This will be our final travel update. With all the uncertainty of the year, we can’t be more pleased with how it all turned out. On March 12th, we had entered French Polynesia on a 3 months visa. We were able…
Author: Bill J
“Nothing goes to windward like a 747” …and a Sevenstar freighter
We have finally settled on what seems like a good plan to complete our Verbena live-aboard trip. All international boarders on our route to Australia remain closed due to COVID-19 with no set opening date and our original 3 month…
Tahiti and Moorea as Restrictions Ease
Over last few months, we have been part of French Polynesia going from full, strict, almost military style lockdown to becoming Covid-19 free and effectively back to life before the restrictions – except that the borders remain closed to foreigners.…
“On a boat, going to the southern islands . . .”
Setting out today! Two of Boston’s finest sailors – Dave Kohn and Mike O’Brien – are joining us for our longest passage of our voyage, Pacific passage of 3000 nm from the Galapagos to the Marquesas. We set out with…
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos had always been one of the ‘must do’ destinations along our route. The thought of sailing through the same waters as Charles Darwin and experiencing all the island wildlife was too tempting to pass up. During our…
Feb 2 UPDATE – Through the Panama Canal
Feb 2, 2020 UPDATE – We made it through the locks to the Pacific Ocean yesterday. Here’s a time lapse video montage of our transit through the Caribbean side locks: Jan 31, 2020: Pansit (Panama Transit) Day In Brexit fashion,…
Atlantic 2019 – Chained to the wheel
16 days and 3045 nautical miles after setting off with the ARC Rally from Las Palmas we crossed the finish line at St. Lucia. All of us were relieved to have completed this difficult passage. We were anticipating a long…
Off to the Carib
We are off today for the St. Lucia. It is a festive scene here with music, goodbye’s and good drama watching boats all get off the dock at the same time. The departing forecast calls for us to take a…
Atlantic Prep
Before we knew it, the Atlantic Crossing – 3,000 nm over 2 to 3 weeks – is upon us. Since arriving in the Canaries we toured Lanzarote and Fuerteventura by land and sea and then headed off to Las Palmas…
Lisbon – our last European mainland port
Lisbon was a transition point in our Verbena adventure. Since July the four of us on Verbena have been traveling on our own. We met up with some past European friends and made some new ones, but all our sailing…