Plymouth, Mass, USA. The first landing of the New World!

After 2 days of strong winds straight across the Gulf of Maine, we made safe harbour in Plymouth, the first landing of the Mayflower. A lovely harbour, with a great Harbour master's office (who have been most helpful) and we've got a great mooring out front of Plymouth itself. Passed immigration today and currently cruising this lovely traditional US town. Also got to meet our new crew member, and we are all excited about our next trip; to cruise around Long Island (New York City) for a compulsory sail around the statue of Liberty and then sail for 10-14 days sail down the coast to Fort Lauderdale.

Overnight stop Lockport

After a night and morning of rain, fog and slight variable winds, decided to make harbour at Lockport, to refuel and catch up on some sleep, before making the crossing over the Gulf of Maine for the North Eastern US coast. It was an interesting entrance to make in the fog, blind not even seeing the cans on entrance and relying soly on the Canadian Nautical charts and GPS for entrance through shallow shoals and breaking rocks. Thank goodness for our colleagues in St John's lending us his comprehensive charts of the southeastern Nova Scotia or the entrance would not be possible. A nice day, albeit overcast, although promising favourable easterly winds and the warmer weather of the more southern latitudes Next Stop Plymouth

Halifax- The Doorway to the South

Landed all safe and well into Harbor at 4 am this morning. A well lit Harbor, with wonderful protection up the northwestern arm, where we were able to anchor off for a good night (or mornings rest). Resupplying, checking weather and getting in touch with future crew members on the old wifi... fresh fruit and bread, a habit we got into after St Pierre where we were spoilt with leaving presents of Lobsters, crabs, french bread and homemade jams. Lovely sunny day today, so we put everything out and took a mooring closer to the shopping center at the end of the northwestern harbor arm. We will head off at day break tomorrow for a sail to Plymouth, our intended first port of call in the US of A. Good weather forecast and favourable winds for Wens and Thurs that will give us good headway at the Gulf of Maine. Have crew member requests coming in thick and fast but we have a couple of excellent candidates that hopefully will be joining us in Plymouth/New York for the sunseeker run... Wishing all fair winds and following seas...

St Pierre et Miquelon, Viva la France

And so the second phase of the journey begins St John's, Canada to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We traveled 3 days against the wind and fog to make St Pierre, on the day of St Pierre the Patron of the Island and Patron of Sailors. So we were welcomes by the local residents in great style, fine french bread and wine. Also first and last time to fully recharge batteries on 240 V system, dry out the boat and crew and to bid Europe a final adieu in North America. Also a great opportunity to catch up on some long needed sleep in a fully protected harbor before setting off on our long awaited rendezvous with the more southerly latitudes and summer-like climes. St Pierre was so much more than I ever expected and was so welcoming its actually hard to leave. Alas a timetable to meet and southern climates to look forward to when all the crew are rested and well prepared. Next stop Halifax.

Sunseeker Run- St John's, Canada to San Juan, Puerto Rico

So the next adventure of Freebooter and her wily crew has been set... Puerto Rico or Bust!

Having endured the northern latitudes, with the cold summer weather and the warm lovely people, we turn our gaze, and our bow, to the southern latitudes... 

The Pirate waters of the Caribbean, beacon the intrepid Freebooter, with blue waters, corals and warm weather. So off south we go, leaving today from the rugged beauty of the natural Port of St John's, Newfoundland (Canada), to the misty netherworld of Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) for the first step of our southern run. 

The long term plan is to go to New York, sail around the statue of Liberty sail down the east coast of the USA to Fort Lauderdale. That's the quick run, which will give us more time to then head southeast into the Bahamas and ultimately Puerto Rico at a more leisurely (and scenic) pace.

Of course we will be sailing, as usual, the wrong way, against predominate winds and ocean currents, all the way to For Lauderdale, USA, but then again... whats the fun in doing it the "normal" way!

All systems are running and the Blue Peter has been raised, and again St John's brings out the sun for our departure...

Landfall in St John's, Newfoundland, Canada

Freebooter and crew make Landfall in St John's ! We've done the Nth Atlantic crossing. Crossing the Atlantic the wrong way! 30 days and 2900 nautical miles later! Hurragh! Amazing finish to the trip, 3 days of heavy fog, sailing blind, to hear a fog horn, and then to see the cliffs either side of St John's. An incredible safe haven and welcome relief for a tired boat and crew.

So in the end the Cabot run, due to storms and time constraints was not really viable. Instead we ran before the storms, headed south under the low systems and back up to Canada.

The Cabot Storm-Runner Run across the North Atlantic is now at an end. Subsequent journey and route are currently being planned, in the next week the journey south, to the warmer latitudes of the Caribbean.

And the Freebooter adventures continue....