“So, I soloed COURAGE, my lovely J/32, from Sakonnet Point (the east side of Aquidneck Island/ Newport, RI) to Brewers Bay, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands through two storms; yeah, two of them!
One was real fun, and I did over 200 miles in a day going 10+ knots for a good amount of time until a lower started to fray. Amazing boat, yup, she’s ‘just a cruiser’, says your Uncle Rod. Not! She flies!
The other storm, not so fun! Heaved-to for over 24 hours. I call it “the magic storm”. With every wave, a thousand bucks disappeared off the deck!! OMFG, it was crazy. Never seen ‘nuthin like it!
But, I’m thinking that I am feeling pretty good about myself, almost beating my chest. Pulled into Nanny Cay to do the repairs next to a J/35 called SUNDAY. Very nice Dutch couple. They have sailed around the world on SUNDAY; done two Atlantic crossings and their boat survived Hurricane Irma. But, she looks PERFECT! I’m humbled. Can learn a lot from this Dutch couple on their J/35, so cool!
Oh, BTW, I did the trip- 1,500+ nautical miles- in 10 days. I’m wondering, do I get a “throw-out” for the 24 hours when I heaved-to? Can I subtract that and call it 9 days for my passage? Haha!
Thought you guys would like to hear about it. Amazing boat! Awesome cruiser! Thank you Al and Rod, keep up the great work!” Add to Flipboard Magazine.