We’re back! It’s been a long time since we updated the blog. We haven’t been sailing since around the time of the pandemic. This time we are planning to be on the boat for about six weeks. Zaratan has been up for sale since last summer, but we decided to come back and see what kind of mischief we could get up to in the Bahamas this winter. 

When we lived on the boat full time we had our cats Figment and Albee with us. This time we thought it would be easier and we would all have more fun if we took separate vacations. Mark’s parents sportingly agreed to take the grand kitties for 2 months while we frolic. 

Here’s the plan:

1. Get the cats to Kentucky. That means a road trip 13 hours non-stop from our apartment in Brooklyn to Mark’s parents’ house. Coincidentally this lined up with Thanksgiving and so we had the added perk of stuffing our faces with turkey. 
2. Schlep all of the things that we want (tools, towels, etc.) to the boat. That’s another 13 hour drive from Kentucky to Florida where Zaratan has been sitting high and dry. 
3. Float the boat. 
4. Motor from Indiantown to Stuart.
5. Pick up a friend in West Palm. 
6. Sail from Stuart to Fort Lauderdale.
7. Await a weather window to cross to Grand Bahama.
8. Check in at West End. 
9. Pick up another friend in Freeport.
10. Explore the Berry Islands.
11. Drop off both friends in Nassau.
12. Pick up new friends in Nassau.
13. Island hop to Eleuthera.
14. Drop off friends off in Eleuthera. 
15. Relax for a week, just the two of us. 
16. Pick up friends in Nassau.
17. Explore Andros.
18. Drop off friends off in Nassau.
19. Sail to Bimini.
20. Wait for a weather window and cross to Stuart. 
21. Leave the boat on a mooring ball in Stuart.
22. Sell the boat.

Just a simple 22 step plan.

We’ve been feeling a little stressed about our timeline since sailing everywhere takes forever. we could easily be outstripped by Olympic swimmers, but I’m pretty sure your average doggy-paddling 4-year-old could keep up with us, water wingies and all. Being slow isn’t the only thing that has us stressed out. Everything on a sailboat is weather-dependent. We’ve made these plans, but the weather will certainly not cooperate.

Check back to see if any of our plans work out!