Sailing Clockwise is Better Oct 17

 Yesterday, we picked up Max (who had spent 2 weeks exploring Guatemala) in the dinghy after he took a 5 hour bus ride from Guatemala City.  It is great having him back…. taught him to play Rummicube, we are now in the cruising mode.

We had some fiberglass work done to strengthen the floor under the water tanks (prevent little leaks there) and also some work done to strengthen under the forward berths. Measured and marked the anchor chain today (color coded for Kim – you know she is a visual person)  and put up her clothesline up under the hard bimini.

We are ready to get this boat back in order – because of all of the work being done we are in a bit of a mess – so tomorrow Kim, Max and I will scrub the decks, put back the anchor chains, get reorganized – it really is coming along… it will be great to share this with you…. when are you joining us?

Yesterday, we had Ben (our Dutch friend) over to give us some advice about sailing the Caribbean Islands – what to see and not miss …. 

Ben and Nannie (pronounced Nonnie)

he looked over my plan and then he called me “STTUUPID” that’s Dutch for stupid, “BE CAUSSE” I was going the wrong way “Always clockwise down the islands” / “go with the winds not against” … "make it easier for yourselves and the boat"…..and basically we need to  make time to explore.  


So Kim, Max and I had a “Pow Wow”; talked about the possibility of spending 8 months in the Caribbean, leave the boat in a hurricane hole for the summer/fall and then take a longer 8 months to go up the west coast. The secret vote was unanimous. So below is the new itinerary!!

NEW ITINERARY FOR SV COMPANION  (because I was “Sttuupid”  that’s Dutch for Stupid)

EIGHT MONTH CARIBBEAN – Late 2010 to Late Spring 2011

Oct 1 to 28          Rio Dulce Guatemala

Nov 1 to 10        Honduras / Roatan                        passage to Jamaica

Nov 14 to 22      Jamaica                                           passage to Puerto Rico   

Nov 25 to Dec 3 Puerto Rico  pickup Kim              passage to Virgin Islands

Dec 4 to  14        Virgin Islands                                  US & British  

Dec 15  to 31      Tortola and St. John's                   Emily / Kyle

Jan 1 to 15          Antigua

Jan 15 to 30        Guadeloupe or Antigua                 Danylle/Andy and 
                                                                                                 Portland Friends

Feb 1 to 12          Guadeloupe or Antigua                 Laura & Brian Alonso

Feb 15 to Mar 10 Dominica/Martinique

Mar 12 to 30         St. Lucia                                          Chuck Novak

Apr 1 to May10    St. Vincent and Grenadines

May 10 to 25        Los Roques / Tortuga w/ Johnny Depp 


May 25 to Jun10  Bonaire then Curacao Island 
                                   Companion rests there for the hurricane season

EIGHT MONTH VOYAGE – Late 2011 to Summer 2012

Oct. 15  to Nov. 15   Back to Companion voyage to Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba

Nov. 15 to Jan 1        Panama 

Jan  1 to 31               Central America (Costa Rica-Nicaragua)

Feb 1 to 28                Southern Mexico to Baja

March 1 to 20            La Paz Mexico, Baja

Apr 1 to 30                San Diego, LA

May 5 to 20               San Fransico

June 15 Arrive          LaConner WA     
                                                       Party  - June 20 Celebrating Max’s 25^th B-Day


Aug sometime our Dutch friends will arrive in Anacortes via Hawaii, AK and Canada.......

We are excited about the new plan ..... watch out Caribbean Isles - here we come!!!  WE WANT YOU TO JOIN US...

Dale (mostly with a little bit of help from k)

We waved goodbye for now to our Dutch friends - they are sailing to Cape Canaveral, Florida for a month to have to get new boat engines.... see you in St. Lucia!!!