S/V L'ORIENT

We're back in the states until the end of December........Thanksgiving, football, turkey, and gifts (at least for the boat). Since we are in the USA far less than before since we are now FULLY retired from work, everything we want to buy for the boat is compressed into a few weeks of frenzied on-line shopping. Fast internet and a credit card are a dangerous combination. Turkey! And this holiday season, the boat is getting quite a bit..........solar panels (and the accompanying electronic backbone), a repaired AIS, new cushion fabric (Kirstin's next project), and a variety of odds and ends that we've depleted across the past 6 months.  Our big job in Wisconsin (our repair supply depot) will be figuring out how this huge pile of spare parts fits into two duffle bags. When we return to Antigua, its a bottom job and $400 per gallon anti-fouling paint (gulp). The UPS driver hates us These trips back always involve trying to remember where our clothes are.............

Even the mermaid isn't happy We also considered "mangled in Marigot"and "Simpson Bay savaged"! To catch up our loyal followers in Poland, India, and Lappland.......we spent hurricane season in Bonaire (as usual). Almost 4 months of diving, drinking, and relaxing (as though we don't do enough of that). The sail north was going to be different this time. Normally we would aim for Culebra, BVI, or St. Martin depending on the wind and seas. But with Irma and Maria impacting these areas, PR and BVI became no go zones. We approached St. Croix with more than a little trepidation. What did we find ? Puppies !!! (See pic below). And a looted ATM with a warm message on the screen. St. Croix was without power and had some land lines down but otherwise was fine. FEMA dudes and armed security were everywhere. We had been worried about Crabby (our dinghy) but an armed ex-military security guy watched him while we walked around and explored. Even bought diesel and...

How much does a boat cost you ? Easy.....everything in your wallet. L'ORIENT has a deal with us. We buy her everything she needs and she keeps us on the inside and water on the outside. We like this deal. But every 15 years you need to change the rigging........steel braided wires holding up the masts. The failure of on wire can cause the mast to harpoon your hull. In a marina you're OK after insurance pays you........if this happens at sea, the kids might be getting the inheritance early. So, gritting our teeth we came into LeMarin, Martinique and paid Phillipe and crew to do their thing. With 19 wires (or shrouds) our boat is a big payday for them. Pictured below is Anne guiding our $16,000 electric bow furling motor off the boat. Drop that and after my fog clears, I'm probably doing 25 to life upstate for quadruple homicide. Oh, and truth be told......we gave our boat a little early Christmas gift. A new staysail......improves our ability to sail closer to the w...

So Kirstin is away for a month on a Holland America cruise with her parents..........visiting Normandy, Denmark, and Bruges. I'm sure there are 5-6 more places but I can't find the itinerary. Anyway, that leaves Captain Sketchy (aka Tom) on the boat ALONE !!! The first thing I did was decide that St. Lucia was boring and sailed to Martinique. Along the way (at 6:30 AM) a whale dove under the boat from a distance of about 5 meters away. Not a pilot whale......but a big whale. To say I nearly had a heart attack would seriously understate things. I saw this enormous white blob go right under the boat. Both cool and terrifying. After I got to Martinique, I determined that I had indeed been wrong; it's Martinique that's boring. So, I sailed back to St. Lucia. It's important to find a 4 hour task and try to fit it into an 8 hour day. Of course, with 31 days by myself, I've changed every filter; lubed everything that needs grease; changed oil, capacitors, pumps, ...

We've had quite a new year so far. As our die hard Estonian blog fans recall, Kirstin and I sail eight months per year and work the other four. Or at least we did. My company e-mailed me (classy after 17 years) and informed me that I was now a full time sailor. Something about restructure, new strategy, selling the company, etc. So, what do we do ? Trick question 😄. Duh, we sail nearly full time. The feeling of being on the boat without work in the back of my mind is amazing.....goodbye suits, TSA lines, airline food, and Hilton Garden Inns. Oh, and for the second time since we began sailing, things got a bit dicey. Between Martinique and St. Lucia we encountered a three hour storm packing 41 knot wind. I don't mind saying that it was nerve wracking and a bit scary. The boat did fine, but we were a bit rattled. The forecast? 15-20 knot wind.....thanks Chris Parker. Bequia Blues and Jazz Festival Had fun at the blues concert here in Bequia.....and we love the Gre...