

That was 53 years ago and we just celebrated our 53rd anniversary. We’ve almost never been apart since those romantic days—through numerous sinkings and decades long spans of abject poverty—but not one single arrest. (Yes, it’s nice to be right.)

And she’s not just my wife—she’s my best friend, my lover, and mother to our wonderful child as well. We were so young when we hooked up. In a way, we raised each other during hundreds of thousands of sea miles, 53 years of living aboard, and four circs. I literally could not have become me (let alone stay out jail) without her. She’s immeasurablely improved my life—and I tell her that every single day, not merely on our anniversaries. 

Here’s the bottom line—I’ve only really done two things right in life—saying, “I” and “do” to Carolyn were both of them.

Fatty and Carolyn are still in Singapore with the daughter and two grandkids—shamelessly mooching off gullible members of the Changi Sailing Club.