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This log is current through November 7, 2004 October 30, 2004 about to depart for the British Virgin Islands (photo). Pioneer and 45 other sailboats will leave from there on Sunday, November 7, weather permitting and be at sea about two weeks enroute to Tortola. Ours is one of the smallest of the 46 boats participating. If we arrive in Tortola ahead of anyone, we’ll feel we won! October 31, 2004 sailing south in the Chesapeake November 3, 2004 in Hampton, Virginia Notice that from that point, our destination was 1,344 nautical miles. That is 1,540 statute miles -- and the actual trip will be more than that due to weather, wind and currents. It was a great relief to leave Solomons after so many months of planning and hard work. Don’s hands and feet look like he was involved in a terrible fight that he lost! At sunset, 65 miles later, we pulled into Deltaville, VA to drop anchor for the night. This photo was taken the following morning -- proof that sailing has some moments that can’t be realized in any other endeavor. Deltaville is a quiet little Virginia town on the Chesapeake, and a favorite stop for sailors who want to quiet place to stop for a day or two. The next morning, reality set in, and while motoring on the Chesapeake (there was no wind, as you can see by this photo), an altern Another lesson learned. We have a large second alternator on the engine that is driven by two belts. Somehow, the last time they were changed, we managed to select to belts with the same number, but different brands. Big mistake. Notice Don’s smashed thumb and bruised finger. That too is sailing! Then right away we had another problem. We had the autopilot on, and noticed that it was steering Pioneer all over the bay. We couldn’t imagine what on earth the problem could be, until Becky solved the mystery: Canned Goo She had stored cans of food in a recess underneath the setee in the main salon, near the fluxgate compass. The metal in the cans affected the compass, forcing us to choose between food and the assistance of the autopilot! That problem was resolved by removing the offending cans, and we were again tracking straight down the Chesapeake, as you can see in this photo. Notice the dinghy in the bottom of the photo. It hangs from “davits” when sailing or motoring short distances in calm conditions. But because we were concerned about the security of the rings from which the dinghy is lifted, we fitted a yellow safety belt. Go We will miss the Chesapeake. Lighthouses like this one are classics -- and provide guidance to wayward sailors to this day. We owned our first boat on the Chesapeake, and the Bay has been a fascinating temporary home, when we’re not tromping through the jungles of southeast Asia. We’ll miss the Chesapeake, but look forward to the challenges of a long ocean passage to Tortola, BVI in the Caribbean. We’re finally in the Caribbean Captains and crews of the 46 Caribbean 1500 boats are registering and attending seminars on first aid, navigation, weather, boat preparation and Gulf Stream status. Every sailboat is being very thoroughly inspected. We continue to work on the boat. It never ends. Today’s Bad News: today’s forecast predicts steep 24 foot seas on our scheduled departure day, November 7. No way we’re heading into THAT! Special personal note to Brin Luther of Leesburg, VA and Becky’s parents Harlene and Leroy i November 7, 2004 in Hampton, VA Photo: Becky reviews weather charts for the coming week. They show a disturbance over Haiti and the possibility of very high seas over much of our 1,700 mile route to Tortola. The Rally is on hold for at least Even though we aren’t leaving yet, we had our Going Away Dinner anyway. Seen here is the John Marshall family, living proof that ocean sailing isn’t just for adults. The family is featured in today’s Hampton newspaper. The largest sailboat in the fleet is 62 feet long -- a huge marvel of high tech innovation. At 38 feet, our Cabo Rico is one of the smallest. We may lack built-in generators and a water maker, but when we get to the islands, the sunsets will be just as beautiful to us. We had our very thorough safety inspection yesterday. The required equipment list is extensi These are a few safety items, including red parachute flares that reach 1,000 feet in the air and burn for 40 seconds in the case of a mayday emergency. Pioneer has never been so shipshape or well stocked. It seems like the work never ends, but it shouldn’t be long before we put all the preparations to the test. Sure hope so, our budget doesn’t include daily fees at high-end marinas. One troubling note: Against the recommendations of offshore forecasters, two boats resigned from the group and departed yesterday. One is a brand not known for offshore capabilities and the Captain and crew are only minimally experienced. The current forecast for the route shows winds building to 50 knots directly from the direction they will be trying to sail. Those of us awaiting better conditions are concerned. November 9, 2004 On Our Wa After we arrive in Tortola and update this website, the next log will contain a daily report of life at sea. We anticipate times with light winds and beautiful seas, and others that are very difficult. We hope you will follow our continuing journey. In our five years of continuous travel (as of December 11) this trip in our 38 foot sailboat/home is by far the most challenging thing we have done. We are very enthusiastic, and somewhat intimated. The Caribbean 1500 will post daily position updates for all the boats. We are officially the slowest of the 46 vessels, so expect to see Pioneer at the end of the pack. There will be links on the Caribbean 1500 website (www.carib1500.com) NOTE TO FAMILY: These position reports are collected via shortwave radio. There may be periods when conditions don’t allow that communication and Pioneer (or various other boats) won’t be listed that day. That does NOT mean anything is wrong. People ask why we do these things. It’s more than a search for perspective in the world’s nooks and crannies. It’s a search for ourselves. We have found that when losing sight of the land, we learn at lot about who we really are.
We send our love to friends and family, and to all those who have followed our adventures and offered support over the years. We’ll report again from points south. |
Preparation for the 
ator belt broke.
ds.
od thing. Upon arrival in Hampton, Don found the lifting rings almost ready to fail, and repaired them.
1500 staging area in Hampton, Virginia.
n Belle Fourche, SD: Thank You! Your yummy cookies arrived today. We and the two women who have joined us for the challenging and long sail to the Caribbean will think of you every time we brew a cup of coffee and grab a couple of your cookies to make it through a night shift.
three days. From our perspective, better safe than sorry -- especially as Pioneer is one of the smallest vessels in the fleet.
ve, keeping some boats from joining the rally.
y