Island Spirit 2014-2015 Winter Plans

Team Island Spirit will be starting our 4th year of cruising at the Annapolis MD Boat Show Oct 9-13, 2014. After the boat show we will head south with the flock of boats, and several IPs. Our Buddy boats will be IP38 MOONDANCE with owners Bob and Nina and IP380 PRIORITY with owner Reuben onboard. We will take the AICW, The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway South to Florida.

We will spend time (lay days) in:
Portsmouth VA
Elizabeth City, NC
Oriental, NC
Beaufort NC
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Charleston, SC
Vero Beach, FL
Biscayne Bay, FL
Florida Keys

Once in Florida, we plan to re-explore Biscayne Bay and the keys as well as the west coast of Florida where we hope to reconnect with Buddy boat IP420 FLATLANDER, Alan and Kathy, and others. After some time on the west coast returning to Palmetto, Sarasota, Fort Meyers Beach, Marco Island, and maybe the Dry Tortugas. Then we will prep for the Bahamas as we move back around to the east coast again.

This year, we may just simply return to the ABACOS via West End, Great Sale Cay, Green Turtle Club and the WHALE to Marsh Harbor and the JIB ROOM. Once there we will sail to Hope Town and climb that beautiful lighthouse and enjoy the peace and calm of the ABACOS. Life is easy there.

After spending springtime, mid March and April in the Abacos, we will look for a weather window to make the run for the Chesapeake Bay, our home waters by the third week of May 2015. (We need to make a family vacation end of May)

This is our over all plan for this year. A review of many of our favorite places we have found, and a return to re-discover the beauty and fun of these area. We also want to reconnect with many IP owners. So many places, so many IP owners to connect with along this cruise.

We look forward to connecting, and sharing some harbors with you. We also invite you to sail along any part you can. We could get a fleet together and all head to the Abacos for a month. It is easy, it is close, it is beautiful in the springtime. If you go to the Bahamas in the winter, Dec-Feb, then you need to go SOUTH at least to Georgetown to get below the winter cold fronts. If going to the Abacos, then it is best to wait until spring and go in March and April and May. But then again, May is the best time to head up the East Coast, so you need to plan your Abacos exit back to the coast.

Here is a picture of DA PLAN for 2014-2015. We hope to see you along the way.

Tom and Cheri:

We hope to connect with you both. The Exumas are so beautiful. We have sailed the Exumas for two winters and we really like it. The Abacos are so much easier and just as fun, so we are planning a review of that area.

If you go south for Hurricane Season from the Bahamas, where will you go? Grenada?

We like to be back in the Chesapeake Bay for Hurricane season, plus it is home to us and we really like spring and fall on the bay. Running MD to Florida is 25 days of moving south, or about 5 days offshore. We like the diversity of the AICW. It is very fun.

Hayden

Steve:
I will get "Our" Hope Town article to everyone there at the Lighthouse. Now I have a mission to sail back.

Jeff:
HCC, Harbour Cay Club. www.HarbourCayClub.org for NEW YEARS sounds FUN FUN FUN. We will try to make that.

Tom and Cheri:
Other cruisers that have headed out to the Caribbean have told me that they wish they would have spent more time in the Bahamas. With a push to reach the Caribbean, people tend to press on fast through the Bahamas. Then once they reach the Caribbean, they reflect back and recall how great that area was. For us, we have sailed many years in the Caribbean with every charter company, 6 times charter, plus twice with IP OWners. We have sailed to nearly every Island From the Spanish Virgins to Grenada. With this perspective, we too think the Bahamas are far better. So, may I recommend that you think about a first year of cruising and adjusting to cruising by Exploring the typical East Coast Tour. Up to Maine or New England for a summer, then south to Florida for a winter, then Exumas and Abacos for a spring, and then the best of all, ocean sailing the East Coast the Month of MAY as you return to the Chesapeake by the end of May. Then the Loop starts over. NOW, on year two, Summer up to New England, then Fall in the Chesapeake Bay, and THEN, take the typical run Nov 1 Norfolk VA to USVI or BVI. Now at this point, you are starting in the USVI November 15. Now you can take Nov to Feb exploring the Spanish Virgins, USVI, and BVIs. Then March start down island. April May mid down islands, and finally reaching Grenada for June and Hurricane season. Now, you live in Grenada June-Nov (HOT HOT HOT) before you can move north or west towards Panama.

That is what I have studied.

We have thought about a run to the Virgin Islands from the Bahamas, say in Feb or March after a winter there. We have friends that did it last year, 5 days from Georgetown to USVI. You take the strongest cold front and head due EAST from Georgetown as far as you can get, then if you are lucky, you hit the trades at 65 longitude and turn south. Doing the thorny path so not in our plan. I hear that is wake at 3 am, motor hard into head winds and seas and current, then by noon, duck in and anchor because the east winds and sea are too large. Wait for 3 am, do it again. Eventually you will make the USVI.

For me, I would rather be at open sea and sail for the USVI from Norfolk VA south as far as Charleston SC. Anything more south, then you are beating into headwinds.

So, for us, we really love the East Coast and Florida, and the Bahamas in the Spring. There are so many towns, islands, beaches, and beautiful waters, that the Caribbean does not draw us there yet....someday...yes. We really want Island Spirit in the BVIs for two winters. For now, we will keep enjoying the Maine to KEy West and the Bahamas.

Hayden