The boat was rolling from the 6-8 foot waves. I had just completed locking the propeller shaft so it could not slide back and jam the rudder again. Fighting off seasickness, I was able to put the locker back together. Its contents stowed neatly. In less than 10 minutes, the wind was over 30 kts! […]
Returning to Bermuda Read More ... »
I had a good weather window and enough time to quickly prepare for my departure from Bermuda. Wednesday, December 28th, 2022 was the day. I planned to depart around noon. On Tuesday, I brought Distant Horizon to the quay. There, my top priority was to fill the water tanks. Then, I would do last-minute provisioning.
Departure From Bermuda Read More ... »
Thanksgiving Dinner When I arrived in Bermuda, my stress level was very high. In my view, many things failed along the way. I spent a solid two and a half years going through every system on the boat and so many failures… My spirits were low. I cleared Customs and docked the boat on the
Arrived in Bermuda Read More ... »
It’s noon on Saturday, November 17th. Noon is a historically significant time when voyaging on the ocean… Ancient mariners would fix their position by the noon sun using a sextant or quadrant. They would shoot the sun… a minute later, they would shoot it again. If the sun moved up, it was before noon. The
Bermuda is so close! Read More ... »
After breakfast, I checked my position. I was 980 feet from the waypoint I had set before departing Virginia. Luck… I know… but still amazing! Maybe luck will be on my side now. That waypoint was out of the Gulf Stream According to satellite imagery. I should be on the western edge of an east-going
Rest and Recovery Read More ... »
I was hoping to depart Currituck Beach around 4 pm. It was now 6:30 pm. I was starting a long journey. So, I had to stay positive, telling myself those two and a half hours were lost 12 hours ago. Distant Horizon has made good time. We are heading for the Gulf Stream. The winds
Gulf Stream Crossing Read More ... »
I was sailing south on the Atlantic Ocean. Just three miles offshore from Virginia Beach. There was a nice breeze off my starboard quarter (right rear corner). The wind and current were both flowing south, making this a nice gentle sail. I knew this wasn’t going to last. The forecast said the winds would drop
Sailing South on the Atlantic Ocean Read More ... »
Final Preparations Distant Horizon and I have been in the southern Chesapeake Bay area for the last four years. During that time, I rehabilitated my shoulder, injured during my previous attempt to cross the ocean. For the subsequent two and a half years, I have been preparing Distant Horizon for our final attempt to sail
The Journey Begins Read More ... »
Arriving in Falmouth Bay On the morning of November 13, 2021, the sky was dark and stormy. Antigua was in sight off the starboard beam. We couldn’t make a direct approach. There were a number of squalls racing us to make landfall. So, instead we turned to port, missing a couple squalls before turning towards
The Trip Explained Through sheer coincidence and a bit of luck, I joined a crew on a sailboat participating in the 2021 Salty Dawg Rally to the Caribbean, which was sailing to Antigua. There is safety in numbers, as they say. That is what the rally is all about. Weather updates are provided on a
Sailing to Antigua Read More ... »
