Hello From The USVI

[Cats Eye]

Hello everyone!
I am Kirsten. i live in the Virgion Islands on my Athena 38 Catamaran with my husband dave and 2 dogs Bandit and Smokey. we have been living aboard for about 6 years now. 2 of those years have been on this boat.
Dave gets to retire in 18 months and we are preparing for the crusing lifestyle. We are getting very excited and a little nervous.

look foward to chatting!

[GordMay]

Greetings, and WELCOME aboard, Kirsten & Dave (& Bandit and Smokey).

Having lived aboard for so long, you’ll have a large head start on most new cruisers!

Hope you find lots to interest & inform you here – and places to share your knowledge and wisdom

[Hud3]

Hi, neighbor! Well, a day's sail away is still a neighbor, right?

Welcome to Cruisers Forum! That 18 months will go by quickly as you get ready to cruise. There's never enough time to get it all done, so you just set a date and go. What are your cruising plans?

[Cats Eye]

Thanks for the welcome!

We are gonna head North (East Coast) first for about 1 year or so. We have family that we would love to spend some time with. Then back South to the Islands. I will probably work durning the season here and head down island for hurricane season. This is what we are thinkinh anyway. things can always change.
We are in the phase of "setting" the boat up. Getting all the spares and radar, SSB ect... This next 18 months is going fast already!

[scallywag]

Welcome Aboard Kirsten & Dave,
Yes, 18 months will go by fast, just do not think about it. May your winds blow fair.
John

[Cats Eye]

Thanks John!

[Soft Air]

Hello Cats Eye, my boat is out of the water in Tortola and my captain and myself will be able to pick her up first week of September weather permitting, currently at Nany Cay and myself long ways

Best

JC

[Cats Eye]

JC
We are staying in the water this season, we are in St.Thomas. Keep our fingers crossed for good weather down here!

P.S I hope everybody has good weather!

[btrayfors]

Welcome, Kirsten. Hope your prep and plans go well. Wonder where you are in STT? I kept my present boat, Born Free, in the BVI for over 11 years (at Nanny Cay), and was a resident of STT for almost 30 years. Been sailing there since 1969. Great memories, and the sailing doesn't get any better than the Eastern Caribbean....just different :-)

JC: chartered an Offshore 41 out of Nanny Cay (from Johnny) for several weeks, many years ago. Good sailing vessel. Also had some friends who bought one there in Nanny Cay some years ago, refurbished her, and sailed her to the South Seas, then back to the Pacific Coast. My kids were small then and loved the "playpen" with all the cushions down!

Bill

[Cats Eye]

Bill,
Our boat is on a moorning in Elephant Bay. Next to Water Island.
Cant say we get to nanny cay much. The last time was when we had the boat hauled for a survey and that was lil more then 2 years ago. We do get to thje BVI's alot just not Nanny.

the plans are going well. We are waiting to install the eletroncis till we are just about ready to go. We had some fun stuff already done like the bimini. Over the next year we will deal with rigging and sails. (i could go on all day)

[michell]

Oh thatsa n excelent plan to be cruising teh life out at that time, i have but i need to know from where do i do it from.
Any one , plz plz plz any idea from where i do my cruising courses , plz help.

________
MIchell

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Kirsten and Dave,
Welcome aboard! I only made it your way a few times in the mid 80s but liked it a lot. Good luck on your plans.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[Rubikoop]

Hello neighbor, (Hud3 is crazy, a day's sail away is not a neighbor )

I actually just looked through my spotting scope and do not see a cat with a blue sail cover like in your home page. That should make you paranoid...there is a crazed stalker up on the ridge with a spotting scope looking for you.

Best wishes for your adventerous cruising future and the even greater adventures of getting boating projects completed down here.

Who did you have do your bimini? The guy on Hassel Island? My wife is bugging me about getting one but the prices are pretty amazing for the stainless steel alone.