Bobby Di, Author at Bobamala

Kia Ora New Zealand

March 3, 2019February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Ahoy Kiwis!

Day 24 found us sailing south toward New Zealand. We noted the cooler weather and enjoyed a sunny day with moderate wind and five foot seas. Starting to feel sinus congestion, I took measures to mediate the effects of infection. First step. . . no Bombay Sapphire Martinis for a few days. . . OUCH, that hurt!

As you know, New Zealand is an island in the South Pacific, 1,200 miles east of Australia across the Tasman Sea. It consists of two main islands, the North Island, which has most of the population of 4.5 million and the South Island which is the slightly larger. The combined land mass is about 990 miles long and 250 miles wide and has about the same surface area as the state of Colorado.

Due to its remote location, New Zealand was one of the last land masses to be settled by humans. The Polynesians arrived in about 1250 AD and developed the Maori culture. The Europeans did not arrive and settle until Captain Cook mapped the entire coastline in 1769. The white settlers and the Maori had a history of conflict until a treaty was signed in 1840. Soon thereafter, it became a colony of the British Empire until 1947, when became a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Currently, it is identified as of the world’s most stable, well-governed states.

I was excited to return to New Zealand and we planned on visiting three destinations on North Island: Bay of Islands in the Northland, Auckland, the largest city and Wellington, the southernmost capital in the World.

After three days at sea, we awoke on Day 26 in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It was noticeably cooler at about 60 degrees with a 20 knot wind. We anchored off of Waitangi and took the tender to the pier and a 5 minute shuttle ride to the lovely seaside town of Paihia.

With its friendly locals, trendy cafés and restaurants it’s a great tourist town and home for many recreational activities, including diving, snorkeling and kayaking.

We made our way to the pier and took the ferry to nearby Russell , home to whalers and traders in the 18^th and 19^th century and a super anchorage for boaters today.

The weather was a perfect 72 degrees with a warming sun, so we arranged a tour of the area on a minibus for a bit of history including a visit to the Russell Museum with its 1/5 size replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavor.

To complete the day, we enjoyed a coffee in the historic Pompallier House before our return to Paihai, followed by a one mile walk back to the Waitangi pier.

Along the way, we strolled along the grassy apron adjacent to the beach and glimpsed modern waterside houses and condos until we reached the pier and boarded the tender to return to Insignia.

Auckland is Awesome! We woke at Prince’s Wharf in the downtown Port of Auckland for great views of this wonderful city. Although old-fashioned and traditional with friendly people, it is modern, vibrant and clean. . . could this be Bobamala?

With no definite touring plan we strolled along the busy pier with its shops and eateries and visited the “i site” tour office and arranged a 3 hour tour of the city highlights.

Our driver, Paul, was a stout Mauri gentlemen with a wonderful Kiwi accent. He did a great job of navigating the city, describing points of interest, the homes of the rich and famous and provided visits to Winter Gardens, as well as, Mt. Eden, a dormant volcano and Cornwell Park, a working farm within the city limits. Paul warned us not to talk to the sheep!

We returned to downtown Auckland to visit the shops on Queen Street. There were many wool and sheepskin items for sale, but also notable was the presence of Gucci, Prada and other designer stores.

Since I was a bit shaggy, Robin escorted me to a men’s hairstylist was a Middle Eastern fellow with dark, deep set eyes. The haircut was actually not bad, but I got a bit nervous when he used a Bic lighter to burn the hair from my ears. Since he wasn’t wearing an explosive vest, I didn’t protest. I can hear a bit better too. . . so I violated the New Zealand “no tipping” policy.

We would put in a very rough sea day sailing the 550 nautical miles to Wellington. The wind was recorded at 45 knots and the seas were likely 12 to 15 feet. Since the ship is only 593 feet long and 84 feet wide, there was quite a bit of pitch and roll. We could have used some tie downs to keep us on the mattress. Since I was awake at 0400 and there was no one awake to clog the broadband, I logged onto a trading platform and executed a few option trades. My trading friends will understand, they know I’m a bit of an options addict.

On Day 29 we arrived at the city of Wellington, New Zealand’s culinary and cultural capital. With its population of only 200,000 it is a compact city with a mix of culture, history, nature and cuisine.

It was also cold and windy, unlike the usual climate in the northern part of the island. We embarked on a tour of the city, including a cable car ride at Lambton Quay up the hill to the suburb of Kelburn. A visit to the Wellington Botanic Gardens, Historic Old St Paul’s Cathedral, built in 1867 and a drive to the overlook on Mt. Victoria for a few photos completed our morning.

We returned to the ship and took advantage of its amenities and the solitude while other guests were still touring. With sail away at 6:00 pm it wasn’t long before we were met with heavy winds and rough seas in the dining room. Of course, the service was superb as there were fewer diners and an accommodating staff.

We’ll have another three sea days and 1225 nautical miles crossing the Tasman Sea until we arrive at Sydney. When we are about 450 nautical miles east of Australia the Captain announced that due to a medical emergency affecting a crew member, we will arrive in Sydney earlier than planned. He then cruised at the max speed of 20.5 knots which brought us to Sydney a day ahead of schedule.

We entered Sydney Harbour at 1500 hours and cruised past the iconic Opera House and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Cruising slowly through the busy harbour and between the racing sailboats and ferry traffic was a wonderful experience!

We have finally arived at our destination at this gleaming, vibrant and cosmopolitan city. We have travelled 10,260 nautical miles (11,800 statue miles) or about ½ the distance around the world and are thrilled to disembark and spend an extra day in this wonderful city.

We spent the early evening on the trendy, upscale Darling Harbour waterfront and enjoyed al fresco dining in the absolutely perfect weather of 75 degrees with a clear sky and a light cool breeze. A dreamy evening. . . I think Robin may want to stay a while.

We will have another 12 days of touring in Australia . Come along with us as we visit Sydney for 5 days, then fly to Hamilton Island on the Barrier Reef for some diving, snorkeling and sailing. We’ll then fly to city of Melbourne for a few days of touring before we return.

Thanks for being great shipmates!

Captain Bobby

American Samoa and Fiji

Talofa and Bula, Bula

February 28, 2019February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Ahoy Mates!

As we continued our nautical journey through Oceania, Day 20 had us 775 nautical miles from French Polynesia, headed west to American Samoa just 340 miles away. It was another beautiful day at sea for relaxation and some research.

American Samoa or Tutuila Island which is under U.S. sovereignty is a quite striking with its natural beauty. 1,600 nautical miles from Hawaii and 840 miles south of the Equator, the island boasts coral reefs offshore, rainforests, waterfalls and a Star Kist Tuna factory, which is how Nancy Pelosi funds her sartorial spleandor.

The island has a population of about 65,000. Pago Pago ( pronounced Pango Pango), the capital has 9,000 residents. By the way, Samoa is pronounced “Sam wah”, not “Sam oh ah”. We were told that when pronounced “Sam oh ah”, it is the native word for the ocular discharge also known as “eye oogies”. Now you know!

After docking in Fagatogo, we were greeted by cries of the local greeting, “TALOFA”. We started our walk into town in the 85 degree heat and humidity and thought that taking one of the local brightly painted tour busses was a better idea, even though they lacked air conditioning and padded seats.

Our tour guide was a very pleasant Samoan woman who was also a school teacher. A fairly young woman with six children, she told us that having many children was the norm. . . her brother, the driver, had 9. They do receive assistance from the U.S. Government, but from what we saw, they live quite modestly yet happily. We were relieved to hear that there has been no evidence of cannibalism for years!

We drove along the coast and visited legendary “Flower Pot Rocks” and learned some of the Samoan way of life where the head of the extended family enjoys great respect.

Our tour took us past the Tuna Factory and onward to beach resorts and the famous $2 beach where the entry fee is $5.00 . . . inflation, we were told.

It was back to the ship once again we enjoyed the usual pleasures of cruising. . . having a wonderful staff indulge your every whim while eating wonderful food.

Oceania Cruises operates only six ships famous for its voyages around the world on its award-winning mid sized ships offering fine cuisine at sea.

The Oceania Insignia was built in 1998 and just refitted just two months ago. Every surface of every stateroom is entirely new and public spaces have a refreshed color palette of soft sea and sky tones with the renewal of all fabrics as part of a sweeping rejuvenation. It is the embodiment of simple elegance. It is 593 feet long with an 84 foot beam, hosting just 684 passengers with a staff of 400, a 1.7 to 1 ratio.

About one half of the passengers are on a World Cruise lasting 180 days and visiting over 100 ports. The cruise originated in New York in early January and will terminate there in July. Robin and I joined the ship for the 33-day Los Angeles to Sydney leg of the trip. After enjoying the ship for just over 3 weeks and 7,500 nautical miles, I can understand the allure of a World Cruise.

INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE

Day 22 found us at sea having crossed the International Date Line overnight.

The International Date Line is an imaginary line on the Earth’s surface separating one day from the next. The Line is located half way around the world from 0˚ longitude (Greenwich, London, UK). This is also where Greenwich Time or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as it is now known, is established.

Then it gets a bit confusing. When you cross the Line from east to west, as we did, you add a day. Last night we crossed another time zone and the Line, so we set the clocks back one hour and up one day. So we then moved from UTC–11 hrs to UTC-12 hrs to UTC + 12 hrs. In other words, we moved from Tuesday to Thursday and lost Wednesday!! Luckily, we’ll gain it on the way back.

To illustrate, we live on the east coast of the US (EST or UTC -5 hrs.). Now, approaching Fiji, we are at (UTC + 12 hrs). or 17 hrs. ahead of EST.

When we arrive in New Zealand (UTC + 13 hrs.) we’ll be 18 hrs. ahead of EST. Alternatively, EST will be 6 hrs ahead, but one day behind. Got it?

Does anybody know what time it really is?

The archipelago of Fiji has 340 islands and we arrived in Suva, Vita Levu the hub of entire island grouping. Suva, the capital and home to the majority of population is a energetic, colorful city with a confluence of ethnicities and cultures.

“Bula” is the traditional Fiji greeting. Armed with our new language skill, we thought it best to indulge ourselves with a trip to the Pearl South Pacific Resort on Pacific Beach, known for its expansive beach and sapphire waters.

We boarded a modern air-conditioned bus for the 1 hour drive and narrated tour to Pacific Beach. After a hearty welcome with a traditional song and festive dance, we enjoying a long beach walk and an invigorating swim was a welcomed change from life in a lounge chair.

After a day at the resort, we returned to the ship and readied ourselves for the three day sail south to New Zealand. We will arrive in the Bay of Islands in the Northland after logging 1060 miles. We’ll be leaving the warmth of the South Pacific Islands and heading for cooler climes.

French Polynesia

Ohe´ French Polynesia!

February 19, 2019February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Ahoy Mates!

We hope that you enjoyed Kauaii, Oahu and Hawaii as much as we did. Thanks for continuing with us on our journey to French Polynesia. This is an area of the Pacific that invokes visions of towering verdant peaks, indescribable hues of blue water and perfect beaches shaded by tropical palms. You will not be disappointed.

Screen Shot 2019-01-03 at 11.14.40 PM — Insignia Route Map

During our 1950 nautical mile passage from Hilo to Nuka Hiva in the Marquesas we crossed the Equator. As you know, The Equator is an imaginary line approximately half way between the North and South Poles and is about 25,000 miles in length.

On day 12, we “Crossed the Line”. When crossing the equator, sailing tradition demands that one pay homage to King Neptune. This usually encompasses a variety of odd rituals, from drinking nasty potions to uttering incantations and other nasty hazing experiences, including sexual assault. On our voyage, all we needed to do was kiss a fish and get doused by ice cold water in order to graduate from a “polywog” to an honorable “shellback”.

Although I have crossed the equator before, I never received the proper initiation. Robin and I made the transition together and after the proper baptism, but without the aforementioned assault, were quite painlessly deemed “Shellbacks”.

Soon thereafter, we entered the waters of French Polynesia.

French Polynesia is a collection of 118 islands and atolls scattered over an area the size of western Europe with a much smaller land mass. It is about halfway between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia and as far south of the Equator as Hawaii is north and is in the same time zone.

NUKA HIVA

We anchored at Nuka Hiva in French Polynesia on Day 14. Nuka Heva is the largest of the Marquesas and their people are most likely the ones that first settled the Hawaiian Islands in 400 to 500 AD. The Marquesas are often the first stop for sailing circumnavigators after they pass the Panama Canal over 4,000 NM away.

After tendering in, we joined a tour of the Taipivai Valley. First, we visited the Notre Dame Cathedral built in the 1800’s in the small town of Taiohae and then boarded a 4×4 SUV type pickup in a caravan of 15 vehicles. We marveled at the tortuous and winding climb up the mountain on our way to the tour of the awe inspiring Taipivai Valley.

The roads were narrow yet paved and the roadway network was only recently completed in 2008. We stopped for photos of some magnificent vistas and then visited a village meeting site for some refreshments and a sample of breadfruit, papayas and bananas. The breadfruit chips were especially tasty. After a stop at Hooumi beach we returned to the ship happy with our introduction to French Polynesia.

With a couple of more sea days to prepare for touring and scuba diving we enjoyed some free time and also some enrichment lectures on Oceanography and Worldwide Naval History. Robin, of course, wowed some of our fellow cruisers with her latest needlepoint project.

RANGIROA

Day 16, Thurs Day February 14^th, Valentine’s day. The Insignia anchored in the Rangiroa Lagoon.

We had to board tenders again for the five-minute ride to the pier. Thanks again to the crew for a well-organized and timely tendering. While Robin toured the Gaugin Black Pearl Farm, I was picked up at the pier in a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and deposited at the Yaka Plongee dive shop for a 10:00 am dive. The current was right for a drift dive between Avatoru and Tiputa, usually their signature dive. In a 4 to 6 foot chop, the guide Thomas and I back-rolled, Mike Nelson style, into the current. How were my underwater photos, you ask? Let’s just say, it is tough to compose photos when you flying underwater at 1.5 knots! Also, the visibility was not ideal at only 40 feet, but you know me . . . I don’t complain!! We did manage to spot some schooling chevron barracuda and the usual striking reef dwellers like colorful Butterflies and Moorish Idols.

TAHITI

We arrived at our half way point of the cruise in Tahiti on Day 17. By 7:00 am Insignia was docked in Papeete, a bustling, multicultural city of about 200,000 people, not the idyllic island town that most people imagine. The majority of Tahiti; however, is a scenic island with lush landscapes and large waterfalls which is what we explored on our Jeep Safari.

The vehicle was actually a 4X4 pickup-like vehicle with bench seating for 8 in the rear bed. We entered the Papenoo Valley and travelled on mostly unpaved deeply pitted roads, crossing some rivers and streams to get some great views of the valley, mountains and waterfalls.

Our bodies were only mildly tortured by the three hour jostling. After return to the ship all discomfort was forgotten as it was time for lunch, relaxation and preparation for cocktails and another fabulous dinner.

BORA BORA

The next day we anchored in the Bora Bora Lagoon, the quintessential tropical Pacific island. With its lush vegetation covering the extinct volcanos contrasting with the vivid turquoise water it’s about as close to Bobamala as one can get.

I sampled the fabled diving with a two tank dive, one in the lagoon and one where we intended to go outside the reef and meet with some sharks and rays. The wind was blowing 25 knots and the sea was at 6 to 8 feet, so it was decided to return within the lagoon to try our luck spotting a Manta Ray. Bad luck. The visibility was actually very poor on both dives, but overall, the experience with Eleuthra Bora Divers was a good one with helpful and capable guides.

While I was diving, Robin was enjoying a tour of the lagoon in a Catamaran, followed by a swim in the crystalline blue water with its inviting 80 degree temperature.

The next day we were again at sea on our way to American Samoa. To keep the tradition alive of eating yourself silly on a cruise ship, we enjoyed a lavish Sunday Brunch. On the Insignia World Cruise this is a quarterly extravaganza of food, ice and food sculptures, delectible desserts and impeccable service from the wonderful crew.

IMG_8243Sunday Brunch — Olga says “Privyet”

Hawaiian Islands

Aloha. . . Mahalo!

February 11, 2019February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Land Ho!!!

After 5 1/2 days at sea and travelling 2,050 nautical miles from Los Angeles, we arrived at Kauai, the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands also called the Garden Island due to its lush green valleys and pristine rainforests. The striking island of Kauai also features towering ocean cliffs and cascading waterfalls.

We arrived at the port of Nawiliwili on Kauai in a morning mist and mostly cloudy sky. The temperature was a pleasant 70 degrees headed up to 80 with welcomed sunshine.

We got a cab and interacted with the driver, a lanky transplant from Baltimore, who recited a litany of the benefits of living on this lovely island. He left us at Kauai Kayak, where we planned a day of kayaking and hiking.

Our young, affable guide Dustin oriented us about the day planned, which included 4 ½ miles of kayaking on the beautiful Wailea, the only navigable river in all of Hawaii. This was to be followed by a 1 ½ hour hike to the Secret Falls which features many streams to cross and plenty of ankle-deep mud to keep it interesting.

It promised to be an easy 2 mile plus paddle to the hiking trail, but some of the group of 10 were wind-milling their blades apparently believing there was prize money at the end of the day.

The trail to the Secret Waterfall was winding and strewn with obstacles including fallen trees, gargantuan tree roots, swift river crossings and an unbelievable amount of thick, sticky mud, which robbed many of their footwear.

I encouraged Robin to soldier on, though mud baths are not her thing. After what seem liked days, we arrived at the waterfall in an hour and a half and enjoyed a prepared lunch on a moss covered rock. Lovely!

I was not aware that running through mud was a skill that I possessed, but we were in a hurry to get back to the kayak and leave the risk of broken bones and world of mud behind. After over an hour of paddling and just ten minutes before we arrived at the marina, a heavy rain squall ensured that we had less mud to wash off of our bodies.

After changing into dry clothers, guide Dustin was kind enough to give us a ride to Duke’s Canoe Club at the Nawiliwili Harbor. Here we met up with a high school classmate who lives and works in Kauai. It was great to see Max Trapp and catch up on the fifty years that passed since we last met. Thanks for your hospitality, Max!

OAHU

On day 8, we docked at Pier 2 in Honolulu on Oahu under sunny skies and 78 degree temps. We were pleasantly surprised with the wonderful weather, since our last visit here in 2017 was a bit gloomy.

We disembarked and were transported to the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Wakiki to board a launch, which under the shadow of Diamond Head, transferred us to the Atlantis Submarine. The vessel accommodates 40 passengers for an undersea odyssey to 120 feet below the ocean’s surface.

Now this is Robin’s kind of diving! We did managed to see a few wrecks, turtles, eagle rays, white tip sharks and free swimming green moray eels along with the usual Jacks, assorted colorful Butterflies, Surgeon fish, Filefish, Sergeant Majors, Rainbow Parrotfish and Moorish Idols.

After a leisurely stroll through hotel gardens ,we enjoyed a cocktail and a delicious lunch at Tropics Bar and Grill on Waikiki on a perfect warm, sunny day with a light breeze.

Looking down at our feet, there we vestiges of recalcitrant Wailea mud from our hike yeasterday, which begged for removal. Siri helped us find a nearby nail salon where we enjoyed a pedicure at Luxure Nail Salon on Ala Moana Blvd. With a spring in our step, Uber ferried us back to Pier 2, me with exfoliated lower extremities and Robin sporting sparkling gel nail polish!

HAWAII

Day 9 found us on the Island of Hawaii also known as The Big Island, Orchid Isle and Volcano Island . We docked at Hilo on the SE coast and joined a “Volcanoes and Blossoms” tour on a comfortable mini bus.

The weather at Kilauea Visitor’s center was chilly and breezy so we took advantage of the self-guided tour within the center, followed by an entertaining lecture by the most gregarious tour guide in the National Park Service. He described the nature and power of volcanic activity on the island including the much publicized eruption of Kilauea just last year. Many parts of the park remained closed due to the event.

We then travelled just a few minutes away to the Steam vents emanating from the Kilauea Caldera. Robin took the opportunity to let mother nature warm her up a bit in the 100 plus degree heat of the steam vents.

It is difficult to capture the vast nature of the Caldera. . . it’s truly an amazing sight!

From there we travelled to the Akatsuka Gardens and Orchid Farm. . .magnificent! After brathing in the Sulphur Dioxide of the volcanic steam vents, we could have spent much more time here with the lovely fragrance and beauty of these orchards.

The star of the the Orchid Show, with its perfect symmetry and horizontal side petals, is the prize winning Volcano Queen orchid which displays a $20,000 price tag!

Lastly, no trip to Hawaii would be complete without a visit to the Mauna Loa Factory store. Hawaii is the world’s largest producer of Macademia nuts. As you can tell by my increased girth, a decision was made to avoid the purchase of any of the islands signature crop.

Well, it’s back to the ship to continue our journey south to French Polynesia. The nearly 2,000 nautical mile trip will have us “Cross the Line”, aka the Equator, before we arrive in Nuka Hiva. We’ll have four sea days to prepare for our next tour. In the meantime, we’ll be sure to enjoy the amenties of the ship and the comraderie of our fellow travelers. Believer it not, I’ve made a few friends!!

Wish us fair winds and following seas,

Captain Bobby

Oceania Insignia

Timing is Everything!

February 4, 2019February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Ahoy Mates!

One of the most common sayings in the boating world is that the two happiest days in one’s life is when he buys a boat and when he sells it. When we settled on SABA, our Hunter 38 sailboat, in May of 2009, we were jubilant and looking forward to the adventure that she would bring us. We were not disappointed! If you have following this blog for the last few years we know you’ll agree. In the ten years that have passed we have put over 8,000 nautical miles under her keel in South Florida, the Keys, as well as, the Abacos and Exumas of the Bahamas. It has been about 90 % pleasure, 5 % concern and 5% sheer terror!

Downwind in the Exumas — Downnwind sailing in the Exumas

There comes a time when you consider your options and realize that one the other common sayings is: “Sailing is defined as the most expensive way to travel third class”! And so it was for us. We offered our beloved SABA for adoption and in less than two months the sale was consummated. With the plethora of fond memories and great adventures the emotion we experienced was not one of happiness, but hope that the new owners would enjoy her as much as we had.

Joe of Preferred Yachts in St Petersburg helped us market our pride and joy with great effect: http://vessel.iyba.pro/yacht-for-sale/40000040/?id=80196&vessel=2764269&title=2009Hunter38%27380-null

The timing could not have been better. Less than one week after the sale, we embarked on the Oceania Insignia, a 593 foot cruise ship with 682 other guests. Oceania is famous for its voyages around the world, award-winning mid-size ships and the finest cuisine at sea. This promised to be a premium cruise experience at sea with over 400 staff to pamper us. We boarded the ship in San Pedro near Long Beach for the 32 day cruise to Sydney which included 19 sea days and 13 ports of call. No more 3am watches!!

To embark on the Insignia, we first flew into LAX from Tampa and arranged to meet my cousin Gregory Scott Cummins in Marina del Rey. Greg is an actor that you may have seen Greg in “Cliffhanger” with Sylvester Stallone or in a myriad of other works including “Bosch”, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, “NCIS” and countless other productions. At 6’4” with steely blue eyes, he’s usually typecast a villain, violent arms dealer, money launderer or other unsavory type, but he’s a wonderful guy and he bought us lunch! And many thanks for the great FACEBOOK post:

We had a two day respite in downtown Long Beach and a tour of the Queen Mary was just the activity to get us ready for our voyage. At over 1,000 feet in length and a 118 foot beam she has a great history serving as a luxury cruise liner for the rich and famous including Royalty, Hollywood types and politicians, as well as, a troop carrier during WWII.

We spent over 5 hours touring the ship reliving the Glory Days of such a grand lady with truly luxurious salons and accommodations. They boasted the use of over 50 hardwoods from all over the world and incredible artwork.

The next day we started the journey that we planned over 19 months ago. The transfer to the ship including loading our ample luggage was efficient and courteous. After boarding, it was obvious that the Oceania experience would exceed our expectations. The staff was welcoming and kind. Their actions assured us that we were in for a trip of a lifetime.

The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest body of water. It covers about one third of the Earth’s surface. It is twice the size of the Atlantic. All of the land masses on the planet can fit within the boundaries of the Pacific Ocean with room to spare. Obviously, crossing it in a ship takes more time than your usual Caribbean holiday. Here is the detailed itinerary:

So it is Monday morning and our sixth day at sea. We have traveled 2150 nautical miles since departing Los Angeles. We’re about 200 nautical miles from Nawiliwili, Kauai and will be arriving there tomorrow morning at 07:00. Many have wondered what there is to do to pass the time on a cruise ship. Trust me, there are enough activities to keep any ADHD victim off his meds. In addition to enrichment lectures on various topics including history and oceanography, there is bridge, table tennis, putting, spin classes, pilates, yoga, art lessons, a stocked library, computer room, card room, bingo, slots, blackjack, baggo bean, dancing lessons, chamber music, a jazz band, entertaining shows, jewelry seminars, model ship building, afternoon tea, team trivia, religious services, wine tasting, martini tasting, Solo Travelers Cocktails and also LGBTQ Get Togethers for those who wish to switch teams. And how can I forget . . . all you can eat , all the time!

Overall the passage has been relaxing except for day three when we powered through 15′ seas and 25 knots of wind doing 19 knots over ground. There were quite a few people missing from the dining room that night! Robin is busy with a needlepoint project and reading while I am spending time reading and organizing photos and writing this blog entry. We just learned that a USCG helicopter will be evacuating one of our cruisemates at 15:00. The good news is, I don’t think it’s Robin or me.

Sea Day 14' seas — Spray over our balcony rail on day 3, we’re 6 levels above the water line!

We’ve got a few activities planned during our three stops in Hawaii. I’ll update you after we do some kayaking, meetup with friends on the island, take a submarine ride and hike a volcano or two.

Please feel free to comment on this entry and share it with your friends and family if you like. Look for our Hawaii adventures in my next post on the way to Nuka Hiva in the Marquesas.

Aloha for now.

Captain Bobby

Florida Keys, Great Bahama Bank, Gulfcoast Florida, Passage to the U.S.

Back to the US, Immigration and Dr. Mudd

July 29, 2018February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

After three weeks in Bahamian waters including visiting seven spots in the Abacos it was time to return to the U.S. so that the Commissioner could resume her duties . During this time Robin had devoured eleven books and completed an amazing needlepoint project. All I did was keep us afloat and moving from one location to the other with Robin’s help.

Florida to West End of Grand Bahama Island, then on to the Abacos and return via the Northwest Providence Channel and the Great Bahama Bank to Cat Cay and then the Gulf Stream crossing to Fowey Rocks

We were awakened by an increase in wind over Cat Cay giving promise of a crossing by sail, but the passing squall left us with 1 – 2 knots of wind from the east. After we navigated the narrow cut between Gun Cay and Cat Cay passing the Gun Cay lighthouse, we were soon feeling the effects of the Gulf Stream current.

In order to keep a course over ground of 280 degrees we were steering 250 to 255 to counter the effect of the 2.5 knot current. You would never guess that the current was strong looking at the water surface, it looked like the surface of a calm lake! I took the opportunity to call ahead to the Marathon Marina while we still had cell service to reserve a slip for tomorrow morning as we had a 24 hour trip ahead of us.

Gulf Stream sea condition FAC (flat ass calm!)

Even though the wind was still light we had the mainsail up, not so much for stability or additional speed, but just to look good! We didn’t have much company crossing the Stream, we encountered few cargo ships along the way, but since the Aby Scarlett was going to pass only .3 miles away, I called the bridge on the VHF. According to maritime law in this instance we had the right of way, but knowledge of basic physics warns of the impending doom when you collide with a 873 foot ship doing 13.5 knots.

3 (1) — Aby Scarlet, as she appears on A.I.S. blinking “red” indicating a collision course

“Good morning Captain, this is the sailboat Saba 3 miles off of your starboard bow, I see that our CPA (Closest Point of Approach) is .3 nautical miles so we are altering course 20 degrees to port and will pass your stern.” He responded politely, thanked us and wished us a safe voyage.

4 (1) — Aby Scarlett an 873 ft. Bulk Cargo Container Ship passes by after our course change.

We made the 47 mile Gulf Stream crossing in 8.5 hours averaging 5.5 knots. It’s always a pleasure to return to “soundings” where your depth finder actually registers a number rather than “deep” and the cerrulian blue waters of the Hawk Channel welcome you home.

Fowey Rocks, south of Miami are a welcome sight!

Rounding Fowey Rocks put the wind on our beam and we had a glorious and peaceful sail down the Hawk Channel as we had the waterway to ourselves. After 5 hours of sailing, the wind died again so it was back to motorsailing.

We motorsailed through the night and as we usually do altered watches every 2 to 4 hours to enable the other crew member to sleep. We arrived at the Marathon Marina in the morning and tied up at the fuel dock to fuel up with help from the friendly staff. Our slip was ready for us and was as before in a convenient spot.

After tying up, we called the Customs and Border Patrol on an 800 number and checked in using the Small Vessel Reporting System. We are each registered personally and our boat is registered as well to allow for easy check in. One minute later we heard, “Welcome home” from the friendly agent.

We used our time in Marathon to do some laundry and some complete mundane boat tasks. Since we had a great internet connection I was able to place quite a few Stock Option trades. As many of you know, this is a passion of mine and an indication that I was back in business!

Our special surprise in Marathon was our dinner at Frank’s Grill. The place is tucked away in a strip shopping center and from outward appearances not especially inviting.

Screen Shot 2018-07-29 at 6.36.14 PM — Frank’s Grill Marathon, Florida

We were greeted warmly and the food was fantastic…possibly the best Frutti de Mare Fra Diavlo I have ever had and Robin’s veal marsala was superb. The homemade desserts including the cheesecake and key lime pie were fabulous. Frank made a point of coming out of the kitchen to say “hello”…great guy, super chef!

When you are in the keys, stop by for dinner. During season, reservations are a must. http://www.franksgrillmarathon.com

After our two day hiatus in Marathon, it was off for Key West, only 42 miles distant. With 6 – 7 knots of wind from the SE we motorsailed to one of our favorite locations, Key West Bight. We tied up stern-to at the A & B Marina, right in the middle of Key West marina activity

SABA dwarfed by sportfishers and motoryachts at the A & B Marina

After tying up and checking in it was time for exploring all the Marina had to offer. The staff was friendly and helpful and the shower facilities were some of the best we’ve found in our travels. We also were impressed with the convivial atmosphere of the marina with it’s coffee shop, bar and restaurant and great happy hour at the White Tarpon. I got my fill of $1 oysters before we headed out for the evening.

Grunt’s on Caroline Street is one of the oldest bars in Key West. Thursday nights feature the “Shanty Hounds” a local group of muscians. We met singer/songwriters Dani Hoy and Chris Rehm a couple of years ago and we take in their shows whenever we can. As usual, they kept an eclectic group entertained through the evening. Thanks to Dani, Chris and Bob for making us feel like a part of their family!

There are few places better for breakfast in Key West than Ricky’s BLUE HEAVEN. The place always seem packed, but the short wait seems even shorter with one of their signature Bloody Marys. The fresh baked breads, inventive breakfast entrees are delicious, not to mention what is probably the best key lime pie on the planet!

After that wonderful breakfast we walked back to the marina, but along the way made a few stops. In addition a clothing store, the grocery and a dive shop to try on a new 3mm wetsuit we were sidetracked by the lure of key lime pie…..again!

In a Facebook post, I mentioned Robin and I enjoyed a Seaplane trip over to the Dry Tortugas from Key West to tour Fort Jefferson which happens to be the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere with an interesting history and is surrounded by a vibrant coral reef🐠

Aboard a de Haviland Otter Sea single engine seaplane to the Dry Tortugas

Ponce de Leon discovered the island in 1513 and named it Las Tortugas. Subsequently, it was named Dry Tortugas to warn mariners that no fresh water could be found. Having visited the Fort decades ago I did note some aging in some of the structure. Construction started in 1846 and continued for 30 years. It was never completed. Originally constructed to protect Gulf shipping it was soon deemed obsolete after it could not be protected by newly constructed rifled cannon.

Fort Jefferson did serve as a prison during the Civil War. It was most famous for hosting Dr. Samuel Mudd who assisted John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln’s assassin.

After what was a great day at the Dry Tortugas we returned to Key West Bight to relax and enjoy yet another happy hour. This time we were joined at the Boathouse by Dani and Chris of the Shanty Hounds. We happened to sit at the same spot where we met a couple of years ago. After sharing great food and lots of laughs we retired to our boat, just steps away from boardwalk restaurants.

Time for Sunday Brunch! Our Key West resident friend of many years Joy, whom we have know since we were teenagers, recommended Lattitudes Restaurant on neighboring Sunset Key. Formerly known as Tank Island, Sunset Key is a 27 acre luxurious island community and resort accessible ony by boat.

On our way to Latitudes Restaurant, Sunset Key

As you may imagine lunch at Latitude on Sunset Key was elegant, fabulous and made the heat, humidity and windless days of travelling a distant memory. We will be sure to return on our next vist to Key West. Thanks Joy!!

We’ll be heading north tomorrow to Captiva on our way back to St. Pete, but before we do, a visit to the Conch Republic just a few steps away from our marina was in order. We couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Dani and Chris and to let them know that we’d be back soon.

Dani and Chris, “The Shanty Hounds” at the Conch Republic

Leaving Key West is always difficult since we enjoy our stays here so much. It was even more difficult since there was little to no wind. We didn’t even bother raising the mainsail since the sea was so flat. We did get some help from a favorable current up the channel and for the first hour we were doing 7 to 8 knots!

: Sunset Florida Bay

Good Morning Captiva! Rain, rain… go away!

Listening to the engine drone on for another 24 hours we reached Captiva and headed for the fuel dock at the South Seas Yacht Harbour. We have been here several times and it’s a comfortable place for us.

Scoops and Slices at Southseas, a great spot for a sugar high!!

We relaxed for a couple of days at the pool and at the beach before making the move to our home marina. We cast off our lines at noon since we didn’t want to arrive at St. Petersburg too early and even then had some time to kill. The 96 mile journey would take about 17 hours and we wanted to arrive after 8 am.

Ten miles distant from Captiva on the intracoastal is Cabbage Key, home of the restaurant where Jimmy Buffett allegedly composed “Cheeseburger in Paradise”. Cabbage Key is really a bit of Old Florida and since it is only accessable by boat it’s not likely to change soon.

: Cabbage Cay, home of “Cheeseburger in Paradise”

We tied up at the Cabbage Key Inn dock and made our way to the Inn. Not only did we get the famed cheeseburger but we managed to kill a couple of hours.

Cabbage Key Island Inn Bar and Restaurant

The remainder of the trip dealt us heavy rain, confused 3 to 5 foot seas and general mayhem under a double reefed main and more engine time. Luckily for Robin her watches were a bit more comfortable and she enjoyed clear weather. I was heartened when I saw the lights of the Sunshine Skyway bridge, but 30 minutes later we were in a huge downpour. There is no doubt that the past 12 hours dealt us more weather than we had for the entire trip!

Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay at 0500

As the early morning hours progressed, the sky cleared and we tied up at our familiar slip in the Vinoy Marina. We took our time getting all in order, rinsing the boat, cleaning and organizing below deck and offloading a few carts of gear.

1 (5) — Safe and sound at the Vinoy Marina, St. Petersburg, FloridaI

It was a marvelous trip!

We covered 1115 Nautical Miles (1282 statue miles) over 36 days. We sailed overnight on six occasions, anchored out five nights and spent 25 days in marinas. The marina stays were more frequent due to the lack of wind to keep us comfortable at anchor.

We have sailed these Bahama trips for the last four years so I guess we earned our Bahamas degree. Our plans may change for the future. We are considering all of our options.. longer, larger and luxurious!

Thanks for following along with us. We loved having you!

Fair winds and following seas,

Captain Bobby and the Commish

Abacos, Bahamas, Great Bahama Bank

The Abacos to Cat Cay

July 23, 2018February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Ahoy Mates!

After our stay in Treasure Cay it was off to Marsh Harbour, considered the main stop in the Hub of the Abacos. There are a myriad of shops, restaurants and services there, as well as, and international airport. We were able to sail most of the 17 miles to the Harbor View Marina, right in the center of restaurant district. Perfect for fresh fish dishes and a fabulous Conch Burger.

We spent four days at the Marina using it as our home base for some touring. We sampled many of the restaurants including Jamie’s, a local spot with great food and friendly service, Wally’s with a more formal atmosphere and superb dishes and Mangoes for fantastic fresh fish, prepared with local flair. They were all excellent!

One of the truly wonderful things about cruising, is the interesting people that you meet. We were privledged to spend time and share dinner with Dr. Randy and Linda. He is a recently retired ER physician who along with his wife, Linda a former nurse are starting a new life aboard their Absolute 60, a magnificent power yacht with a grand interior. We wish them all the best and hope for an invitation to join them on that floating palace! Hint, hint…

While in the Abacos I took the opportunity to schedule a dive trip with Dive Abaco for a two tank dive at the Fowl Cay Preserve about 5 miles east. I packed up my gear and walked only a block to the dive shop.

After a half hour ride in a seaworthy dive boat, we arrived at the site on the ocean side of Fowl Cay. After squeezing into my wetsuit, gear and camera please note the back roll with ballerina-like entry!

Since it is a preserve fish life were very friendly as evidenced by “Ash” who has a way with the lady Nassau Groupers!

The dives were well planned and included many “swim-throughs” in the narrow tunnels and caverns of the coral reef. There were schools of blue tangs and yellow tail snappers along with the usual arrow crabs and colorful cleaning shrimp. Of course, the highlight was the large group of friendly groupers!

The next day we executed our plan of returning to the USA via the Great Bahama Bank. The trip from Marsh Harbour heading south around Great Abaco and to Fowey Rock south of Miami via the Bahama Bank is 225 nautical miles (258 statue miles). The weather forecast was good with light wind and 1 foot seas. Great for a power boat, not so good for a “blow boat”. We decided to cross the Great Bahama Bank and stop and anchor in Cat Cay on the west end of the Bank. This 179 nautical mile trip would still involve an overnight so we readied the sea berth, which is nothing more than a lee cloth fitted to our port setee to allow sleeping without falling on the cabin sole (floor).

We motor sailed around Hole in the Wall on the south end of Abaco and then continued west, north of the Berry Islands.

This part of the Atlantic Ocean between and the Bahama Bank is Cruise ship alley. Since Saturday is a busy day for ship sailings, we encountered no fewer than 8 cruise ships from Princess, Celebrity, MSC, Norwegian and Carnival. We have and use AIS or Automatic Identification System that allows you to identify ships and gives a myriad of information, like name and description of vessel, course, speed and closest point of approach, etc.

A.I.S. shows two cruise ships and one cargo ship at the same time…busy!

If the closest point of approach is less than one mile we always call the bridge on the VHF radio make sure that the bridge sees us and offer to make a course change. More often than not the cruise ship or cargo ship will offer to change course to avoid us!

Cruise ship travelling at night with cargo ship in background

Morning bought with it another nearly windless day and more heat than was comfortable, but the Great Bahama Bank is one of our favorite stretches of water. The water color and quality is absolutely gorgeous! This part of the trip would require travelling about 70 miles in water only 10 to 40 feet deep. As you know, as sailors, we carry loads of technical gear, tactical equipment and specialized clothing for use in specific conditions. Crossing the Great Bahama Bank on this day required very special light cotton boxer shorts, which proved perfect for a mid-morning nap!

After a day of attempting to use the spinnaker to take advantage of what little wind we had we anchored just off of Cat Cay before sundown.

We settled in for the night in anticipation of our Gulf Stream crossing. Since we had cell phone reception our weather reports were very favorable, again predicting light winds and flat seas. Oh, how we were hoping for 10 to 15 knots out of the East for a spinnaker run!

Stay tuned for the the return to our home port of St. Petersburg via Marathon, Key West, The Dry Tortugas, Captiva and Cabbage Key.

Thanks for your wishes of fair winds!

Captain Bobby and the Admiral

Abacos, Bahamas

Crossing Little Bahama Bank to Treasure Cay

July 1, 2018February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Ahoy Mates!

We left the Old Bahama Bay Yacht Club at West End of Grand Bahama with mixed emotions. The refuge of the resort was very pleasant after the Gulf Stream crossing, but the marina itself is like a bee hive. There is non-stop activity with boats and yachts of all sizes and descriptions vying for dock space at the Customs House, fuel dock or slip assignment.

With a toot from my air horn, we parted a number of boats stooging around and headed for the entrance jetty. Just like that, we were off and running north to Memory Rock so that we could enjoy a downwind spinnaker run in an unusual westerly breeze.

Crossing the 75 miles or so of the Little Bahama Bank on a sailboat usually requires a couple of stops at conveniently located uninhabited cays in the middle of nowhere.

After the wind died we motor sailed to Mangrove Cay for the night and then met the same wind conditions the next day and motor sailed to Great Sale Cay.

The anchorages at both locations were still and peaceful. Perhaps too still and peaceful. It’s tough to keep cool when the wind drops below 2 knots! We are equipped with two air conditioning units which function well with shore power, but won’t run with our batteries and solar array. We never needed a generator…until these past two days! I was running five fans, scantily clothed, but I was ungodly hot!!

We were anxious to get underway and get cool and the wind did pick up a bit; unfortunately, it was on our nose. It was more pleasant , but we still had to motor sail. We were dodging squalls all day, after all June is rainy season. Good news….SABA got a thorough wash down and all salt was removed.

After travelling an unimpressive distance of 110 nautical miles in three days, we sailed into Manjack Cay (Nunjack) just north of Green Turtle Cay where we had a slip reservation the next day. We nestled in the southernmost anchorage between Rat Cay and Crab Cay…two things you don’t want to be infested with! The wind was now 10-12 knots from the southeast and much more comfortable.

Anchor down between Rat Cay and Crab Cay

The next morning we navigated just a few miles south to the narrow entrance of White Sound on Green Turtle Cay. Passing through the narrow and shallow entrance with just 1 foot of water below our 5 foot keel we arrived at the Green Turtle Club and Marina. The Club was full and we had to wait for an hour or so before our slip was vacated. After tying up, turning on the A/C was an undescribable pleasure!! Maybe, we’ll retrofit that 4kw generator after all.

It was off to the restaurant for some cracked conch and then to the pool.

We spent our time here relaxing and, of course, a golf cart rental to check out “the town” (Plymouth) was a must. Green Turtle Cay has a population of about 450 souls, so don’t look for a casino or a disco, but there are charming shops, a bakery, restaurants and a couple of small groceries.After getting our share of rain on our golf cart outing we sampled another restaurant and were convinced that Green Turtle Club was the place to be. The staff was friendly and efficient and the food excellent. I just started a “Conch Burger Tour” and the contenders will have a tough time measuring up to the one at Turtle Cay.

1 (3) — Conch Burger Tour, Green Turtle Cay Club

Our next destination required leaving the friendly confines of the Sea of Abaco via the Whale Cay Channel which can be treacherous…not today. We checked the weather conditions and they were spot on: 8-10 knots of wind and 2 foot seas. We encountered a bit of rain, but the short trip around Whale Cay in the Atlantic was uneventful.

Soon we were back in the Sea of Abaco and in the Hub of the Abacos. Our destination: Treasure Cay. We hailed the Treaure Cay Marina on the VHF, got our slip assignment, tied up, plugged in and got settled. Now it’s off to the beach….Robin’s favorite. With it’s white, powdery sand and magnificent water color and peaceful wave action, it’s hard to beat.

We’re enjoying Treasure Cay and all it has to offer. There is a pool with it’s bar and restaurant “The Tipsy Seagull”, as well as, a coffee shop, a grocery and a laundry with drop off service….thank you very much! In addition, the Spinnaker Restaurant on the property boasts one of the only air-conditioned restaurants in all of North Abaco….of course, I made a reservation!!

The Admiral, Captain Bobby and Key Lime Pie

Come along with us as we sail for Marsh Harbor, the largest town in Abaco. With its population of 6,000 it is the third largest town in the Bahamas, exceeded only by Nassau and Freeport. We’ll be staying at a marina in the center of it all and using it as a springboard for side trips.

Have a great week sailors and lubbers alike!

Wish us fair winds,

Captain Bobby

Cast off for the Bahamas

Ahh, the Abacos, Again

June 21, 2018February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Ahoy Mates!

It is believed that Friday is the worst day to start a journey and just maybe there’s something to that old sailor’s superstition. Our preparation was total, including a rig tuning, a new furling mainsail, as our original one was a bit stretched out.

On Saba, our 38 foot Hunter sailboat, we more than doubled our solar capacity to ensure comfort and plenty of power at anchorages. In addition, we accomplished the more mundane tasks of boat ownership such as waxing, waterproofing canvas and making sure all gear was ready, including a life raft and an “abandon ship bag” that we hope to never need.

After spending considerable time and resources to prepare for our Bahamas voyage, we were ready, the boat was ready and provisioned… so off we went. We slipped our lines from our dock at the Vinoy Marina in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida at 0700 and slinked out of the harbor in a very light breeze. The light and unfavorable wind forced us to motor or motor sail through the entire 213 nautical mile trip to Marathon, Florida!

1 (2) — Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay

We arrived in Marathon very late on Saturday evening fighting headwinds on the way down… took 39 hrs. We were froced to slow down due to the wind, waves and fuel concerns.

Generally, it was a good run, but the increase in wind and sea state off of Boca Grande, Captiva and Sanibel was not predicted. When we finally arrived at the 7 Mile Bridge at O-dark thirty, it was cloudy with no moon and black as pitch. We gingerly attempted to pass between the piers of the old bridge and then under the 65 foot vertical clearance bridge and neither were lit! Approaching very slowly and even using a bright spotlight, we just couldn’t see the bridge piers on either the old or new bridge. Knowing that it is bad form to crash into a solid concrete structure, we considered the alternatives.

So after travelling 39 hours, we anchored out at a never used but peaceful spot about 1 mile from the bridge and had a good nights rest in a surprisingly good makeshift anchorage.

We made our way under the bridge and over to the Marathon Marina in the morning on Sunday.

Fabulous Key Lime Pie at Lighthouse Grille

At the Marathon Marina we took on fuel which revealed that we only had 3 gallons left…that’s cutting it close! We are having a pleasant stay and had a mechanic come out to address the aft A/C which wasn’t cooling properly. Chris from Salt Marine arrived only one hour after we called on Monday and did a much more thorough job than I am accustomed to, the aft A/C is now working well after a 2 hour flush process and refrigerant adjustment. He gave it a good prognosis…may last a few more years.

We accomplished all we intended from our short 2 day stay and took a taxi to the Lighthouse Grille near the Hyatt in Marathon. This is where we started our “Key Lime Pie Tour” through the Keys in April and I wanted to savor the pie again. The pastry crust is unusual and marvelous!

1 (10) — Fabulous Key Lime Pie at Lighthouse Grille

We are planning on leaving tomorrow at 8 am and arriving at the West End of Grand Bahama on Wednesday morning. The weather looks very favorable for the Gulf Stream crossing, 5 – 10 kts wind from E to SE and less than 2 ft seas. Wow!!

Marv FL to WE — Marv’s weather showing 5 to 10 kts wind , 1 ft seas for the Gulf Stream crossing

We use several weather sources and countless charts and guides to aid our travels along with the usual electronic aids, such as GPS, Chartplotter and radar. Especially helpful is AIS or Automatic Identification System that aids in the identification on ships over 300 tons, a must have when crossing busy traffic lanes at night.

We left the Marina at 0800 and again had to motor sail against the East wind. When we left the protection of the Hawk Channel north of Key Largo we found that Marv lied. It was blowing 13 to 15 knots out of the Northeast! Thanks Marv. The seas were confused and buffeted us around for a few hours. As the evening progressed and the seas flattened to a more rythmic 2 to 3 feet, we picked up the Gulf Stream which added over 2 knots to our speed over ground.

Alternating watches through the night, as we always do, we made great progress. Robin had the first evening watch and performed admirably at keeping us on course although the Gulf Stream was pushing us 30 degrees off course. On my watches I encountered no less than 10 large tankers and/or cargo ships. I usually give the captain a call on the VHF radio to make sure he sees us and allow at least one mile for the closest point of approach.

As dawn arrived, I saw the western shore of Grand Bahama. Through the night the wind had moderated to 7 to 10 knots and the seas were a very kind 1 -2 feet. We prepared for landfall by taking down the jacklines that we use on deck to prevent an overboard mishap, hoisting the “Q” flag in preparation for customs and immigration and preparing lines and fenders for our tie up to the Customs Dock.

1 (12) — Azimut, my upscale neighbor. This could be yours for $4 million!!

The West End is a very busy port with many visitors from Florida here for pleasure boating and fishing…me, I fish at Publix! Navigating though Customs and Immigration took a relatively painless 20 minutes and a very painful parting of $300 in cash for a Cruising Permit, but you know me…I don’t complain!

We took our time to enjoy the Old Bahama Bay Resort and Yacht Harbor and relaxed on the grounds and by the pool… “Another Bahama Mama!”

Well, it’s time to prepare for a more relaxing kind of trip. From here on out we plan on sailing for the most part. We expect westerly winds tomorrow which should give us the opportunity for a great spinnaker run.

We’ll be anchoring out over the next three nights until we reach Green Turtle Cay, where we’ll catch up with you again.

Until then, wish us fair winds and following seas.

Captain Bobby and the Admiral

Gulfcoast Florida

SABA returns to the Gulfcoast

July 27, 2017February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

Saba carried us a total of 1,210 nautical miles (or 1390 “land” miles) over the past 36 days. The Admiral and I enjoyed 14 ports of call and plenty of adventure along the way.

We sailed through the night on five passages sharing watch every 3 hours or so to enable visiting the more distant spots. As you may imagine, travelling on a modest sailboat sharing about 300 square feet over a five week time span is something few couples could accomplish. Let’s just say my first mate is tolerant…

Leaving the Conch Republic of Key West with the promise to return soon we headed north to Captiva Island for a few days of vacation from our vacation at the South Seas Island Resort . The 330 acre resort offers a beach, pool, golf course, dining and a myriad of activities. It’s a spot we often visit when we want to indulge ourselves a bit.

After reharging, we returned to St. Petersburg via Venice spending a night at the Fisherman’s Village Marina and enjoying dinner at the Dockside Waterfront Grille.

Safely tied to our slip at the Vinoy Marina in downtown St. Petersburg, we were already planning our next adventure on SABA. We were delighted to have you aboard and hope you’ll travel with us again soon.

For now, I’m preparing to check off another item on the Bucket List…I leave for the Kingdom of Tonga on Sunday. Tonga is an archipelago in the South Pacific about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.

Tonga is austral winter home of several hundred humpback whales who leave Antartica and arrive here to calf and mate. I guess we’re in for some whale voyerism as these giants perform courtship displays and mating rituals….I’ll try to keep out of the way of these 50 foot giants as I try to capture the action. Wish me well!

The sea hates a coward.
– Eugene O’Neill

Hope to have you aboard soon.

Captain Bobby

Mary

July 27, 2017

Richard and I have loved hearing your adventures. In a way I envy you both. (Only I would need a bigger boat, ship size lol).
I am excited to hear all your trips now and in the future. God bless you both in all your adventures.

1. Captain Bobby
  
  July 30, 2017
  
  Thanks for coming along. Hope we sail together soon!
  
Conrad Bernier

July 27, 2017

OK, so which is it, Admiral or first mate? Thanks for sharing. Awesome adventure.

1. Captain Bobby
  
  July 30, 2017
  
  Both! Glad you enjoyed the trip.!!
  
Temple

July 27, 2017

Absolutley wonderful log Captain Bob, I am jealous of you both!

1. Captain Bobby
  
  July 30, 2017
  
  Thanks Temple, love to have you sail with us sometime.
  
Ed Goff

July 28, 2017

You will be going to our old stomping grounds, sort of. We lived on the island of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands (north of Tonga) from 1981 until 1998.

1. Captain Bobby
  
  July 30, 2017
  
  I’ve been to Kwajalein as well, but only as a stopover on the way to Truk Lagoon. Leaving today at 6 pm for LAX then Fiji and Tonga.
  
Jane Castle

July 29, 2017

Bobby and Robin, it was a pleasure traveling with you! Your blog is so well done and the accompanying photos are absolutely beautiful! Tonga here we come — can’t wait to see the humpback whale photos — just be sure to get out of their way! Love, Sister Jane