Everyday Caribbean Cruisers

Posted by Ed

It was a spectacular site earlier in December when all the Grand Ladies of yachting were on display in Antigua for the Charter Boat Show. I have never seen so many mega-yachts, both power and sail on display in one location (English and Falmouth harbor). Just when you think you have seen the biggest and the best, along comes another mega-yacht dwarfing the others and keeping things in perspective. As aptly stated by an Australian I met in Antigua who is sailing with his fiancé from the U.K. to Australia, “when you look out your porthole, we see the same beautiful view as they see from a mega-yacht”.

The mega-yachts have dispersed to various locations of the Caribbean and we are sailing our very humble vintage Swan 44 down island and currently anchored at Isle des Saintes for the Christmas/New Year’s holiday. It’s refreshing to meet families sailing for the winter season aboard what we consider as “regular” cruising boats. An Australian couple mentioned earlier are sailing their Vancouver 27 "FineGold" (http://www.sailingfinegold.webs.com/) from the U.K. to their homeland of Australia. They just completed a successful transatlantic crossing from the Cape Verde Islands to Antigua, some 2000 miles in 18 days. Another couple from Wisconsin has lived aboard their Island Packet 27 for the past four years and enjoying sailing throughout the Caribbean islands.

Two couples from France who are long time friends, each sailing their own Beneteau 473’s are in the process of a circumnavigation. One left France and is sailing in the Caribbean and will sail on to the Pacific next season. The other couple started their circumnavigation in the Indian Ocean and will also sail in the Pacific next season. Another couple from the states sailing a beautiful Lyman Morse Custom 54 "New Morning" (www.newmorning.info)will also sail in the South Pacific next season. And there are a few single-handers navigating the Caribbean. A movie maker from France who has sailed his Beneteau 435 to and from France a half dozen times is sailing throughout the Caribbean.

There is no shortage of like-minded sailors who are out doing what they love most…cruising. Cruising where the air is always warm, the wind is always sufficient to sail, the water is always beautiful and the cruising exhilarating.

One of the best things about sailing in this environment is the warm camaraderie from other cruisers, always ready to share. They’re very friendly and willing to share their wine, their dinner, their knowledge and experiences.