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December 2002:
I will be down in The Grenadines
between December 15 and 31. Round Man and I are joined by
four new “Pledge” Suspects, who will be shown all the
ropes. The educational process will involve preparation of
Rummers, BS-ing, Happy Hour, snorkeling, relaxin’, limin’,
BS-ing, and tanning. Anybody planning to be in the area
should sent me a note - sharing a Rummer in the same anchorage
is never a bad idea.
The January 2003 Update will be
released January 5.
The Dudes Cruise
II has been officially booked for The Grenadines April 26
through May
5. Hervé has secured a Sunsail Bahia 46, I have
booked The Usual Suspects, and at this time we are trying
to trick JD into taking a week of owner time in The
Grenadines. It looks like fellow Dude Dr. Ray is
in, as well as several of the usual Usual Suspects.
New to the mix are TTOLers
Carol and Danny Cox. What we are really looking to do is
form a flotilla. Anybody interested in joining this fun
bunch on a guided cruise through The Grenadines should contact
me for details. Discounts on charter boats can be
arranged.
Canadian Derek Hatfield
has almost completed the second leg of the 2002 Around Alone Race, aboard his Open-40 Spirit of Canada. As of
December 1,
Derek was 300 miles out of Cape Town, South Africa, near the end
of Leg 2, solidly in third place. We spoke with Derek via
SatPhone recently at a Yacht Club function and fundraiser, which
netted Spirit of Canada some extra funds to cover some
unexpected costs needed to improve his competitive
position. You can follow Derek’s progress on this
amazing race on the Spirit
of Canada Website.
The Suspects
The Experiences
 December’s
Background Photo features Boat Boy Andrew Douglas,
a.k.a Mr. Nice Guy, from Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau.
He insisted on having his photo taken with the spear gun,
despite my suggestion that it may not be perceived as the the
best form of friendly advertising. Only after reading this
month’s Boat Boys of St. Vincent and St. Lucia
feature by Harman Stinson where Cowboys were introduced
did the full humor of the situation present itself.
November 2002:
Rumors of the Dudes Cruise
continue to circulate on the TravelTalkOnline
BVI Forum. We are no longer certain what is true
anymore! Nonetheless, we are all having a lot of fun with
it. This month features the second part of the two-part
series, specifically focusing on my impressions of The British
Virgin Islands. I am certain there will be more discussion
over it on TTOL.
Canadian Derek Hatfield is well
into the second leg of the 2002 Around Alone Race, aboard his Open-40 Spirit of Canada. As of
November 1,
Derek was in fourth place, just 249 miles behind the leader, off
the coast of Western Sahara, Africa. The fleet was forced
to duck into port in Portugal last week for several days to
avoid a massive Atlantic storm. You can follow Derek’s progress on
the Spirit
of Canada Website.
The Adventures
 November’s
Background Photo features the beach and anchorage at
The Baths, British Virgin Islands, one of the great Caribbean
experiences.
October 2002:
Well, the Dudes Cruise
is now in the history books. From September 12 - 22, I joined
fellow boat owner Hervé Liegeois aboard Mama
Cocha for a week in the British Virgin Islands. I had
hoped to have the story out by October 1 but I had other
priorities - it was released October 14.
Canadian Derek Hatfield has
begun his quest to win the 2002 Around Alone Race
aboard his Open-40 Spirit of Canada. The start took
place September 15 in New York City. As of October 1,
Derek was in second place in the middle of the Atlantic, under
some appalling conditions. Follow Derek’s progress on
the Spirit
of Canada Website.
The Adventures
- Of Cats and Boys
- Four Dudes, two hulls, one destination. This is the true
story of how a stockbroker, a Navy media specialist, a
podiatrist, and a telecom consultant joined forces for the Dudes
Cruise in the British Virgin Islands. Joint
exercises of the Canadian and USA Olympic Bullshitting Teams
were completed with plenty of incidents. Find out
about the beaching of Mama Cocha, boarding important
vessels, keeping clean in a thunderstorm, swimming with
marine life, Painkillers & Bushwackers, and recovering
from DIFSA. It’s all here.
The first of a two-part
series.
-
“Twice
as Spectacular” - Terry Shuster and Kristin
Hunter return to The Grenadines for a second time in August
of this year, completing back-to-back ten-day charters
aboard a Jeanneau 42 and Beneteau 50. This report
provides an up close and personal account of their unique
experience with the people of The Grenadines.
 October’s
Background Photo features Mama Cocha on the
beach during the Dudes Cruise at Sandy Cay, British
Virgin Islands.
September 2002:
"Mama Mama Cocha
I have heard you call
Wanted to sail upon a Lagoon
since I was three feet tall"
From September 12 - 22, I join
fellow boat owner Hervé Liegeois aboard his Lagoon 410 Mama
Cocha for a week in the British Virgin Islands.
Joint exercises of the Canadian and USA Olympic Bullshitting
Teams are scheduled. Joining the USA effort are JD Leipold
(also a charter boat owner of Beneteau 40CC Daix
Dream with Sunsail), ex-navy working for the Navy
internal newspaper, and Dr. Ray, a podiatrist from Atlanta,
who will be studying the potential beneficial effects of
Painkillers and Carib being consumed barefoot on the beach on
foot bunions. Authorities have been alerted.
You can follow the preparations
online on TravelTalkOnline
(look for “Dudes Cruise” and/or Mama_Cocha over the
past month).
Yacht racing season is still
going strong, and despite the distraction, I have managed
to produce the second installment of the Destination:
Abaco Experience.
The Experiences - Destination:
Abaco. A description
of the experiences to be found in this out-of-the way paradise
of a hundred or so islands and cays hidden away in the northwest
reaches of the Bahamas. This second of two installments
includes the Treasure Cay and Green Turtle Cay, as well as the material in Adobe Acrobat
(PDF) format.
 September’s
Background Photo features a spectacular aerial shot of Man-O-War
Cay in The Abacos from five thousand feet.
August 2002:
It is hard to believe that I
have completed my third year with The Usual Suspects.
The Boat - Charter
Boat Ownership - 3rd Year Anniversary Report - Report on
charter boat ownership of The Usual Suspects after three
years in operation. It was the best year yet!
The Adventures - Garrett’s
New Zealand Adventure - Mom Julie Hughes recaps
micro-suspect Garrett Holmes’ first sailing
adventure away from home as he takes on the Harauki Gulf in New
Zealand.
August’s
Background Photo features an aerial shot of the
Blue Lagoon in St. Vincent, where The Usual Suspects is
moored.
 This
is how I saw my boat for the very first time three years
ago. Sitting in the co-pilot seat of a private aircraft,
we made a low approach over the Lagoon, dipped the right wing,
and I was able to spot her tied to the dock. What an
incredible way to be introduced to your new boat!
July 2002:
Yacht racing season is in full
swing, making it extremely difficult to write material dedicated
to sailing. I have somehow still managed to produce the
first installment of the Destination: Abaco
Experience. The second installment will be available
September 1.
The Experiences - Destination:
Abaco. A description of the experiences
to be found in this out-of-the way paradise of a
hundred or so islands and cays hidden away in the northwest reaches of the
Bahamas.
Note that the the
Treasure Cay, Green Turtle Cay, and Other Anchorages sections as
well as the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format of this feature will be
released with the September 1 update.
 July’s
Background Photo features the magnificent Sea of
Abaco on a bright sunny day.
June 2002:
There are so many great websites
out there dedicated to cruising and having fun on the water in a
warm place. It is time that The
Usual Suspects paid tribute to these efforts in the form of
a list of Favorite
Links.
The Experiences
-
Favorite Links
- A comprehensive list of some of the best non-commercial websites
that feature original material dedicated to enjoying the good
life.
- Bone
Up on Local Lingo - Before you go on your next
Caribbean trip, practice the local lingo so you can really
fit in.
 June’s
Background Photo features Prime Suspects Ted
Reilly and Gord Paperman out for a morning stroll on Tahiti
Beach, Elbow Cay, Abaco.
May 2002:
With the memory of my two weeks
in the Bahamas with longtime pal Ted Reilly still fresh on my
mind, there is still much to tell. Buckle up.
The Adventures - Part
2 of a two-part series - Ted’s
Excellent Adventure -
The official account of Ted Reilly’s
journey to paradise, from the pen of your most trusted
source, a Prime Suspect.
 May’s
Background Photo features Ted Reilly aboard Highlander
on another fine morning anchored in Baker’s
Bay, Great Guana Cay, Abaco.
April 2002:
I have just returned from two weeks
in the Bahamas assisting longtime pal Ted Reilly deliver his PDQ36 catamaran Highlander
from Marsh Harbor to
Marsh Harbor. This update is dedicated to that adventure.
The Suspects - New Prime
Suspect Ted Reilly is welcomed
to the fold.
The Adventures
-
Ted’s
Excellent Adventure -
The official account of Ted Reilly’s
journey to paradise, from the pen of your most trusted
source, a Prime Suspect. (Part
1 of a two-part series.
- “Another
Great Adventure” - Robert Sherer writes about his
return to The Grenadines for the second time in two
years. On this excursion, Robert and his guests
enjoyed a more personal relationship with many of the
locals. Endless snorkeling and great dining capped
off a perfect trip.
The Experiences
- The Charter Vacation - Trip
Preparation - This article first appeared in March
2002. Update includes Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version for
printing.
- Experienced bareboaters Pat and
Jere Lull share their valuable Bareboating
Tips with readers. Topics include packing,
dress, responsibilities, comportment, provisioning, yacht
selection, and departure procedures.
- The
Beerfort Scale - Learn how to tell the strength of
the wind by its effects on your favorite beverage.
Posted by Dann Porter on the rec.boats.crusing newsgroup.
 April’s
Background Photo features the magnificent harbor of Hope
Town, Elbow Cay, Bahamas, taken from the top of their
world-famous lighthouse.
March 2002:
Off to the Bahamas to
assist longtime pal Ted Reilly deliver his PDQ36 catamaran Highlander
back to Canada following a relaxing winter in The Abacos.
Fellow Suspect Paperman and I are scheduled for the first
and most perilous leg of the delivery - from Marsh Harbor to
Marsh Harbor... !
I received the following final
instructions over the Internet from Ted:
Suspects - I
haven’t researched the
Marsh Harbor pubs yet, but unless you hear otherwise, I’ll meet
you Feb23 in Mangoes about 12.30. Cheers, Ted
I have always wanted to write an
article on trip preparation, and given that is what I am doing
right now, it seems fitting:
- The Experiences -
The Charter Vacation - Trip
Preparation - The
Suspects share a few tricks they use to prepare
for a trip on the boat. Topics include itinerary
planning, provisioning, packing, and budgeting.
 March’s
Background Photo features The Usual Suspects
at Barefoot’s
dock in Blue Lagoon, being loaded, and loaded, and loaded...
February 2002:
Despite the unseasonably warm
temperatures we are experiencing in the northeast part North
America, many of you are in the process of heading down to the
Caribbean. What better way to spend a few weeks in the
dead of winter than on a boat, Rummer in hand, the crystal clear
waters just a step a way? See you down there!
This month:
- The Experiences
- Second major update to the Destination:
The Grenadines and Boat
Boys of The Grenadines features. The information
has been re-written for some of the destinations, and
brought up to date (as of December 2001) for all others. The
latest Boat Boy information is also reflected in this update.
- The Suspects - Minor updates to
crew biographies to ensure that a consistent state of
non-factual information is misrepresented. Includes links
to the new Crime
Scene
website, created in December 2001 to keep readers updated on
the status of Weeeeeenton’s
J35 racing program.
- Toronto single-handed sailor
Derek Hatfield is gearing up for the 2002 Around Alone
Race, schedule to start out of Newport on September
15, 2002. For eight months, Derek will battle the fierce
winds, waves, and temperatures of the Southern Ocean, all by
himself, in his quest to be first. Derek has been a friend
of the Suspects and the Toronto sailing community for
many years. We wish him all the best in this difficult
challenge. This website will be following his progress right through to
the finish, in a special Spirit
of Canada section.
- The Adventures -
Update to December
2001 Adventure - The Paradise Routine. While
touring Bequia, we discovered a piece of space junk washed
up on the shore with the logo “Nilesat” painted on the
side. I have since confirmed that it was from
the Egyptian satellite Nilesat
101, launched on April 28, 1998. This update
contains photos of the original satellite and its launch
vehicle just prior to liftoff, providing an interesting
before/after comparison.
- The Boat - Charter
Boat Ownership - Coping With Hurricanes is now available
in Adobe Postscript (PDF) format.
 February’s
Background Photo features a spectacular double
rainbow at sunset on the Tobago Cays.
January 2002:
Happy New Year 2002! I hope 2002
works out better than
2001. It just has to. My New Year’s resolution is
as follows: Sail More, Work Less.
I really stuck it to Bin Laden,
Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban. While they were buried deep in
the rocks at Tora Bora trying to frighten the world with their
diabolical plots, I fought terrorism with a Rummer on the
transom of my boat. It worked. As I grated nutmeg
over a fresh beverage, Kandahar fell and Mohammad Omar was
busted.
World famous Basil’s Bar
on the Island of Mustique celebrated its 25th year in operation
in December 2001. This establishment, which has played host to
the rich and famous over the years, did it up right with a
week-long series of parties.
The Adventures - December 2001
Adventure - The Paradise Routine - Trips to
The Grenadines go so smoothly now that paradise has become
routine. Find out the most recent happenings in paradise,
from the Boat Boys to Mayreau highway construction to space
junk. Follow the Suspects on their Pilgrimage to
Mecca - a visit to the Mount Gay Rum Distillery in
Barbados.
 January’s
Background Photo features a late afternoon view of the world-famous Basil’s
Bar, strategically located right on the water in beautiful
Britannia Bay on Mustique. Over the past 25 years,
thousands have enjoyed a magnificent sunset from this very spot.
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Last Updated: January 11, 2003
Copyright © 2003 |