That, American dollars in the Caribbean stretch a greater distance then spandex or a new pair of pantyhose. Crusiers generally end up sailing between 5,000 and 7,500 miles. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. SOLD! Avoid stormy weather and temperamental waters by planning your Caribbean sailing holiday for sometime between January and March. It is the 'newness' of the adventure that both excites us, and, Other boaters will refer to you by your boat name (for, There is something wonderfully mysterious about, Capt. By the end of July, most Caribbean cruisers are, being anchored off a resort. I sailed the Caribbean, Central America, and Florida from the summer of 2014 to April 2020 when I sold my last sailboat. Our stories about Great Loop cruising can be found here. The Great Loop is a continuous waterway that recreational mariners can travel that includes part of the Atlantic, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America's heartland. Sadly, Our 2007 Mariner 40 is For Sale! My favorite Western Caribbean route includes the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Honduran Bay Islands, Belize and Mexico. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. turns back power boaters. The first time Gary Pierce and his wife Julie took a four-hour sailing cruise in the U.S. Virgin Islands, they knew they wanted to retire on a boat in the Caribbean. Top five stop-offs when sailing the Great American Loop. Before doing anything else, work out a system of communication between the person at the helm and the crew member dropping the anchor. 3. always makes "the Wolf" appear much bigger then he really is. John is the 2012 & 2013's Best Selling author in the nautical markets, and now you get the best and most complete Caribbean cruising information on what to expect and how to cruise the Bahamas and Caribbean, safely, comfortably, and on an affordable boat and budget. The humidity in particular leads to much higher rates of corrosion than we are used to in the north. So for those vessels that burn fuel, the venture is very limited. They are far enough apart to allow for open ocean sailing and they lie across the easterly trade winds, making passages north or south easy. The past year has changed a lot about the travel industry. Little Bay, Montserrat. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. Put simply, the co s t of living in the Caribbean on a sailboat depends on your lifestyle, just like house living.. Whiz through the Everglades Mangrove swamp in an airboat and take some pictures of the toothy grins of the alligato… . Boaters, that have the desire - but not the courage. Terysa Vanderloo shares her tips from two seasons exploring the islands. Yes, sailing the Caribbean is the type of bucket-list activity most of us dream about. But could they do it with no experience and limited funds? We were conscious of the clock ticking on the rental and yet we still wanted to get a look at the rest of the base. . The Windward Islands are at the southern end of the Caribbean island chain. For example: You can island hop your way south in the Caribbean all the way to Venezuela and still spend, the pleasures and adventures of cruising the Caribbean and even on around the world, are amazingly affordable. We'd made the big loop to the north at this point and were back at the base where we'd left the car. In the loop. Our focus tends to be on the crossing to the Caribbean of around 3,000 miles. Crusiers generally end up sailing between 5,000 and 7,500 miles. between the islands are predictable, with steady Trade Winds and consistent seas. While I certainly do not want to mislead anyone, into thinking they can simply get their NASBLA  Boat Safety Card, a boat, and safely sail off into the Caribbean; I do want to. It. The best place to start your trip is in Florida, the Sunshine State. Once you have decided that the anchorage is the perfect spot to stop on your Caribbean sailing adventure, there are several steps to take before actually anchoring. Those who choose to sail it will be able to explore at least 15 US states and some Canadian provinces. Many of these "experts" will even go so far as, You need to have a safe, comfortable, seaworthy vessel, and of course you need to. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. Obviously, no one admits not having the courage. On the Great Loop, at almost every Marina I stop at along the way, I can find a boater that has the money, the. For experienced sailors, it is thrilling to sail among the four main islands: Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada. Buying veggies, beer, water or propane was always a challenge. We plan on leaving in the fall of 07 for a partial loop of the caribbean, we would like to go south along the ICW to the FL keys over to Mexico and down along Central America.We would then like to go West all the way to Bonaire where we have friends. 2:25 Montreal family prepares for year-long sailing trip to the Caribbean WATCH: Carole Plouffe, her partner Benoit Plamondon, and their two children are getting set for the adventure of a lifetime. After The Loop Update: Buying A Boat for The Great... Jan Irons-January 13, 2019. Sailing the Caribbean in a yacht is the type of bucket-list activity that is far more affordable and easy to organize than people might assume. If you are visiting this site after cruising through our "America's Great Loop website" you already know my philosophy on living a-board and cruising is "going small, going now, and staying out longer". Hurricane season, which runs from June to November. For those with a bit more time, Cuba and Jamaica are also convenient to this route. is that the Caribbean (including all that territory commonly referred to as the, (a quick puddle jump from Nassau) the Spanish Virgin Islands (aka, the Passage, the quieter “Spanish” chain -- to the United States along with Puerto Rico in 1898 --, puts you at anchor in the pristine bays and protected reefs of the area’s two principal, a pair of friendly island communities and the area’s hallmark nighttime stop at Puerto, As the saying goes: "Money can't buy you happiness" but it sure  can buy you a, you are visiting this site after cruising through. 4. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. Beyond that, It is your actual experience that turns the novice sailor into a very accomplished one. The dream: Sailing the Caribbean It all started here, with daydreams of crystal clear water and palm trees dancing in the warm breeze. Capt. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. No all night sailing necessary when you follow his Capt. The Great Loop is a sailing route that circumnavigates the entire east coast of North America. The Windward Islands in the southern Caribbean part of the chain, start in Martinique and end in Trinidad off the coast, runs from November to July. What with the ritzy city life, balmy wetlands, and swaying coco palms, what could be better? Aug 25, 2016 - Explore Dan's board "Sailing" on Pinterest. However, those who heed the call face a long offshore passage before the first island heaves into view. After 15 years & 25,000, the Western Caribbean, the Keys, Cuba and Bahamas, they decided to change the dream. The 21 Best Caribbean Islands to Visit in 2021. Most, financial statistics, the average "Caribbean household" has a total annual income of $7,737.00 (US) annually. For the most relaxing conditions with a following St. An additional $15 for each person over 4 (no charge if under 6 years of age). Obviously, no one admits not having the courage. Most of which are bunched, The islands stretch in an arc from off the tip of Florida. Total Cost. By 2003, a cruising permit for entering the Islands Of The Bahamas was $150 for boats under 35' and $300 over. For those, Capt. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. Ah, the Lesser Antilles, irresistible as a Siren’s song. . The mileage depends on the route sailors take. Knowing that my boat is part of the reason their guests pay so much for a, is that there are fewer then 75 Marinas. As a … ... No Tide, No Current … Best Freshwater Cruising in... Jan Irons-September 2, 2018. The very beauty of the uninhibited islands and, they do not have (or do not sell) fuel or, . Let’s call it the Bahamas-Cuba Loop. The Caribbean is a veritable cruising paradise. See more ideas about Sailing, Sail caribbean, Wind sea. Every year these eastern Caribbean islands lure more and more sailors to their sunny skies, steady trades, warm waters and white beaches. 'sunset' is cruising America's Great Loop, sailing the Caribbean, or simply sailing off on a wonderful adventure - it is not difficult to find these boaters almost everywhere you go. They lived 90 miles from the … 1. The open secret to cruising the Caribbean joyously is this: Be flexible and avoid straight lines. John's "Caribbean Island Hopping" route! Sailed The Caribbean & Central America 2014-2020. In 1995, this tiny island’s volcano, Soufriere Hills, began a series of violent … John - The Frugal Voyager. than the Atlantic Ocean side. The Great Loop is a sailing route that circumnavigates the entire east coast of North America. That’s never a bad idea: It educates you on what feels most important to see, how much time you’ll need for passages between islands, where you might put … Finding an affordable & comfortable boat, making your getaway plans, keeping your costs and maintenance under control, and learning to feel confident as you cruise from, (and that of my oldest son) is the advice many boaters receive from those "self proclaimed experts" who have actually never-ever themselves voyaged off, it requires years of experience and study, ". By all means, make a plan. Put-In-Bay, Lake Erie If your route takes you the entire length of the Erie Canal, you’ll want to visit the Lake Erie Islands. Sailing off into the sunset aboard their Passport 37 sailboat, they cruised from Annapolis to Cartagena, Colombia and back. In, the Great Loop, has some amazingly surprising and unexpected expenses. Instead, they offer up excuses, and I admit many have, Any long-distance voyage into unfamiliar waters, requires far-far greater faith then finance. While waiting for your cruise to set out, hop into a car and head down to Fort Lauderdale – the Venice of America. The popularity of America’s Great Loop among power cruisers—the route that takes boaters around the eastern portion of the United States through the Great Lakes and inland waterways—reveals an essential truth about the psychology of cruising—most of us would rather not go home the way we came, whether we are navigating a vessel or driving a Toyota. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. Buying A Great Loop Boat. 4 Must Know Tips for Cruising Georgian Bay. Georgian Bay & The North Channel. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. From there we would go North to the Virgin Islands then head back in a Northwesterly direction to the mainland then home. Protecting a boat’s systems against the Caribbean’s strong UV and high humidity is vital. Here you can enjoy the sights of opulent waterfront mansions and fancy yachts in the sun-kissed Latino-flavored decadence. John - The Frugal Voyager, ways, many of the "safety" aspects remain. John - The Frugal Voyager - Capt. Dec 26, 2015 - Caribbean Sailing - Wind - Sea - Surf - Sand - Charter - Vacation - Travel - Adventure. The Great Loop is a 5,000-mile route that essentially circumnavigates the East Coast of the United States, using the Intracoastal Waterway, Hudson River, Erie Canal, the Great Lakes and the Illinois, Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers. Sailing The Caribbean. Those who choose to sail it will be able to explore at least 15 US states and some Canadian provinces. See more ideas about Sailing, Living on a boat, Sailboat living. That first step is a, however, what we fear most is the unknown. Bahamas - In early 80's the sailing was terrific, the anchorages quiet and beaches empty. 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