Greetings from Wales

[petegriffiths]

Greetings from Wales and Hello to all on Cruiser Forum.
Right now we've not got a boat but here's a little bit of history. So what follows is a wall of text:

Quite a while ago we (my wife Caryn and I) were liveaboards on a Sailboat for around 7 or 8 years. On our first extended cruise we sailed in the UK and visited France and the Channel Islands and onto Spain and Portugal then out to Madeira and The Azores before returning to the UK.

After that shakedown we went south to Spain and Portugal again and then to the Canary Islands before crossing to Barbados and sailing the islands northwards as far as St Martins. From there one hop to Newport RI which we used as a base to explore as far north as Cutler, Maine. In the Autumn we went south, through New York, offshore to the Delaware, up the bay and through the canal into the Chesapeake. South on the ICW to Beaufort NC, then offshore to Charleston because of the depths on the ICW. I should mention that our draft was around 7 foot maybe a bit more. Continuing south on the ICW as far as Palm Beach Florida where we again went offshore this time to Fort Lauderdale.

You must I guess, realise that I'm a bit long in the tooth now because we left for our Atlantic crossing on my 40th Birthday in 1983!! So some things might have changed since that time but we had no problem on the ICW with our draft and also anchored every night on the way down.

We were in Fort Lauderdale for a few years worked at a few odd jobs but we were offered positions as Captain and Mate on a 72foot Burger. We tried to get our green cards and the owner pulled a lot of strings and even tried his congressman but all to no avail. We worked on the Burger but lived on our Yacht except when we took the owner out to the Bahamas, down to the Keys or, on one occasion, north to New England (they didn't enjoy it much).

We took our yacht over to the Bahamas several times as far south as Great Exuma, Rum Cay and San Salvador. However to cut a long story short we eventually sold our yacht in Fort Lauderdale and returned to the UK.

Subsequently at different times we have been sailing in Greece but this year we chartered a Yacht in the BVIs and the 14 days there re-kindled my passion for sailing and boats. Such that I'm mulling over in my mind whether we can realistically return to the liveaboard life. Probably at our ages it's not a wise thing to do but you can always dream can't you?

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy and Ahoy Pete and Caryn! Welcome Aboard CF!

I enjoyed reading your detailed story of your Cruising history. No need to avoid details and length if well written as yours was, as details are what help others have more understanding.

Your experience will be a valuable addition to this online community.

Bon Voyage on the Forum!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Pete.

[boatman61]

Welcome to CF Taff..
Only you can know if its good for you to venture out again.. if your both fit and able why not.. age is but a number and if you check out the membership there's a few 'Numbers' out there..

[JPA Cate]

Hi, Peter, nice story.

Sure, you can come out again, especially if you both want to. You may find that there are a number of things you will do differently, now, to make things easier on you and your good lady's bodies; and we're not driving the boat as hard as we used to, either. I am 78 and Jim is 80, and he is the more fit of the two of us.

As Boatie said, no one can tell you--especiallly your family; it is a decision you two will come to together, and have an eye towards maximising the experience.

Ann