Well plans are underway for another extended cruise to the Caribbean.
The big difference this year is that I will be cruising around on my express cruiser (power boat) as compared to my previous sailing adventures on my trusty CS40 also called Distant Drummer back in the late 90's.
I plan on a 2 year adventure with a summer layup in Trinidad. The first season I will do the windward islands followed by the leeward islands the second season. By breaking it up in 2 years you really can get an opportunity to experience the various cultures of many islands as well as some pretty neat places from climbing val canoes, Bequia Easter festival, to experiencing a steel drum festival and of course the Caribbean sea and their beaches.
As my grandmother has always said a solid education also includes experiencing the world. It really makes you appreciate what we have and how lucky we are. I try to incorporate a little of my adventures in my home and lifestyle.
My powerboat will be heading down island on a unique transport carrier called Dockwise, basically it is a floating dry dock type ship(container ship size). You might have seen it mentioned on the Discovery channel. They are a huge shipping company out of the Netherlands and have moved oil rigs, damaged US destroyers ( Cole) etc. They are painted bright orange which is the national colors of the Netherlands.
Distant Drummer has spent four great seasons exploring the coast of Maine and New England and I especially want to mention my great friends at Dysarts marina in SW Harbor Maine, one of the most friendliest marinas I have ever experienced. Their Friday evening cocktail hour and 4th of July party is legendary.
Come early October, I will be heading for Newport RI, and I will be meeting up with Dockwise the first week of November. The loading begins in Newport around early November and by the middle of November Distant Drummer will be arriving in St Thomas USVI.
I asked to travel down on the Dockwise ship and wanted to make some type of documentary/presentation for yacht club seminars, unfortunately they only allow passengers with boats 80 feet or larger. So I will be flying down on great silver bird to St Thomas to meet Distant Drummer. I plan to spend a few days in St. Thomas gearing up the boat and then off to the BVI's for the remainder of the year. I already have an invitation to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving feast in Cane Garden bay.
