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Video: Sail Plan (Route)

Google Map flyover of how we think the whole 6-month voyage will play out. Bookmark this page so that you can see how different plans are vs reality when it comes to sailing trips.

I get all mushed-mouth when I know I'm being recorded, so bear with me there.

Recorded: October 28, 2023

Duration: 03:13

Boat Build Photos and Design Choices

November 29, 2023

When getting updates about a boat build happening on another continent, there are a lot of back and forth calls, emails, and pictures. This post shares a lot of those pictures.

More Photos From the Build

December 07, 2023

Not really to much writing to do here, but we do have a lot more pictures from the good people at Pegasus.

Game Plan

January 03, 2024

It's almost go time. Here's our plan for the next couple of weeks.

Slovenia, Week 1

January 17, 2024

Some boat learning, some waiting around, and our first delay of the trip.

Back to Boat Life

January 19, 2024

We've moved aboard Pegasus #6, Hagazussa.

Photo Gallery: Slovenia 2024

January 29, 2024

161 Images

Video: Christening the Third Velvet Elvis

Recorded: January 30, 2024

Duration: 00:50

Video: Velvet Elvis Full Launch Video (Includes Christening)

Recorded: January 30, 2024

Duration: 07:24

Post Launch

February 02, 2024

Just a flurry of activity since we put the boat in the water.

Video: Sunset on the Adriatic

The still photos didn't capture how the light played on the water, so I needed to add this 17-second video.

Recorded: February 04, 2024

Duration: 00:17

Underway

February 06, 2024

We shove off and set sail for home.

Video: Route from Izola, Slovenia to Riposto, Sicily

Ko narrates the map summary of our first passge.

Recorded: February 09, 2024

Duration: 00:55

Video: Night Watch - February 14/15

We still have a lot to learn about the right sail plan for any given conditions, but on the morning of February 14, we nailed it and had some beautiful sailing. Forgive the terrible audio during the intro. Too much motor noise during the night watch.

Recorded: February 15, 2024

Duration: 01:29

Sicily, Sardinia, Fouled

February 18, 2024

Sicily was all you've heard: very pretty with very good food. The marina in Riposto is right by where the the catch comes in every morning, and so just a block down and to the right is market after market of fresh fish right off the boat. We ate tuna and swordfish pretty much every day.

Video: Med Mooring 101 - How to Get Ashore

Med Mooring is when you back up to a dock and tie your bow to mooring lines that connect to the bottom of the harbor out in front of the boat. There are no finger piers. You're just mashed in between other boats. This is how you have to get ashore.

Recorded: February 20, 2024

Duration: 00:52

Photo Gallery: Sicily and Sardinia

February 21, 2024

91 Images

Video: Night Passage - 25 Knots

Sailing close-hauled in 25 knots sustained in the middle of the night. Volume up for this one, if you can.

Recorded: February 24, 2024

Duration: 00:24

Rough Passage

February 28, 2024

We had sort of an ass-kicking overnight passage. Plus, some pictures from Palma.

Photo Gallery: Belearic Islands

March 09, 2024

143 Images

Ibiza to Cartagena

March 09, 2024

We spent some time playing tourist in Ibiza and then sailed back to the European continent.

Spring Break in Almirimar

March 19, 2024

When the winds finally piped down, we left Cartegena. We kept moving along the southern Spanish coast in reasonable winds. But the winds had just been really blowing for several days, and the sea state was still pretty agressive. By morning, we came to realize that we had some damage.

Biding Time

April 01, 2024

A week and a half since my last post, and there's really not much new to report. The boat is repaired and ready to go back in the water, but it was blowing 40 kts on Wednesday, making the boat lift out of the question, and then the boat yard has been closed for Easter break every day since.

Video: Night Watch - Strait of Gibralter

We had an eventful day passing from the Mediterranean into the Atlantic.

Recorded: April 05, 2024

Duration: 04:01

Ships, Fog, Undocumented Immigrants, Africa, and an Orca

April 05, 2024

The title is a good recap, but this covers an eventful few days where we wrap up our time in the Mediterranean and sail into the Atlantic Ocean.

Video: Night Watch - April 14

Easy sailing between Canary Islands and Cape Verde

Recorded: April 14, 2024

Duration: 02:28

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

April 14, 2024

We spent several days visiting Lanzarote, which is one of the Canary Islands. I don't really know how to describe it. It's unlike anywhere else I've visited. A little bit Mediterranean feeling, but then something else, with it's white plaster buildings and brown volcano-rock landscape. Really, it felt like another planet.

Photo Gallery: Continental Spain

April 17, 2024

86 Images

Photo Gallery: Lanzarote

April 18, 2024

92 Images

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 1 + Jibing

It's the first night of what V has been calling "The Big Part" all winter. All is well, so I say that out loud, and then show you how I jibe the sails single handedly.

Recorded: April 22, 2024

Duration: 05:24

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 2 + Power Plant

A short update after a good sailing day. Plus, how we generate power outside of using the motor or generator.

Recorded: April 23, 2024

Duration: 03:00

Cabo Verde

April 23, 2024

We had a bit of a scare motoring in to Cabo Verde, but once past it, we found a place with a lot to offer.

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 3 + Meteorology

We have a long way to go, and we are becalmed.

Recorded: April 24, 2024

Duration: 03:21

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 4 + Refrigeration and Swimming

The calmest day, but we took a swim, and that was a lot of fun.

Recorded: April 25, 2024

Duration: 03:08

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 5 + Maks is a Gross Eater

I have all kinds of cool boat tour things left to show you guys. But I'm giving the amatuer hour video editing guy an easy night instead. But the add-on clip of the cat eating does end up being pretty funny, I think.

Recorded: April 26, 2024

Duration: 03:57

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 6 + Sailing Wing and Wing

We're sailing pretty well tonight! Our talk is about a particular sail configuration for downwwind. Then, I throw in a few pictures from the day. None of humans, because we're not fit to be seen at this point.

Recorded: April 27, 2024

Duration: 04:22

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 7 + Port Side Technical Room

I am delighted by a middle of the night visitor, and a tour of the port tech room, where we take seawater into the boat and distribute it to the places where it belongs. The last 2/3 of this one is pretty technical/geeky, so if boat systems aren't your thing, you can check out early without missing anything.

Recorded: April 28, 2024

Duration: 06:25

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 8 + Other Vessels

Sailing, but still not on a direct path to where we're going. A quick discussion of what it looks like when we encounter a ship on the high seas.

Recorded: April 29, 2024

Duration: 03:23

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 9 + How We Flush

Faster and more direct sailing day. It would have been fun if we had done anything other than sit at the table and work.

Recorded: April 30, 2024

Duration: 04:55

Video: Night Watch - Atlantic Crossing Night 10 + Course Change

Today was mega-frustrating, so this is just a short update about our travails and about a change to our travel plan.

Recorded: May 01, 2024

Duration: 03:04

Video: Night Watch Atlantic Crossing Night 11 + Switch Panel

A long one tonight. In addition to the regular update, we have a quick fish story, a tour of our switch panel (nerd alert), and 30 seconds of zen.

Recorded: May 02, 2024

Duration: 06:39

Video: Night Watch Atlantic Crossing Night 12 + The Rest of the Panel

Still moving along. Bigger waves, and a little rolling. Let's see what else is on that big panel.

Recorded: May 03, 2024

Duration: 03:51

Video: Night Watch Atlantic Crossing Night 13 + Dinghy Garage

Just over 600 miles to go. I talk about the state of our pantry and show you our dinghy garage. Nice win by LSU Baseball tonight! That's a good way to pass 3 hours of night watch.

Recorded: May 04, 2024

Duration: 03:34

Video: Night Watch Atlantic Crossing Night 14 + Starboard Technical Room

The sailing is fine. Our special feature is the grand finale for the boat systems nerds.

Recorded: May 05, 2024

Duration: 06:19

Video: Night Watch Atlantic Crossing Night 15 + Starboard Technical Room

About 350 miles to landfall. A look at how we watch tv in the cockpit, and a look at a couple more of the screens at the chart table.

Recorded: May 06, 2024

Duration: 06:27

Video: Night Watch Atlantic Crossing Night 16 + Routine

No news, but that's good news. 230 miles to go. Talk about the daily routine. I forgot to mention the kids much, but they just sleep all day.

Recorded: May 07, 2024

Duration: 04:44

Video: Night Watch Atlantic Crossing Night 17 + Passage Wrapup

I think this should be my last night watch. Thanks to everyone for all of your comments and feedback. There's been more than one night where that was the motivation to create another video. No plans to post tomorrow, but we'll have more online throughout the summer.

Recorded: May 08, 2024

Duration: 02:51

St Lucia

May 16, 2024

We arrived in Rodney Bay, St Lucia just as it got too dark to see. The anchor lights of the other boats blended in with the city lights on shore, but with the help of the radar, we got anchored in a safe calm place with plenty of room to swing without coming close to another boat.

Martinique

May 27, 2024

We spent three months and chance in the Mediterranean and didn't sniff France, but here in the Caribbean, we found ourselves hoisting the French flag on the starboard halyard. As it turns out, Martinique is a part of France, just like Hawaii is part of the US. We checked in to Martinique on May 15. I stayed aboard to work...

Video: V Shows Us Montserrat Vocano Ruins

Most of the time, I can rearrange work stuff to do the island field trips with the family. Sometimes I caan't. I didn't get to go see the volcano ruins in Montserrat, so V did a little video for me.

Recorded: May 30, 2024

Duration: 01:02

Dominica

May 31, 2024

I implore you to visit soon. A newer, bigger airport is already under construction. We left Saturday, just before the ribbon cutting for the marina that can host mega yachts. Go now, while the resorts are small. Spend some time on the beach, and hire a local to take you on the eco-tour and snorkeling.

Video: Thalassophobic Swim at Saba

Recorded: June 02, 2024

Duration: 00:18

Guadeloupe

June 02, 2024

Like Martinique, Guadeloupe is just another part of France. They pay in Euros, fly the French Courtesy Flag, and immediately attempt to surrender their country to visiting Germans (kidding). I thought it would just be more of the same as Martinique, but my impression of Guadeloupe is better. (Bear in mind that I've seen relatively little of either place.)

Montserrat

June 03, 2024

Montserrat started a string of very small, lightly populated islands that I could not have identified before this trip. There is one anchorage, and it had only two other boats there when we arrived. Others came and went, but there were at most seven or so boats floating around out there.

Statia

June 18, 2024

Statia, or St. Eustatius if you prefer, is our first Dutch island. It’s just a tiny little roundish thing out here in the Caribbean, with not a whole lot of people. There’s a decent little waterfront, and then a steep climb up to the town proper. It’s a pretty little town with stone streets and friendly people. It’s a nice place.

Saba

June 19, 2024

Next in the line of countries that you can be forgiven for having never heard of was Saba. It's a small hunk of rock with fewer than 2000 people calling it home.

Sint Maarten

June 20, 2024

Sint Maarten/Saint Martin is two countries on one island, and that's a weird thing. There's no real border. You can just pop back and forth and at some point, the language and the currencies change on you.

Video: Night Watch - New World Edition

Our first Night Watch video since the crossing. Just a quick update followed by a minute of sailing footage from a couple of days ago when we were moving with speed through a wavy ocean.

Recorded: July 10, 2024

Duration: 03:13

Photo Gallery: BVI Mega Gallery

July 15, 2024

280 Images

Video: BVI Video Highlight Reel

Unedited clips from my library pieced together.

Partying on board, dancing at Foxy's, and jumping from Willie T's. And about 10 seconds of a late-week snorkel.

Annika did finally work up the nerve to jump, but I couldn't find the video evidence.

Recorded: July 17, 2024

Duration: 05:35

BVIs

July 26, 2024

The British Virgin Islands are by far the most popular cruising grounds in the Caribbean. I went in expecting to have a lot of fun, but to be underwhelmed by the "touristy" destination. But it turns out that there's a reason for its popularity. There's something that's a lot of fun on every island, and they're all just a 2 or 3 hour sail away.

USVIs and Puerto Rico

July 27, 2024

After Crystal and her delightful adult daughters left us, we sailed to Saint John to meet up with some of our Baton Rouge friends. We spent a few days between floating behind Velvet Elvis, hanging out at the beautiful pool at their rental house, and exploring the bay and the island.

Video: Night Watch - Final Chapter + Mobile Ship Channel at Night

The worst part of any trip we take is passing Mobile at night. And somehow, we alsways end up passing at night.

Recorded: July 28, 2024

Duration: 01:51

Photo Gallery: Dominican Republic

August 09, 2024

100 Images

Photo Gallery: Southernmost Bahamas

August 15, 2024

80 Images

Dominican Republic and Bahamas

August 16, 2024

Once it was clear that we weren't going to be across the ocean as soon as we had hoped, the Domonican Republic is a country that we tentatively decided to skip. But then San Juan wasn't as conducive to supply runs or laundry as we had anticipated, and we found a resort with a marina who also has a good off season rate, so we decded to drop in for a bit.

Photo Gallery: Key West and Dry Tortugas

September 03, 2024

130 Images

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