s/v Field Trip

Our lonely dinghy on the deserted beach at Ile Fourchue Ever get the feeling that you are the last one on the dance floor?  Lost in your own groove, you suddenly realize that the music has stopped and the party is over?  As we travel south to avoid the hurricane zone, each port resembles a deserted party.  All the bars are still there, but everyone has gone home.  The beach is vacant.  The docks aren't lined with dinghies anymore.  Happy Hour seems to be over.  On the radio nets in the mornings, more and more sailboats are calling in from places to the south of us…St. Lucia, Grenada.  But we are still here, going south, mind you, but waiting for weather windows and having many beaches all to ourselves. From St. Martin, we enjoyed a stop at Ile Fourchue, near St. Barts.  This was a beautiful, secluded anchorage that quickly became a favorite.  We hiked along the rounded, arid hills and were greeted with views of ...

One of the best experiences this season was Time Out Boat Yard - TOBY. Not because of luxury – but because of our new sailing friends. The experience humbled me. Until then, most of our friends have been full-time sailors – living frugally and living life. We’ve all shared similar backgrounds – entrepreneurs, executives, the love for adventure – and most no longer needing to work – i.e. retirees. At TOBY it was different. Everyone we met, from single sailors, to families – all loved and shared the same passions we do – but with one major exception – they still had to work to make their dreams come true. They’d sail as long as they had resources - and then, find a place to work -- work hard -- and make enough money for the next segment of their journey. Frenchman's Yacht lost in hurricane - he still lives aboard - can't afford new boat I felt humbled. I’ve always had a tremendous amount of respect for working hard. That’s what I’ve done my entire life. I’ve alw...