Portsmouth, RI to Antigua

Plans are made to be broken, especially on a cruising sailboat.  Our original plan included sailing to Virginia to join the Caribbean 1500 Rally.  From there we would have sailed in company with other boats to Nanny Cay, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.  Picture rum punch parties on the beach and custom embroidered Rally polo shirts for the crew. From there we were to have sailed leisurely around the Caribbean, arriving in St. Bart’s for Thanksgiving with dear family friends. Then on to Antigua to meet up with the Oyster World Rally.

Well, we’re still on the dock in Rhode Island.  During routine pre-departure servicing, it was determined that our second Whisper Generator failed and that the exhaust system was the probable reason.  We also had some wiring issues.  Scramble to acquire a new generator!  Another Whisper?  No thanks.  There isn’t a big selection of marine generators that will fit in our boat.  We now have a reworked exhaust system, a new Northern Lights gen, and we’re rewired to USA specifications.  The good news was a great family Thanksgiving in Connecticut with Ken’s bro Phil, sister-in-law Barb, niece Casey, and our Laura & Matt.  Then we headed to the Cape for a couple of days with the kids. 

A big, heartfelt thanks to all the people at New England Boatworks in Portsmouth,  to Will White – Oysters’s local rep - who once again has gone above and beyond and is considered one of the crew, whether he likes it or not, and to everyone at Oyster who has bent over backwards to get us on our way. It truly lifted our spirits to know people were pulling for us.  

So, here’s the new plan.  Hank is back from his Florida trip. Altair was short hauled for a bottom wash, and some new zincs.  Kem, our additional crew for this long, cold leg, arrives Wednesday morning.  Bless him for his flexibility and patience.  Looking nervously at the weather, hoping for a window.  We’re looking at about 1600 miles from Rhode Island to Antigua.  The forecast is for some pretty heavy winds.

Thursday, December 1st ALTAIR is outta here!