Bermuda Rally completed

[Oldrig]

Hi All:

Here's a preliminary report:

S/V Isabelle, a Cape Dory 33, cleared customs in Westbrook, CT. at 1830 yesterday, after completing a round trip to St. George's, Bermuda. After 17 days on the boat (this figure includes several on a slip at Greenport, NY, and five tied to the dock at the center of St. George's), I'm still sorting out the experience.

I should be posting some kind of summary of the trip later.

In essence, the trip was all downhill on the way to Bermuda (it took us 5 days, although we allotted 6), and all uphill/upwind on the way back (it took us 7 days, including one that was, for all intents and purposes, lost in the Bermuda Triangle).

The experience taught me a lot about myself, about the rugged capabilities of Cape Dory boats, about seamanship, about offshore sailing and about the many, many moods of that magnificent three-quarters of the globe that is covered by water.

It was a memorable trip--I've always dreamed of making a long offshore passage--and we were a surprisingly well-mixed crew.

While I'm not sure that a CD33 qualifies as a "SailFar" boat, Isabelle was the smallest boat to take part in this year's Bermuda Cruising Rally; after the almost constant beating we took on the way back, I'm not sure I'd want to make such a passage in anything smaller (such as my own CD25D).

All I can say to those dreaming of heading offshore is: Do It Now!

I waited until I was almost 63, and I wish I had done so earlier in life.

More details will follow, once I've digested my notes and memories.

Best,

--Joe

[Bubba the Pirate]

Can't wait for further reports! 

Always good to hear good things about CDs.  Mines a 28, so I'm right in between yours and theirs.   :o) 

Cheers,
Todd

[s/v Faith]

Congrats Joe,

  I look forward to readning your write up.  :)

Some pictures might be nice too.  ;)

[Jim_ME]

Joe, I've been wondering how your passage was going...

Your trip and comments remind me of reading about Nathaniel Herreschoff's similar voyages to Bermuda a century ago in his 26-foot Alerion sloop--with only a cuddy cabin.

Congrats on your voyage. Looking forward reading more about it, too.

-Jim

[Tim]

Looking forward to more, thanks Joe

Tim