February-March Cruise Itinerary

Seventy-two hours from now the crews of Heron and Freestyle will arrive at the pool-side widescreen TV at the Westin Hotel in Great Cruz Bay StJ, to cheer on the New England Patriots as they battle the New York Giants for the Superbowl. Win or lose, when the sun comes up on Monday February 6th, we'll drop our mooring lines and head S to St. Croix --the first hop in our cruise to Grenada and back --  seven weeks, at least 17 islands and 1014 nautical miles. So begins Jay and Emily’s Excellent Adventure. 

My daughter Emily (16) will be an active member of the crew for the entire trip (sound of whip lashes in the background).  She is taking an independent mod (a 6-week semester) from her high school, the Cambridge School of Weston, studying Caribbean literature, the history of slavery in the Caribbean, and digital photography.  Thanks to her wonderful teachers and administrators for actually encouraging such a life-widening experience!  Thanks to Mindy and Julia (12) for holding the home fort.

We will be accompanied for various parts of the trip by friends Peter B., Betsy K., Jon G., Jim R. and his wife Sharon, and by my sister Marie and friend Dave, her son Adam, and my son Ben and his friend Nina.  We will sail in the company of Freestyle, with Don C. and his crew catching fresh fish, smoking fine cigars and generally holding our feet to the fire.  We are bubbling with anticipation!!

Screen Shot of the Route

Summary of Feb-March Cruise of the Lesser Antilles:
Week 1: St. John to Grenada via St. Croix.
· Feb 6: Sail to St. Croix, Christianstead Harbor. 35nm, 174M.
· Feb 9-11: Sail to Prickly Bay, Grenada. 393nm, 169M.

Weeks 2-3: Southern Windwards:

· Feb 15: Sail to Carriacou, Grenadines, Tyrrel Bay. 39nm.
· Feb 17: Sail to Union, Clifton Harbor. 11nm.
· Feb 18: Sail to Mayreau, Saline Bay. 4nm.
· Feb 19: Sail to Tobago Cays. 4nm.
· Feb 20: Sail to Bequia, Admiralty Bay. 26nm.
· Feb 24: Take a ferry over to St. Vincent for the day.

Week 4-5:  Northern Windwards, Eastern Leewards

· Feb 25: Sail to Martinique, St.Ann/Marin. 93nm. (Or 55nm to Soufriere St. Lucia.)
· Feb 28: Sail to Dominica, Prince Rupert Bay. 87nm. (Or 64nm to Soufriere Dominica)
· March 3: Sail to Les Saintes, Bourg des Saints. 22nm.
· March 4: Sail to Pigeon Island Anchorage, Guadaloupe. 24nm.
· March 6: Sail to Deschaies, Guadaloupe. 9nm.

Week 6: Western Leewards

· March 7: Sail to Antigua, English Harbor. 43nm.
· March 10: Sail to St. Barts, Gustavia. 85nm.
· March 11: Sail to St. Martin, Simpson Bay. 18nm.

Week 7: Cruise British and US Virgin Islands

· March 15: Sail to Tortola, Road Town. 91nm.
· March 17-24: Sail BVIs and St. John

The above schedule is a prototype. Actual mileage will vary as we experience whimsy, weather, wanderlust, etc. I'll try to keep the blog going. Track us if you wish using the link in the right-hand column of this page. Stand by to stand by. We're goin' in!