RECENT DESTINATIONS
We spend a lot of our sailing time in the comfort of the Narragansett Bay. Sailing from Sarasota to Warwick RI gave us a chance to explore some noteworthy ports. As our experience has grown with sailing over the past few years, we are starting to explore the islands around home. Read about our experiences and some of the cultural and historic sites at our stops.
Block Island, RI
Block Island is one of the many islands in the Ocean State. Its notoriety is that it is a New Yorkers playground, overwhelmed with motorboats and sailboats during any summer holiday. It is also a short ferry ride from Point Judith in RI. Abundant biking and hiking trails, good beaches and many good restaurants make this an excellent stop.
It is also the first location for a US offshore windfarm. Five (5) windmills were built, then commissioned in 2016 to replace aging diesel generators for the island.
We visited this fun island with our first Bubista, a 29 foot Hunter monohull. With Bubista II, we made the trip in 6 hours and spent several days enjoying the family and the scenery.
Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard
This quaint cove on Martha’s Vineyard turns into a Renaissance center for African Americans from across the country and the world during August. Fortunately, with a little planning, a mooring ball can be snagged at early in the morning, first come first serve! We have done 2 trips to this glorious space with friends and family while living aboard our Bubista II. Martha’s Vineyard is birth place to many Black and Indigenous Whaling Captains, and there is an African American History Museum and Trail on the Island. There is an annual event of Movie premieres in the summer and the famous carousel and restaurants in the middle of town.
Charleston, SC
This Southern city is awash with historical spaces and southern cuisine. We were fortunate to secure a slip at Charleston Harbor Marina, where we could take advantage of the Charleston Harbor Hotel facilities, restaurants, a golf course, swimming pools and a fire pit. It was also easy access to the downtown area by shuttle boat. Check out our first day Vlog. We visited the site of the “Old Slave Mart”, an original auction house for trading enslaved peoples. We stayed for about a week waiting for a weather window and got to meet a number of sailors and travelers.
St. Thomas, USVI
This island houses the capital city for the US Virgin Islands, along with St. Croix and St. John, the motto is "America's Paradise". The island was originally settled around 1500 BC by the Ciboney people. They were later replaced by the Arawaks and then the Caribs.
Highlights of our visit: meet our boat for the first time, meet our certifying captain, install radar, reach out to relatives in the area and plan for next leg.
Key West, FL
At the very tip of the state of Florida are gems of coral islands known as the Keys. The Keys were originally inhabited by Native American tribes, the Calusa and Tequesta, and were charted by Ponce de León in 1513. "Key" is derived from the Spanish word cayo, meaning small island.
Highlights of this quick stop: gas fill-up and advice on upcoming weather.
Marco Island, FL
Marco Island is the largest barrier island within Southwest Florida's Ten Thousand Islands area extending southerly to Cape Sable. Marco Island history can be traced as far back as 500 C.E. when the Calusa people inhabited the island. A notable artifact discovered was the carved wooden "Key Marco Cat" which is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution. Beautifully manicured, yet a bit sterile, everything is in order in this little retirement and vacation community.
Highlights: Not a planned stop, but necessary due to weather and schedules. Rested up, got some regular food, and accomplished a few repairs. Captains Craig & Rusty at the Marina at Factory Bay made us feel at home.