HIGH // SEASON

The island is officially packed with cruisers, tourists, and racers as we gear up for the 40th Annual Heineken Regatta. As exciting as this is, it also brings a good bit of chaos. One of SXM's greatest downfalls is the traffic. There's basically one shoddy road that circles the island. So when there's a traffic jam– at any given time of the day– you can expect large delays and lawless drivers. This alone makes owning a dinghy one of the greatest advantages of being a cruiser. We can quickly zip through the lagoon, cut out an hour of sitting in traffic along with the noisy drivers stuck in place.

Although February had some seriously raining and windy days, we're looking forward to a peaceful March with glassy waters to great us. 

S X M // W I N T E R

A weekend on a boat in the Caribbean is a weekend well spent. Especially so when you live on said boat. February– the best time of the year to be in SXM– opened with perfect 12-knot conditions, gentle seas and blue skies. A group of friends helped sail Stardust around the island with a stop at our favorite patch of sand: Tintamarre (a small french isle NE of Saint Martin). The gennaker even made an appearance.

W I N T E R // C O A T

We've officially immigrated to the American South. It's a bit colder than we're used to, but our coats are thick and chasing squirrels keeps our blood pumping.

We retired from sealife in December to spend more time on land with family. It was not a fun or easy decision, but Margo and I both need to explore this soil. So many things to sniff here– and we're happy to have a yard to defend again.

N E W P O R T // O L D M O N E Y

It was never our intention to stay in New York so long, nor was Rhode Island on our radar. However, with September on our heels, we wanted a safe spot further north. Hurricane Dorian had just obliterated the Bahamas on a record scale. A place we fell in love with a few months prior. Then she slowly churned her way up to Nova Scotia, causing severe damage there as well. In hindsight, it was great we didn't make our destination in NS. (As originally hoped.) Instead, we found Newport, and if it were not for the winter weather, we may have never left.

Stardust is designed for warm water cruising. So to be in New England as the weather turns to fall was a risky move for these island kids. We were wrapped in every blanket on board. Perfect weather in the day, but frigid winds at night. We decided it's time to head home. Slowly, but surely, we started our way back through New York down the Eastern Seaboard.

S O U T H // B O U N D

The weather is confused, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We were seeing near freezing temperatures in October as Nor'easters battered the East Coast. At the same time, more tropical storms made a late surprise appearance in the month. It was definitely a time of testing one's patience. 

Sailing from New Jersey nonstop to the southern tip of Virginia. There was a small window of clear weather before the next cold front. Choppy waves and heavy winds made a difficult, but manageable sail south.

Stardust even (accidentally) passed a submarine. 

V I E W S

Norway: A Contrast of Views

H O M E L A N D // C O L O R S

Crazy Cat Lady

Margo and I made the front page of the Caribbean Compass. When it comes to cats, Margo is the one to talk to. Read the full article here.

F L O R I D A

M I A M I

We landed in Miami on March 18th dragging 5 large bags tied to each other, train style. Stardust arrived a little late due to the Mississippi flooding. She had to go up river to unload in New Orleans before heading to Miami. So we waited a few more days for the Portuguese cargo-ship upon which she rode.

We spent a majority of the time sitting in Miami traffic between stops at West Marine, Home Depot, and Trader Joes.

There was a few complications with the boat, like a hole in the floor, a crack in the gel coat (where boatyard bumped her into the dock), a leaking valve in the sewage tank thru hull, and some others... but we are blown away with how beautiful this boat is.

It's a strange feeling being the nicest boat in the mooring field! Stardust is 42 years younger than our last sailboat, which was a CSY 44 (still for sale.) We don't even know what to do with all the room we have. It's incredible. And to think I gave a lot of things away before heading to Miami from St. Martin. There is so much room, if I hadn't maxed out my credit cards on boating equipment, I'd be taking advantage of the Target down the road.

After a few weeks, we are thrilled to get out of the murky Miami water and head into that Bahama Blue. Back to the islands before we depart north for the season.