Maho Bay, St. John

This is not our photo, but this is where we're moored currently. Good swimming and paddling.

Martin goes moto

We had a fun day last week renting a scooter (!) on Anegada, riding out to some reefs and checking out the island.

 The sailing has been great and we're both doing well. Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas! Thanks Erika, Susie, Amy & Jordan for the posts. Great to hear from you all. I hope the snow continues to fly and that you have a great holiday! We're anchored off St. Croix. We had a great 30 mile sail today and arrived at this anchorage this afternoon. It's a US National Park

, pretty sweet.

Order out, Anegada style.

Lex makes reservations at the beach restaurant, ordering pepper shrimp and Mahi mahi over the VHF. Evidently this is the third largest reef in the world. 300 shipwrecks! 

Virgin Gorda

N 18* 29.9'
W 064* 21.5'

We've been here for the past few days, trying out the new kayak, paddleboarding and getting in some swim time with the local turtle and tarpon population. We're heading out to Anegada today, a large coral reef to the northeast of us that has claimed more than 300 ships. We'll post coordinates from there.

Gotta love the itchy rash

Well, lest anyone think this is all fun and games down here, this was my present last week for arriving in the tropics- scads of noseeum bites after going briefly ashore for the first time in 11 days. These little guys are a type of sand fly that you don't see until you feel their bite, think invisible Montana horse fly. I had them all over my legs, hands, arms and neck. They were super itchy for about 3 days. Sympathy was scarce.

The good news is that this picture is now a week old, and I've healed up quite a bit. Now I'm just working hard on my savage nordic tan.

time to relax

It's hard to describe the experience of our crossing from NC to the BVI.  11 days of non-stop moving with three hour watch shifts each night.  Largely we had good conditions and I'm thankful for our luck and success. I enjoy self-sufficiency and really enjoyed this challenge. I believe that this crossing will be the crux of our entire agenda.  We made our passage after the hurricane season and before/during the onset of winter in the north Atlantic Ocean. Now is the desirable season in the Caribbean and we'll enjoy this for a few months before heading to Panama to explore the San Blas Islands and cross to the Pacific.

Cannonball!

Land Ho!

Moored at Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke after 11 days at sea.
After not seeing any other boats for that long, we are in the company of probably 30 charter boats on vacation. 80 degrees, sunny, breezy.
We'll clear customs and rest up here for a few days.
Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Dec. 7

80* F and light winds.
Pau Hana is sailing south towards the east end of Jost Van Dyke.
We should be anchored up around 9am tomorrow morning.
When we find an internet connection we'll post some photos.
as of 3pm EST
N 19* 44'
W 065* 09'
hopefully we'll get to cry "land ho" before nightfall.
Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Saturday Dec. 6th

1345 EST
downwind run towards BVI
N 21*40'
W 065* 58.8
80*F and sunny
going well. we're aiming for Jost Van Dyke as our point to clear customs and rest for a few days.
two cargo ships are the only other boats we've seen in 10 days!
looking forward to finishing this leg.
Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

position Dec. 5th.

sunny skies, blue water, and steady winds today.
as of 1225 EST:
N 23* 41.4
W 067* 04.8'
speed 7 kts
heading 140* M

everything is going well so far. approx. 60 hours left.

at this point we're planning our landfall to be at Jost Van Dyke of the British Virgin Islands.
We won't make it before sunset on Sunday night, so we will slow down a bit to time our arrival after sunrise on monday.

I think I'll sleep for a few days after we get the anchor down.

Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Pau Hana Dec 4

great sailing today out in the deep blue!
N 25* 20.6
W 068* 23"
speed 7 kts
heading 180* magnetic
wind ENE @ 15 kts

likely arrive in the virgin islands early Monday morning

Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Pau Hana Dec. 3

3:30 pm EST
N 26* 43.3'
W 069* 14.5'
speed 5 kts.
heading 170* magnetic
wind ENE @ 15 kts

blown to the west of our desired course last night by high winds.
today were getting back on track.
75* temp and cloudy.
I spotted a Dorado off the bow. bright blue and gold!

we're going good. hope to get to virgin islands on Sunday

Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

halfway point

Dec. 2 2014 1400 EST 1900 UTC
N 27* 55.8
W 068* 47.7'
wind ENE 20 kts
heading 180* magnetic

halfway!
620 miles since beaufort
620 miles until the virgin islands

going well so far.

Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Pau Hana Dec 1

steady NE wind 15-20 kts is providing great progress
N 29*39.7'
W 069*50.3'
speed 7 kts
heading 140* magnetic
fast and sunny
we hove to to re-tighten hardware on the wind vane steering.
going well.
Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Pau Hana Saturday Nov.30

Saturday, Nov 30.
N 31*02.812'
W 071*19.960'
Speed 6 kts
Heading 150*
Wind E 15 kts
Pressure 1028 mb

light winds this morning slowed progress
now the wind is up and were heading SE into the E wind
good sailing, 70* F
last night was also light wind and poor progress, but safe and no problem.

Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Pau Hana Position Report

Today is beautiful. Sunny and great sailing.
position:
N 32* 07.4'
W 072* 37.3'
speed 5 kts
course 140* magnetic
wind N NE 10-15 kts
pressure 1025 mb

280 miles so far.
970 miles to go.

Martitn

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Pau Hana

1 pm EST
position
N 33*15.98'
W 074*09.05'
heading 145* magnetic
speed 5.5 - 6 kts
wind NW @ 15 kts
pressure 1022 mb

we're past the gulf stream.
many squalls last night and this morning.
downwind sailing now towards N 25 W 65
dolphins playing in our bow wave.
deep blue water
it's starting to get warmer.

Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Pau Hana position report

We left Beaufort at 8:00 am EST
It is now 3:15 pm EST = 20:15 UTC
N 34* 04.7'
W 076* 13.9'
heading 140* magnetic
speed 6.5 kts
wind 20-25 kts W
pressure 1017 mb

we are in the gulf stream current.
it's going well. confused seas are uncomfortable but manageable.
we hope to exit the gulf stream by 0300 tomorrow morning.

Martin

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

Hurry up & wait

We are currently on hold in Beaufort, NC due to bad weather offshore. It looks like our next chance to leave will be early Thursday AM. We're hoping the current forecast holds as the conditions are looking ideal for crossing the Gulf Stream. The boat is ready & so are we!

HF Radio

Test message to post to blog via SSB radio.
We're in Oriental, NC. It has been below freezing at night.
We're moving over to Beaufort tomorrow.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com

46 bottles of wine in the bilge

Getting loaded for the long haul.

We've had some delay due to cold weather, tornado watches, thunderstorms, waiting for mail & parts, etc. Looking to leave Beaufort in the next 3-5 days, weather and potential depletion of bilge stores dependent, of course.

Neuse River

Sailing towards Oriental, NC
Chilly nights.

"Are you here with the circus?"

asked the cashier at Walmart while I was trying to buy a can of WD-40 yesterday.
"Ahhh, which circus?" I asked.
"Cirque du Soleil is in town and I thought you might be with them," she replied.
Hmmmm. I'm thinking it's time to leave Virginia, they just don't get the funky Bozeman ski hat style. Or maybe it was something else????

So we loaded up our circus today and headed out of Hampton, VA and entered the Intracoastal Waterway. We made it to Great Bridge, VA. We're going to motor for about 4 days south to Beaufort, NC before heading offshore. It topped out at 44 degrees today, balmy for all you guys in MT, but feels like winter around here.

200 watts of solar power being installed by the man with a plan

Let the projecting begin

We arrived in Hampton, VA last week after a mad push to pack our stuff into storage(!) and socialize with all the peeps we're going to miss in the coming months. We've been busy with boat prep/repair all week and have another week of steady work ahead of us prior to leaving VA. The boat's looking great and we're getting psyched.

Commence dirt bag procedure

Lexi and I have both quit our jobs and are going traveling on our 1985 Wauquiez Pretorien Pau Hana. Our house in Bozeman is leased and we are moving onto the boat on Monday. Our last stint of unemployment was in 2003-2004. We hope to travel the Caribbean and Pacific through 2017. 2015 will be the first ski season I've ever missed! Have a great winter!

Photo attachment

Attached to this email is a photo.

Hopefully it posts.

Nine Weeks out

hurry up!

current position

 45° 40.489'N

111° 2.755'W