Hope's and Howard's Sailing Adventures

Atlantic and Mediterranean Cruising on board Lady M

Happy New Year!

Wishing all of the crew of Second Wind, present and future, a very Happy New Year in 2015. With love from Karen and William, still swaying at sea in our dreams, and dreaming of a return trip. Enjoy those Painkillers!

Cane Garden Bay to Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke

We work hard for our pleasures here in the BVI. It took us a full hour to move over to Jost Van Dyke this morning (Dec 29th). Initially we were doing about 6 knots under genoa alone (too much effort to hoist the main for such a short trip) but then the wind dropped to about 6 knots so the iron sail brought us into Great Harbour. While the main.. Read More

Soper’s Hole to Cane Garden Bay

Slipped our mooring right on schedule at 10 AM per our arrangement the night before with Sue and Ash. Raised the full mainsail, then the staysail as we rounded Steel Point at the Western end of Tortola (and opposite Great Thatch) and had another lovely sail in about 15-21 knots of Easterly winds. Almost made it to Cane Garden Bay in one tack but decided to head the last little.. Read More

Crossing borders

We raised our mainsail and slipped our mooring at Francis Bay around midday, then sailed through Fungi Passage (between Whistling Cay and Mary Point) for a spanking sail in 12-15 kt Esterly (of course) winds close-hauled, initially heading towards Jost Van Dyke, then tacking when we could make it around the Eastern end of Great Thatch and into Soper’s Hole. We were met by Ash and Sue in their dinghy… Read More

St John

So, we made it to Francis Bay on St John with only one minor hitch (a lost flip flop) after our midday libations in Cruz Bay. Cruz Bay is well worth the visit for interesting arty shops and a selection of good restaurants; whereas Francis Bay is a wonderful peaceful bay that is part of the National Park that covers 2/3 of the island of St John. However, it is.. Read More

Xmas in the USVI

Merry Christmas from Howard, Hope, Scott and Sonia! Having picked up the new crew from Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas yesterday, Howard has safely navigated the family through Christmas Bay cut (how appropriate) to Cruz Bay on the National Park island of St John.  After a couple of Pain Killers we hope he is still up to navigating us to nearby Francis Bay where we plan to enjoy our Christmas.. Read More

Holiday time

You can tell that our focus has changed. We are in Pussers Inn on Marina Cay, part way through an onerous circumnavigation of Tortola. We seem to be averaging about 10 miles a day, what with all the swimming and snorkelling and lazing about that has to be fitted in. Cheers!

Landfall Celebrations

  With 24 hrs to go, and the clock ticking, the wind inched its way round to the east and we started to move in the right direction. We spent the day calculating our distance to time and it was touch and go to finish by midday.  But after dark, the wind came through, and we picked up speed. The sensation of flying along at 7 knots in pitch black darkness.. Read More

Inching our way to the finish line

We have just passed the ‘100 miles to go’ barrier, and we are tantalisingly close to being able to cross the finish line before mid-day tomorrow. The wind needs to keep blowing, and if it changed direction another wee squeak from the north, we would pick up that little bit of extra speed we need to make it. So it’s race trimming and feathering to windward on board today, with.. Read More

Tortola in our sights!

All the hard slog to get to longitude 65W yesterday has paid off at last, and we are finally able to point the boat at Tortola, instead of the Dominican Republic! The forecast came good, and the winds are from the east. Sadly, there isn’t much of it, so we have decided to sail when the wind is above 6 knots, and motor when it is not, until we get.. Read More