On Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:12:34 -0400, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

We will leave from NC, head east till we pass Bermuda, then turn right
to St Martin.


Good on you, Hanz. That's the real sailor's route. These motorhead types in
this group take that stupid "Thorny Path". What a waste of time and fuel
that is. . .

=========

One of the nice things about *real* cruisers, like the ones you meet
at South Side Marina in the Turks and Caicos, is that they don't care
all that much about power versus sail. Just being there makes you
part of the brotherhood and everyone is welcome at the nightly
parties. Everyone has stories to tell, advice to offer, skills/tools
to lend, and any other help that is needed. I spent several hours
there last year helping a fellow cruiser get his SSB radio working,
accepting a cedar fishing plug in exchange. The manager of the marina
spent quite a lot of his own time driving me around, helping to get an
alternator fixed. Did I mention that it's a great place?