Calling all authors!

Just a friendly reminder, everyone that who receives this blog has author capability on the blog. Please feel free to log on and post your own stories for all to enjoy. If you have pictures, forward them to voigtfam@gmail.com and I will post them on the blog for all to see.

One goal would be to have a picture of every boat we chartered. Quite a list, but I am sure that we can fill in the blanks!

I'll get us started

Year one: Aeolus (AO Bus)

Latest Photo's!

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http://picasaweb.google.com/voigtfam/SailingPicS

Union Island Evidence!

I now have definitive proof that we poured Don into the dinghy after dinner at Union Island!

Cat-like Reflexes!

Ever been to Jost Van Dyke? The quintessential beach bar exists here. Foxy's!

We anchored out in the bay, took the dinghy in to the beach. After tying the dinghy up, we entered the bar for dinner. This happened to be BBQ night. Lots of boats for the evening in the bay. Dinner was good, the drinks were better. After dinner the bar had a band for the evening. The crew was really winding up to full speed at this time. Captain had a few "glow in the dark" goggles, and a few blinking "I'm Horny" buttons. As the evening progressed, no one noticed that the wind was picking up. We were all standing in a group. Mauler, Don, Lisa, Troy, Me, Pete, Kelly and Steve (Dad, check your picture on the wall at the office, do I have the right crew?). Anyway, out of nowhere, a guy sticks his head in to the center of our group and asks "are you the crew of the _____________"? We respond "Yes". Well you better run, your boat is drifting in the harbor...

Four men running - instantly - Pete, Jim, Steve and Troy. We jump in the dinghy, toss off the line, and hit the gas! Oh yeah, 5 hp... We find the boat adrift, and thankfully still off the beach or the reef. Apparently it only grazed off one boat with little to no damage.

The wind was strong, and the desirable anchorage locations already taken, so it was impossible to leave the boat untended. Troy and I stay on board and babysit the boat. Everyone else finishes the evening at Foxy's.

Cane Garden Bay pancake syrup

As we drop the anchor, everyone scrambles to get to shore. I have been to many beaches, but this one has to be the most picturesque in all the caribbean. Half moon shaped, facing South for the perfect afternoon sun. The palm trees angle out over the sand beach toward the sea. In my book this is THE beach.

After a few hours "cookin'" on the beach, a few of us head in to a beach bar to re-hydrate. As we work our way through the afternoon at the bar, we start talking to the locals. A few of us are having "run runners", and they taste FANTASTIC. The bottle of rum the bar tender is using looks different. We ask him what it is, and he tells us that it is a local rum made up the hill. The reason it tastes so good is because it is so sweet. One of the locals at the bar tells us "It's great on pancakes in the morning mahn!"

Next day we take a walk up the hill and pick up some pancake syrup.

Dinner - Union Island Style

So, we pull in to the Harbor East of Union Island. As we motor around looking for a mooring, we find one we think would be perfect. The boat we are on is a catamaran. I like driving it like a catapillar dozer!

Hooking a mooring with a catamaran can be interesting in high wind. I over shot the mooring, throw the engines in reverse and one engine cuts out quickly! The good news....we are securely moored. The bad news, the mooring line is wrapped around the Port prop shaft... Nothing Steven J Lehner and a dive knife - courtesy of Troy Swanson - could not solve. After about a dozen dives and a lot of carving, we were free of our backward position. A few minutes later Captain Don has us safely moored, at a different location.

A few beers later, we decide to all load into the dinghy and head in to the island and both explore and find dinner. The island had one restaurant! On our way there, we walked across the air field. There was an entire heard of livestock grazing in the middle of the strip!

Once in the restaurant, we are quickly seated and ask for the "menu". The locals look at us funny, and pull up a small wooden plank. On the plank are many pictures of animals. Fish, Lobster, Cow, Pig, Lamb, Chicken... As we begin to order, we ask how is the pig cooked? "Fried". How is the chicken cooked? "Fried". How is the lobster cooked? "Fried". You get the picture.

By now, most of us are nervous about dinner... We decide to order cocktails. A few later dinner arrives. The food is prepared "family" style. Many bowls full of the sides. Fried potatoes, vegetables, bread, and of course: Fried main course. The food was very satisfying, and actually very good. On our way back to the dinghy, we walked across the air strip again, and past tomorrows dinner (cow, chicken and sheep).

I cannot remember, did we have to carry Don back to the boat this night? Can someone help with my recollection?

Vin

Franklin & Jackson Departed!

On our second charter, second night, we sailed into Dockside Marina on Marathon key. Pete was lovin' the ship to shore located on the helm. We tied up in the marina that night.

On our way out to the bars that night, we walked by a carnival. As we were roughly 10 cocktails into the day, we all thought a few rides would be fun before the bars. The last ride we went on was a centrifuge that spins around for a few minutes pinning you to the wall. After this particular ride we walked a few blocks to the closest bar. As we were being ID'd at the door, Pete realized that he did not have his wallet. We ran back to the carnival. Upon checking at the office we were thrilled to discover that the wallet had been found and delivered to the "lost and found". Unfortunately it was much lighter. Franklin and Jackson had decided to go on their own separate vacation from Pete. Apparently there was a second revenue stream generated by the centrifuge...

Oh well, we had Pete's ID and a few beers later we were enjoying vacation just fine without Mr. Jackson and Franklin.