Departure San Juan, PR and Culebra

Raised the Blue Peter, after some last minute teething issues. Supplies and fuel loaded and departure at just before sunset from San Juan with Nick and Steve aboard. We head out to sea and tack thankfully to a ENE we made our way up the coast to the San Juan Passage just before the Cayo de Icacos. Upon crossing into the island region we proceeded past palomino Island and tacking up through the protected waters under the cordillera and the barriles made our way to Cayo Lobo and Lobito, past Isla de Pena against an ESE and down to Culebra to anchor and for some R & R at the Ferry entrance bay. Unfortunately despite numerous attempts found the bay to have very poor holding, we moved on to the south of the island up into Ensenada Honda to anchor. Heading out tomorrow to the sail through the Virgin Islands and onto St Martin.

Freebooter Preparing to Depart

Yes the time has come, Freebooter is preparing to Depart again fro the Lesser Antilles on the weekend of the 17th of July 2015. Expected Destinations include St Marteen and Guadeloupe,  although possible stops at  any of the following St Barts, Saba, St Kitts and St Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua & Barbuda. The adventure awaits...

Freebooter is back

So Freebooter has been living a protected life in the marina the last few months so been taking her out for a turn in the Bay of San Juan and a stay on a mooring, and on Friday Freebooter left Harbour again for the high seas... Sailing the north eastern half of Puerto Rico, along with  the Icacos Cayo and Palomino Island. Our ultimate destination Puerto del Rey in Eastern Puerto Rico. Islands have provided a lovely if not long needed respite, albeit much work in the week ahead, as Freebooter will be careened, polished primed and anti-fouled for another year of sailing adventures. Hopefully, also resolve some lagging issues and give Freebooter some much needed TLC. Also took the latest addition to the Flotilla, TT2 (Tender To Freebooter 2) a snappy little 8 foot hard dinghy, with oars and its own little mast and sail set to hit the lesser seas for a spin to Palomito Island just off Palomino Island (an area surrounded by reefs to shallow for Freebooter). In short its been a lovely trip, Freebooter has been keeping up good form, and crew have been great fun, weathering all and complaining none, so definitely on the list for new adventures this year.

Piratey Xmas Wishes

A little Xmas Song for Ye all

Piratey Xmas

Virgin Gorda

So after some brief rain squalls headed out from road town harbour,  tortola, for the Sir Francis Drake Passage, tacking between the channel islands (Salt, Copper and Ginger islands) to Spanishtown on Virgin Gorda, our last island before heading to Anguilla. we explored Spanishtown and watched the semi-finals at the bath and turtle. On Sunday morning headed up to North Gorda Sound, a protected area of water between the islands of Mosquito, Prickly Pear and Virgin Gorda. After a few issues bringing up the anchor we had a lovely sail up the west coast of Virgin Gorda before tacking into the North Gorda sound.  Once in the Sound  we took up a mooring for a couple of nights right in front of the scenic island resort of Saba and just a quick row away from the infamous Bitter End yacht Club. Will be watching the quarter finals of the world cup on tuesday, before heading off across the Anegada passage to Anguilla and St Martin, which will mark our official entrance into the Leeward Islands.

Tortola and Jost van Dyke

First stop of the Caribbean cruise. Sailed from San Juan, (two large tacks into the Atlantic across the top of Puerto Rico and the islands to the virgin islands. Sailed past St Thomas and St John to Jost van Dyke for overnight and to clear customs. Following day ran the passage of Tortola to sail into anchorage in the capital Road Town. Chilling out to catch the football game and see off our third crew member (Steve) who joined us for his first overnight sailing trip. Hope he gets back ok. One more day and off to the islands again.

Freebooter 2014- Caribbean Cruise

Well finally the time has come- Freebooter is on the move again after a nice year doing small trips around San Juan. With great Forecast Freebooter and her crew, both new and old, will be heading out to the British Virgin Islands and then on to selected Islands of the Leeward Island Chain. In short after a brief trip to Tortola, we'll go where the wind takes us to enjoy the fruits of sailing the Caribbean.

Plan departure date is the morning of the 28th of June, and cruise is anticipated to last approximate 15 days. Further photos, and adventures will be posted as the journey unfurls...and as contact with the civilization, dictated by the access to the internet, allows.

Wishing everyone fair winds and a following sea...