Itinerary
1-Nov-24: Caribbean Bound - in the books
We will be joining the Salty Dawg Rally for this 1,500nm shot from Hampton, VA to English Harbour, Antigua. It's always an interesting experience crossing the Gulf Stream. At this time of year, we'll be planning our departure to avoid any lingering tropical storms coming up from the Caribbean, as well as strong northeastern fronts heading southward.
Book of choice: The Republic of Pirates, by Colin Woodward
31-Dec-23: New Years Eve!
This will be a short 200nm run to move the boat from Antigua to St. Lucia, the gathering spot for the World ARC Rally. Unfortunately, we're going to miss stopping at all the great French islands along the way. We had such a great time in Guadeloupe & The Saints earlier this year. Perhaps on the way home.
Book of choice: Pirate Latitudes, by Michael Crichton
13-Jan-24: Hauling the Mail
A downwind run across the Caribbean Sea, likely to be the windiest part of our journey. Departing Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia on 13 January 2024. It is a 815nm to Sant Marta, Colombia. We should arrive 4-6 days later. We’ll stay in Santa Marta for a few days to relax, explore and reprovision.
Book of choice: One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
24-Jan-24: Exploring the San Blas Islands
We depart Santa Marta on the 24th to explore the San Blas Islands of Panama before transiting the Canal. The distance covered is about 360nm. We have about 10 days to cover that distance, so hopefully most of the time will be spent exploring the islands before reaching Shelter Bay Marina.
Book of choice: Wanderer, by Sterling Hayden
4-Feb-24: Transiting the Canal
We all meet up at Shelter Bay Marina in Panama to await a slot to transit the Canal. Our passage through the Canal should take a day or so. We have to wait for a spot in the traffic, so we may not leave until February 8th or so. Once we are through the Canal, we'll wait on the other side for a few days for all the boats to gather. Of course, we'll use the time to enjoy Carnival as well!
Book of choice: The Path Between the Sea: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914, by David McCullough
11-Feb-24: Voyage of the Beagle
From Flamenco Island, we’ll make a short passage to Las Perlas Islands to meet up with the rest of the fleet by February 13th. From Las Perlas, we head 850nm to San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. We should arrive in the Galapagos 6-8 days later around February 19th to 21st. We then have until 5 March to explore the Galapagos Islands.
Book of Choice: The Voyage of the Beagle, by Charles Darwin
6-Mar-24: From a Noisy Bar in Avalon
Hopefully, the Crosby, Stills & Nash reference is not lost. Indeed, on this heading, lie the Marquesas. We depart Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos for a 3 week sailing to Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands. It is the longest leg of the adventure, 2980nm.
Book of Choice: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
27-Mar-24: Cruising the Marquesas
Depending on when we arrive Hiva Oa, we have a week or so to explore the Marquesas. We all then meet in Nuka Hiva to start making our way through the Tuamotus and Society Islands.
Book of Choice:
3-Apr-24: Exploring French Polynesia.
On the 3rd we set off for cruising the Tuamotus and Society Islands (Tahiti) making our way to Bora Bora. We have about 5 weeks to cover 1000nm and one beautiful island after another.
11-May-24: Onward to Tonga. After gathering at Bora Bora, we sail 1,385nm to Tonga, with a brief two-day stop in Niue.
??: Tonga to Fiji.
3-Jul-24: Cruising Melanesia. Departing from Musket Cove, Fiji, we continue westward 660nm to Vanuatu.
16-Jul-24: Australia. 1,480nm. Sailing 6-8 days to reach the Whitsunday Islands of Australia.
Halfway Point
30-Jul-24: Cruising the Great Barrier Reef. After some relaxing and reprovisioning in Mackay, we’ll sail 1,500nm along the Great Barrier Reef through the Torres Straits to Darwin.
10-Sep-24: Darwin to Lombok. 920nm. 5-7 days.
22-Sep-24: Lombok to Christmas Island to Cocos Keeling. 625 + 525nm 8-11 days
7-Oct-24: Indian Ocean. 2350nm. 12-18 days
29-Oct-24: Mauritius to Reunion. 130nm. 1 day
6-Nov-24: Reunion to Richard’s Bay. 1370nm. 8-11 days.
11-Jan-25: Cape Town to Namibia. 785nm.
Nambia to St. Helena. 1215nm
St. Helena to Salvador. 1900nm
6-Mar-25: Cabedelo to Grenada. 2020nm
16-Apr-25: Final Rendezvous – St. Lucia.
19-Apr-25: Parade of Sail – St. Lucia