Region 'Caribbean Sea'

We had such a good time looking at all the beautiful classic yachts during the Antigua Sailing Week and the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. This regatta began back in the 60’s when charter captains challenged each other to a race at the end of the charter season before they headed back across the Atlantic to Europe. It’s grown into a wonderful event that usually sees 50-60 yachts participate.

After sailing around the Caribbean for the winter, we are ready to complete the Atlantic Circuit and return to Europe. This is a passage that sailors have been making for hundreds of years and we’re excited to be joining that group. Last November we met with the ARC group in Las Palmas di Gran Canaria to make the crossing to the Caribbean along with 250 other yachts.

Last November I completed the ARC 2011, a ‘rally for cruisers’ that has been going on for 26 years. The ARC was created by Jimmy Cornwell to provide a way for people who needed help crossing the Atlantic to benefit from the experience of those that already had. A valiant and worthwhile endeavor for a man with incredible experience to pass along. Over the years, thousands of sailors have successfully participated.

While sailing around Antigua today from Carisle Bay on our way to an anchorage in Nonsuch Bay on the east side of the island, Murray spotted a whale breeching up ahead of us. We quickly changed course and motored over to see if we could get close enough for some photos. Luckily this male Humpback Whale was not too worried about our little boat and keep breeching and rolling on the surface to give us a good show.

Hallberg-Rassy (HR-54) Feelin’ Good cruising the Caribbean over the winter of 2012. This passage was from Nevis (St. Kitt’s and Nevis) to Statia (St. Eustatius) with cool underwater footage under sail (thanks Sean)! More videos to come as we learn how to use the HD Hero2 camera system.

A visit to the island of St. Martin (French side) and St. Maarten (Dutch side) wouldn’t be complete without stopping in at the famous Sunset Beach Bar. It’s located at the end of the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport You’ve probably seen a picture of it before as the beach is the place where passenger jets cross at 50 feet to land on the runway just on the other side of the beach.