Vacation

We are on vacation until October 25, 2009.
Looking forward to sailing with you soon!

More Hard Work

We just might be almost done with the boat! Yesterday evening we went
back to finish up a few projects like flushing the engins, drive
shafts, and AC units with fresh water and storing all the exterior
cushions and lines. We took in a whole new kind of sunset and are
very happy we aren't living on the boat while it's on the hard.

Looking forward to being home with family and friends in a few days.
While we are on break Saha and I are planning to go through old
pictures and post some of the good ones that we missed!

Haulout

Well, Hypnautic is hauled. After several days of cleaning,
organizing, stowing, and engine maintenance, we only have like a few
million things left to do while she is on the hard to store her for
the month and get her ready for next season.

Home Again

Home again, Home again, Jiggidy, Jig. Little old Miss Hellen (who road my short bus at IU) used to sing this song everyday, just happy have made it back to her apartment! Working full time at age 93 I guess I'd be happy to make it through every day of work, too.

Anyway, we're back home in the BVI as of 9am. We are currently in Spanish Town checking into customs and this place is a ghost town! The North Sound is literally empty-- no one at Bitter End or Leverick Bay. We'll start scrubbing today and in order to be ready to haul on the 9th! Pictures soon :)

Stormless in SXM

As you can see, the boat is ready for anything! We stowed the jib and
bimini and all the extra canvas, tied the boat in the middle of this
huge slip using 14 dockines as well as two separate 150' anchor rodes,
and for what? The wind is acutally lighter now than it has been in a
few days!

Safe in SXM

Yesterday, in the process of spider-webbing our boat into the middle
of this HUGE slip in Port de Plaisance. Latest info shows Erika
passing to our south as a mere tropical storm. However, better to be
prepared, so today we dropped and stowed the jib and anything else
that might blow away!!

Safe in St. Martin

Tied up in the middle of a HUGE slip in Port de Plaisance Marina in
the Simpson Bay Lagoon in St. Martin.

St. Martin Lagoon

Left Saba early to hole up in Simpson Bay Lagoon, St. Martin. Currently at the Royal Turtle dock near the airport (check the SPOT map). An area of disturbed weather currently know as Invest 94L will pass our area on Wednesday, and may develop into Tropical Storm Erika before then. We'll know more in the morning, and keep you posted!

Off to Saba

Pronounced "Say-Ba". Or, if you are a pirate, "Say-BARRRRRRRR!"

Hiking the Quill

Yesterday we left St. Kitts after the big 5am morning market and headed for St. Eustatius. There was not much wind at all so we didn't make it here until about 11a. After checking into customs, snorkeling the old city ruins, and eating a big lunch we began our hike to the top of the Quill around 2p.

The hike took us from sea level to about 2500ft but the trail was in good condition so the hike was great! The Quill is the volcano responsible for forming much of the island but has been inactive for hundreds of years so it's all grown up with jungle. We were under tree cover most of the way which helped with the heat and by the time we left Panorama Pt. (highest point on the western side) it was 5p and the sun was on its way down.

Awesome hike-- would reccomend it to anyone!