Epilogue

Capt. David and his boat.

     I am happy to say that we went the whole week without any major mishaps.  We never ran aground, or into another boat.  We did not get any lines caught in the prop.  We didn't put the wrong fluid into the wrong tank.  We didn't drag anchor.  We didn't run down the batteries, clog up the head, or run out of fuel, or water.  Or beer.

       But that's not to say that the crew didn't get a few "boat bites" along the way.  Most of us have shin bruises, head bumps, and such.  Caroline twisted her ankle the other day as she descended the steps and tripped on a piece of bimini frame that was NOT supposed to be there.  Joan got conked on the back of the head with the boom.  I got a good whacking from a lazarette hatch.  But we all wear our wounds proudly!

       It also bears note that for an entire week, not one razor touched any hair on any part of anyone's body, neither male nor female.

Joan: no longer afraid of heeling!

      Plus, Joan conquered her fear of heeling.  That's my gal!

Mitch was our diligent book-keeper

       Let's talk about monohulls versus catamarans, and why the latter are so rare up here.  The following is just my opinion:  First off, cats are generally preferred by the chartering crowd; but I think a lot of potential charterers are scared away by the cold water - they like to swim and snorkel.  (They don't know what they're missing!)  

      Then there's the depth factor:  the water here is always deep, partly because there are no coral reefs (coral doesn't grow in cold water).  So this negates an advantage of cats, which generally have a shallow draft.

       Finally, I think it's just a sailing culture thing.  In the Caribbean, it's all about the PARTY aboard once the anchor is down, and face it:  a catamaran is the ultimate party boat.  But up here, it's all about the sailing, and "serious" sailors sail monohulls, and the heeling comes with it.  And yes, monohulls can generally tack upwind better.

       So what's next?  Clearly, I am a irreconcilable sailing nut, always looking ahead for my next adventure on the water.  Our bareboat charters have, so far, happened every other year.  But maybe we could do it again in 2016.  Stay tuned!