It’s been a whirlwind of a week, mostly spent on “project JACE”. Just a bit of time left to loop the island once, check out a couple of beaches, take a dip in the ocean, visit a parrot sanctuary (Karin’s favorite), and hike up the highest peak of the island with a majestic view of the lagoon (including our new pride and joy).

Last night we had a chance to say thank you and goodbye to our broker Tony and to meet his lovely wife. Now we are aboard our flight back home, terribly delayed and concerned about making our connection. Fingers crossed.

We’re happy and a bit frazzled. We just bought a boat. OMG! Now what?

The weeks to come will be very busy. There is a lot of paperwork awaiting, completing the purchase, registering JACE with the US Coast Guard, registering the VHF, AIS, and EPIRB with the FCC, setting up insurance, and – oh yeah – figuring out how to pay for this lovely lady. And there is probably more. Definitely more.

Hurricane season is coming. Currently JACE is safe on her mooring in the lagoon of St Maarten. But she can’t stay there.

I will wrap up work by October, which coincidentally is also the end of hurricane season. Peak cruising in the Caribbean is Nov-Mar. That is the window we are looking to hit. So what until then?

The plan is to sail JACE south down the chain of the Lesser Antilles all the way to Grenada which is considered to be outside of the hurricane belt and approved by the insurance companies. There we will take her out of the water and, until October, store her on land, “on the hard”. Cheaper and safer when unattended during rough weather.

Initially we thought we could make that a leisurely cruising voyage for Karin and I. But we just don’t have the time. Instead we hired a delivery skipper who will help me bring JACE to Grenada in just a few days of nonstop sailing. It will be mostly reaching (the wind forward of the beam) and not the most comfortable sail and probably somewhat exhausting with just two aboard standing watch.

The delivery skipper, Brad, was Tony’s recommendation and as it happens is the same guy Jeff had hired to help him bring JACE up to St Maarten just a couple of months ago. He knows the boat well which makes things easier and he can help me get my arms around everything. And he is a big fan of the boat and excited to have a chance to sail her again. “She is such a great boat”, he says when I talk to him on the phone, with his lovely South African accent. I instantly like the guy.

While I am a bit intimidated, I am really excited and looking forward to this first trip experiencing JACE in her element. Expect a couple of detailed updates from me starting in less than three weeks.

It will be busy until then and you might not hear much from us. But we will keep you posted. Promised!