In early May, I flew to Boston from Sint Maarten to meet our latest grandchild (the first boy after 3 girls) and to attend one of our granddaughters birthday parties. Andrew stayed in the islands for another week or so to wait for crew and prepare for sailing back to the USA (Newport specifically, via Bermuda). As I recall, they had a relatively uneventful trip but you’d have to ask Andrew to tell you more about it.
In June, I drove to Newport to join Andrew and take our eldest granddaughter out for a day sail on Billy Ruff’n for her 10th birthday and then to help move the boat to Belfast, ME, where we were to leave it for the month of July while we tested our latest theory about sailing.
You may have heard the old saying that nothing goes to windward like a 747? Well, on July 13th, we flew to Scotland and after touring Edinburgh, Glencoe and Glasgow by car, we joined the Cruising Club of America in Oban and sailed on the amazing Blue Clipper, a three masted gaff rigged schooner, to the Isles of Skye, Mull and through the outer Hebrides! It was fantastic!! I think we are finding that flying to all the places that we still want to sail and chartering will be less expensive, more efficient and just as fun as sailing our own boat!
However, are still enjoying the boat this summer, sailing with one of our sons and his wife as well as other friends in Maine. We will be hauling her in Belfast in September and considering our options for next season.
