Miami, FL to Fresh Creek, Andros, Bahamas

On Sunday, 12/12/11 we dinghied to Miami Marina to get some engine parts, and saw a mama and baby manatee right from the marina dock. Stayed at our South Beach anchorage on Tuesday and Wednesday, then moved to Marine Stadium anchorage on Thursday. The Marine Stadium was built in the early sixties, and big name concerts would play there- Jimmy Buffet and the Grateful Dead, etc. You could sail your boat in and listen to the show right from your boat at the anchorage. It closed in the eighties, and now skateboarders use the roof to skateboard. We finally got a forecast of settled weather and left for the Bahamas on Friday, 12/16/11 at sunset- motored into the wind and across the gulf stream. We passed the north side of Bimini at sunrise. We continued to motor SE across the bank toward Andros, anchoring on the bank on Saturday night. Motor-sailed to Andros the next day and went through customs at Morgan's Bluff. We took a long land excursion on Monday to check out Nicholls Town. On Tuesday morning we went to see Uncle Charlie's Blue Hole. Andros island is full  of blue holes, which are vertical caves filled with water, hundreds of feet deep. That evening, Leiby received a call from Pop with the tragic news of his older brother Steve's sudden death. The next two days were spent trying to make arrangements to get back for the funeral. Besides the weather being against us to get to Nassau for a flight, we discovered all the marinas in Nassau were booked solid through the holidays- we literally could not find a place to leave the boat. We regret that it is not possible to get back in time for the funeral tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time. Yesterday, we motor-sailed on a port tack south through the Tongue of the Ocean to Fresh Creek, Andros. Pictured: the manatee and her baby; the Marine Stadium; Trilogy anchored in Miami; sunrise entering the Bahamas with Bimini on the right; Captain Hard-ass, who helped us secure our boat to go through customs; Conch salad; Uncle Charlie's Blue Hole.

St. Augustine,FL to Miami, FL

On Tuesday, 11/29/11 we departed Rivers Edge Marina in St. Augustine, FL- fueled up and got an 11:00 AM opening of the Bridge of Lions. Headed out St. Augustine inlet and travelled south on a beam reach, 15K wind with a double-reefed main and the cutter sail- a wet ride- sailed through the night. We continued under sail on Wednesday on a starboard tack until the wind swung to the north and then died at around 5:00 PM. Motor-sailed until around 1:00 AM Thursday when the wind picked up again- NW 10-15K, starboard tack with just the jib, until we reached the gulf stream current close to shore- had to motor-sail again to maintain 5K of speed. We entered Lake Worth inlet (Palm Beach area) around 8:00 AM. Took a bus ride to West Palm Beach and a long walk around. On Friday 12/2/11 Leiby rented a car and drove Glen back to our car in St. Augustine. We almost had a head-on collision on Saturday in the rental car when a car being driven with the hood up and chased by the police came straight toward us, the wrong way in traffic. It certainly is scarier on land than at sea! On Saturday night we saw an elaborate, lighted Christmas boat parade. We stayed in Palm Beach, waiting for the weather to settle until Tuesday 12/6/11. We took a couple of walks around the perimeter of Peanut Island- a nice park walkway. We left Tuesday night around 5:00 PM and sailed on a port tack until the wind died and then motor-sailed through the night. On Wednesday, 12/7/11 we anchored next to the Venetian Causeway in Miami around 11:30AM. We have been enjoying our time in Miami- getting repairs to our dinghy engine, doing other boat maintenance, provisioning and having a package delivered from home. We are waiting for a weather window to cross the gulf stream to go to the Bahamas. Pictured: Glen and Leiby offshore; approach to Palm Beach; approach to Miami and me in front of the hotel Jer and I stayed at 2 years ago in South Beach.

Home

We spent most of the month of November circmnavigating the outer banks and spending time with family over the Thanksgiving holiday. We were on our way to help Captain Keith deliver his boat, MAJJIK III to the BVI when weather conditions and mechanical difficulties caused the trip to be cancelled- we ran out of time and wouldn't have been able to make our scheduled flight back. We did circumnavigate the outer banks- went offshore overnight in a gale (from tropical storm Sean) and entered the ICW at Beaufort, NC, travelling north and returning the boat to Worton Creek, MD. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Jerica's house which included a nice mix of both Jerica and Brian's relatives. Yesterday we drove our car to St. Augustine. Glen accompanied us- he will spend a week with us on Trilogy and then drive our car back north. Pictured: Captain Keith and the Leibensperger girls with the turkey.

Baltimore, MD to St. Augustine, FL

We left Anchorage Marina around 1:00pm on Sunday, 10/16/11 with a SW wind. Sailed out of the Potapsco River and tacked down the Bay. Anchored on the Magothy River around 6:15pm. Our new crew on this leg of our journey is Iris, the cat. The next day we sailed and then motor-sailed to the Solomons. Saw many other migrating "snowbird" sailboats cruising their way southbound. On Tuesday, we sailed, then motor-sailed, then motored, then sailed down the Bay to just off the Piankatank River-Milford Haven, a nice private anchorage through the swing bridge just south of Gwynn's Island. The next day we mostly motored to the Poquoson River and found another private anchorage in Chisman Creek. We stayed there through Thursday to let a cold front pass and to prepare the boat for an offshore passage. On Friday, 10/21/11 we had a nice broad reach, starboard tack sail to the end of the Chesapake Bay. We encountered a warship leaving the Bay and a submarine entering the Bay passing each other. We hove-to just north of the Bay-Bridge Tunnel to let them both pass. We sailed south in the ocean down the coast of the outer banks. Wind was 5-10 K variable all night. The wind picked up around 6:00am Saturday- 10-15 K around Cape Hatteras. Sailed directly downwind- wind increased 15-25 K with 3-5 ft waves which were very close together. We had a double reef in the main which was pancaked to the spreaders by 6:00pm. Overnight wind increased and we were dealing with 5-7 ft. waves on our stern- a crazy ride all night and into Sunday. At around noon, the wind decreased to 10-15 K from the NE, but the waves were still close together- about 3 second intervals. We had a lot of porpoises running with Trilogy that day. Conditions calmed after 9pm- started the engine to keep up 5-6 K speed. On Monday 10/24/11, the wind picked up again around 3:00 am and we were able to turn the engine off and sail comfortably on a starboard tack with just the mainsail until morning. The wind shifted to the N and then NW, 10-15 K with 2-4 ft. seas- a truly beautiful and most enjoyable sail. It was a bright , clear sunny day and our wind generator was working away. We are also pleased with our autopilot since we refined it. We decided to keep sailing until we could hit a class A inlet in the morning- St. Simon's Sound, which leads into Brunswick, GA. We sailed, then motor-sailed SW to Georgia with a N wind. On Tuesday, 10/25/11 we arrived at our anchorage south of the marina on St. Simon's Island at around 10:30am. Stayed here two nights- dingying into the marina and a public dock to go to town. We decided to leave on Thursday morning but had S wind, so we motored down the ICW into Florida, anchoring at Fernandina Harbor. We left early the next morning and motored again- good speed, mostly with the current- all the way to St. Augustine and anchored by the Castillo de San Marcos fort. Yesterday morning was rainy (we hear it was snowing back home!) We requested an 11:00am bridge opening- the Bridge of Lions. We motored south, then up the San Sabastian River to the River's Edge Marina, St. Augustine. What a great marina- close to town, well protected, deep water and a very friendly and helpful dockmaster. We rode marina bikes into town this morning. Trilogy will spend a month here while we rent a car to travel home to be close to my father, who is having surgery tomorrow, to help our good friend Captain Keith deliver his boat to the BVI and to spend Thanksgiving with family. Pictured: the stone wall built by Leiby, Uncle Dan and me while Trilogy was in Baltimore; Iris on the boat; the submarine and warship in the Chesapeake Bay; at sea, Cape Hatteras light in the background; helmswoman at sea; doing dishes; starting a night watch; Poirpose video; derelict boat in Fernandina Harbor (good thing he's got his anchor down!); ashore in Fernandina Harbor; Trilogy anchored at Fernandina; at the Castillo de San Marcos fort; me, stopping traffic on the bridge; Sunday morning bike ride.   

Long Island, NY to Baltimore, MD

After waiting out Hurricane Irene in Three Mile Harbor, Long Island, we had a nice sail wing and wing to Montauk on Monday, 8/29/11. We did run aground on our way through the shallow channel, but we were able to get off ourselves. On Tuesday, 8/30/11 we departed Montauk at 9:00 AM and motored all day and through the night toward Cape May. We arrived in Cape May on Wednesday evening and anchored by the Coast Guard station. On Thursday, 9/1/11 we motored through the Cape May Canal, up the Delaware Bay and through the C & D Canal, anchoring on the Bohemia River- an 80 mile day. On Friday, 9/2/11 we reached our current location of Baltimore, MD. Trilogy will spend at least the month September in her home waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Pictured: Trilogy in her slip during Hurricane Irene; Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean; Atlantic City as seen from the ocean.

Scituate, MA to Three Mile Harbor, Long Island, NY

We returned to Trilogy early Wednesday morning, 8/17/11. Spent that day doing boat work and getting provisions. On Thursday morning we motor-sailed 3 hours to Dorchester Bay. Anchored in a mooring field- Leiby dinghied in to pick up Jerica, Jenna and Vanessa, who met us for a daysail. Sailed into Boston Harbor, back out of Boston Harbor and around the Boston Harbor islands, anchoring for a few hours at Georges Island. Leiby and the girls toured Fort Warren, which Leiby says is an incredible masonry structure. Sailed back to Dorchester Bay, dropped off the girls, and anchored there for the night. On Friday 8/19/11, we had an invigorating over 6 knot close-hauled, starboard tack sail to Cape Cod, Provincetown- an extremely colorful town with lots of different kinds of people. On Saturday we went into town and to the beach. Leiby toured the Pilgrim Monument. On Sunday 8/21/11 we had a long motor day dead into the wind through the Cape Cod Canal to the Elizabeth Islands, anchoring in Hadley Harbor. We were close-hauled all day Monday, tacking back and forth across the wind with multiple sail changes: full main, reefed main, jib sail, cutter sail- we worked hard for our destination of Block Island, anchoring just before 6:30 in Great Salt Pond. On Tuesday we took a long walk on Block Island, buying lemonade from several kids along the way. On Wednesday we sailed close-hauled on a port tack- wind was clocking around to the south. Our original destination was Montauk but we ended up at Shelter Island, anchoring in Coecles Harbor after beating into the wind all day. On Thursday we decided we needed a safe place to be for Hurricane Irene and made reservations at Gardiner's Marina in Three Mile Harbor, Long Island, NY near East Hampton. Yesterday, we motored to Three Mile Harbor and anchored. We dinghied into shore and took a long walk to East Hampton. This morning, we motored to Gardiner's Marina and completed our hurricane preparations: removing sails, canvas and clearing everything off the deck. We are as ready as possible for Hurricane Irene. Pictured: Jerica, Vanessa and Jenna on deck; The girls in Boston Harbor; the Pilgrim Monument; Underway; the southeast lighthouse on Block Island; the sky in our backyard.

Home

We had a wonderful time back home. Spent the first 3 nights as guests in Jerica and Brian's home, then 2 nights at Mom and Dad's. Leiby had some work to do while I went to Wildwood with family and friends. We are driving back to Scituate tonight with Jerica and Jenna, who are spending a few days in Boston. Plan to meet them in Boston on Thursday for a day sail. Pictured: Our gracious hosts, Jerica and Brian; our other gracious hosts, Mom and Dad; Brother Lou and Martha; Tasha and Nikki; Coral and John

East Penobscot Bay, ME to Scituate, MA

After leaving Castine, we travelled south and then east around Islboro Island. We enjoyed a nice, starboard tack sail through Gilkey Harbor to Pulpit Harbor. We anchored just off the entrance of Pulpit Harbor in a place known locally as Cabot Cove. We spent 2 nights at this anchorage, walking into town on New Haven and doing some boat work. On Saturday, 7/30/11, we had a rare NE wind and we were able to sail most of the way to Boothbay Harbor. Motored through the Townsend Gut and anchored just past the swing bridge in Hodgedon's Cove. On Sunday, we got an 8:30 AM bridge opening and motored back through the Townsend Gut to Boothbay Harbor, anchoring in Mill Cove. We were in our dingy after picking up some haddock for dinner, when Leiby spotted "Aquila" on a mooring. They already knew we were in Boothbay Harbor, as they had spoken to other boaters from the Chesapeake Bay who Leiby had met earlier in the day. We went aboard for some pre-dinner refreshments. On Tuesday 8/2/11, we left early, motored west through fog and anchored around 11:00AM at Jewell Island. On Wednesday, our friend Glen was due to join us for a few days so we anchored at Peaks Island until we heard from him that he had arrived in Portland.We then motored into Portland Harbor and Leiby rowed the dinghy to the pier, picked him up, and rowed back to Trilogy. We again anchored at Peaks Island for the night, and left early the next morning for a beautiful wing and wing and then port tack sail past the Isle of Shoals to Rockport, MA. We tied to a floating dock at the Sandy Bay Yacht Club. We left the next day around noon, anchoring in Hull Bay in the evening. On Saturday, we mostly motored SE to Scituate, MA and got a mooring at the Scituate Launch Boat Club. They were having a Heritage Day festival, and we walked through town enjoying the music and food. The boat will stay here for 12 nights while we go home for work and family functions. Missy drove half way through the night and picked us up for the ride back to Doylestown. On Monday, we attended the Leibensperger family reunion at Knoebels Grove.  Pictured: Leiby in Boothbay Harbor; Barb and Rich aboard Aquila; Glen in Portland after his long bus trip travel day; No all night parking in this area of Rockport, MA; Glen makes it to Rockport, too; Leiby and Glen on a wall in Rockport; Trilogy under sail- photo taken by Glen, who was sent adrift in our dingy, "Skippy"; Missy picks us up in Scitiuate, MA; Leiby makes friends wherever he goes; Pop and Julia on the train ride at Knoebels