Muti

Tue Nov 1st 2022 (330 nm; 2 days, 2 nights) - Departed Salt Ponds marina in Virginia for first leg down south with our buddy boat Free Indeed and many other vessels, all captains taking advantage of a favorable weather window. Great to be on the move again. Our accomplishments over the summer were many; Muti feels faster through the water after getting her new bottom paint; our repaired code 0 sail looks amazing again, and the engines are running smoothly. We are so much more comfortable taking this trip now than in January last year; our confidence level is exponentially higher, both in our abilities and Muti’s capability. We have learnt a tremendous amount after traveling 2000+ nautical miles since purchasing Muti. Gerda has been like a sponge absorbing everything nautical from a base of zero, she now reads charts, plans our passages, pilots the vessel under sail and engine, confidently stands watch through the isolated midnight through dawn hours. However she has yet to start the di

Wed Jun 22nd 2022 - After a couple of weeks at home we returned to Muti docked in Hampton VA with renewed energy to tackle the long list of boat chores. Does the list ever get shorter? We drove back to have a car on hand. Nothing worse than being in the US without a car! It’s a 1500 mile drive in 24hrs, a bit different to Muti boat speed!  Living in a boating community has taken some adjustment, everyone is super friendly, helpful and always interested in what chores are taking place on surrounding vessels. It is very easy to spend a morning on the dock debating the merits of lithium over AGM batteries, cost of solar versus diesel, what cleaning products are less harmful to the planet (lively conversations without adult beverage fuel)…    it starts with a few folks but could swell to many depending on who is out and about. Gerda just rolls her eyes and excuses herself when the topic is ‘boring’ boat maintenance talk. I don’t blame her!  Being of French origin, maintenance of Muti can b

  Sun May 29th 2022   (130 nm) - Arrived at Southport NC. Quaint little town with a very southern flair. We were presented with a perfect weather window so left the next morning. Tue May 31st 2022   (110 nm) - Arrived in Beaufort NC for our final stop before Virginia. Shortly after arrival and after checking the weather forecast, we realized we needed to set sail asap to catch a good weather window to Virginia or wait up to a week for the next one. Decided to leave without spending the night. Stopped by the marina restaurant, gobbled down a blackened Mahi sandwich and fries (oh yeah!) and then jumped on board to start the last long passage for the season around Hatteras to Hampton, Virginia. No green flash! Does it exist? Water water everywhere……. Thu Jun 2nd 2022 ( 230 nm)   - Oooooo, first hurricane of the season down south. We needed to hustle, don’t want to be caught with our pants down, so to speak! Forecast was for bad weather to arrive in a couple of days so we needed to giddy-u

Sun May 1st 2022 - Bugger, Muti was so quiet now that our friends have returned to the real world. With a pending family visit looming    in Washington DC later in May we began our return passage. First stop was Green Turtle Cay, after ‘shooting the Whale’. The Whale is a cut in the reef which can get pretty treacherous; it was pretty benign for our    traverse. We anchored up and dinghy’ed    into the Settlement. As it was a Sunday the only open establishment serving a cold adult beverage was the Pineapple restaurant. We pulled in for a magnificent plate of french fries and rum drinks, yum yum… It was super quiet with only locals chilling. The town is under construction, following the persistent Dorian theme. Once restored it will be super. Mon May 2nd 2022 - After some provisioning we headed up to Rat Cay, a beautiful    quiet anchorage. Rob finished the underwater hull cleaning but it looks like it’s time to start again on the first hull he cleaned. Remind me why we insisted on a tw

24th Apr 2022 - Wrapped up the week at Great Guana Cay. Two restaurants on the island, one on the windward side, Nippers, with spectacular views of the coral reef and the other, Grabbers (tuna poke was outrageous), in Fishers Bay. We spent a thoroughly enjoyable week walking the beaches and dinghy rides around the Cay. Dorian destruction very apparent.    On one dinghy excursion buzzed through Bakers Bay north on the island, an exclusive private community for the rich (and famous?). Nobody waved at us as we cruised past in our beat up rubber dinghy; no evidence of Dorian here! We are still amazed at how friendly the local folks are, always quick to smile and engage if prompted with conversation. One older gentleman working in a nursery walked with us    to show us the correct path; we were lost and asked directions. Who knew Google maps doesn’t work everywhere. Finally left Great Guana Cay   heading back to Marsh Harbor to pick up our dear friends,  the Enslin’s, who will be joining us