Island Spirit 2014-2015 Winter Plans

Team Island Spirit will be starting our 4th year of cruising at the Annapolis MD Boat Show Oct 9-13, 2014. After the boat show we will head south with the flock of boats, and several IPs. Our Buddy boats will be IP38 MOONDANCE with owners Bob and Nina and IP380 PRIORITY with owner Reuben onboard. We will take the AICW, The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway South to Florida.

We will spend time (lay days) in:
Portsmouth VA
Elizabeth City, NC
Oriental, NC
Beaufort NC
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Charleston, SC
Vero Beach, FL
Biscayne Bay, FL
Florida Keys

Once in Florida, we plan to re-explore Biscayne Bay and the keys as well as the west coast of Florida where we hope to reconnect with Buddy boat IP420 FLATLANDER, Alan and Kathy, and others. After some time on the west coast returning to Palmetto, Sarasota, Fort Meyers Beach, Marco Island, and maybe the Dry Tortugas. Then we will prep for the Bahamas as we move back around to the east coast again.

This year, we may just simply return to the ABACOS via West End, Great Sale Cay, Green Turtle Club and the WHALE to Marsh Harbor and the JIB ROOM. Once there we will sail to Hope Town and climb that beautiful lighthouse and enjoy the peace and calm of the ABACOS. Life is easy there.

After spending springtime, mid March and April in the Abacos, we will look for a weather window to make the run for the Chesapeake Bay, our home waters by the third week of May 2015. (We need to make a family vacation end of May)

This is our over all plan for this year. A review of many of our favorite places we have found, and a return to re-discover the beauty and fun of these area. We also want to reconnect with many IP owners. So many places, so many IP owners to connect with along this cruise.

We look forward to connecting, and sharing some harbors with you. We also invite you to sail along any part you can. We could get a fleet together and all head to the Abacos for a month. It is easy, it is close, it is beautiful in the springtime. If you go to the Bahamas in the winter, Dec-Feb, then you need to go SOUTH at least to Georgetown to get below the winter cold fronts. If going to the Abacos, then it is best to wait until spring and go in March and April and May. But then again, May is the best time to head up the East Coast, so you need to plan your Abacos exit back to the coast.

Here is a picture of DA PLAN for 2014-2015. We hope to see you along the way.

Hayden - sounds like a good plan, covers some serious territory. There's a chance we'll see you down there next Spring. We're planning to depart from Maryland some time in March and head straight for the Bahamas. Will head south from there for hurricane season and return to the Exumas the following Fall.

Tom and Cheri:

We hope to connect with you both. The Exumas are so beautiful. We have sailed the Exumas for two winters and we really like it. The Abacos are so much easier and just as fun, so we are planning a review of that area.

If you go south for Hurricane Season from the Bahamas, where will you go? Grenada?

We like to be back in the Chesapeake Bay for Hurricane season, plus it is home to us and we really like spring and fall on the bay. Running MD to Florida is 25 days of moving south, or about 5 days offshore. We like the diversity of the AICW. It is very fun.

Hayden

Hayden:

Please print out the pdf of the Soundings article and give a copy to Jeff Forbes if you get to Hope Town Light. I had emailed him one, but don't think he got it.

-- Steve

Team IS:

Planning on a stop at HCC?

We'll get the boat there in November - going non-stop 3 days from Beaufort - then head back to SC for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We'll be back at HCC for New Years.

Team Far Niente

Yes, planning to stay in Grenada. Cheri retires this December and I leave my job in March so this will be the start of our cruising. Hope to stay in the Bahamas/Caribbean for several years, maybe longer, before heading over to the Pacific. Right now just hoping to get going!

We have both lived in Maryland for many years. I was born and raised here, moved away for 25 years, and then came back and remembered just how beautiful this area really is. We love being on the Bay but are more than ready to finally get out there and go cruising. Chompin' at the bit! 181 days, 14 hours, 9 minutes, 26 seconds. I hope this time thing slows down after we depart.