Everyone has a Plan until…

Some wise soul spoke of (cruising) plans written in sand.  And, here we are, days out from flying off to Deltaville Boatyard amid the chaos and pandemonium that usually occurs before each sailing season.  However, perhaps this year’s winds changed or the tide simply went out.  We, like many others, have been away from the cruising scene.  For us, it’s been 3 long years, and much has changed – some things, dramatically.  So, here we are, deciding at the last minute to modify our current plan; it just had to happen!  It might seem no big deal, but actually, it is.

At some point during isolation, in a moment of madness, we decided that WJ3 should come home; it would be easier to manage her within the confines of our own country.  Who then, doesn’t want to cruise the South Pacific and we had no need to rush.  So, plans were made to make for Panama in 2023.

Finding another quiet spot in the Bahamas

Reality hit once we began to consider what was necessary to achieve this goal and to consider the usual paperwork, permits, not insignificant costs and the need to have WJ3 (and ourselves) in tip-top condition for an ocean crossing.  We began to feel we were climbing a mountain, but only because it was there.  We also began to ask ourselves many questions and to challenge choices.

Finally, this week, we called time out to consider all options and motivations rather than focus attention just on this, the famous Pacific milk run.  Our all-hands-on-the-table options list went like this:

1.    Stay on the United States east coast & island hop the Caribbean

2.    Head for Panama (our existing stage-the-Pacific-at-a-snail-pace plan)

3.    Cross the Pacific to Tahiti (haul out) then head home another season

4.    Cross the Atlantic back to the Med or perhaps the UK

5.    Ship home or even to Asia (Thailand or Malaysia)

6.    Sell up

Our decision was reached, again & again.  Finally though, the Galley Slave is off stress meds and no longer needs to stockpile seasick tablets.  Our Cap’n will continue his dream of spending 6 months of each year devoted to his other woman.  And just now, he’s just ordered a spanking new e-bike to be delivered to Deltaville.  A resounding win-win for all.

Well, you'll be pleased to know that the US option came up trumps (excuse this feeble attempt at humour!)…  Travel in the US is easy; there are so many sailing options that we’re spoilt for choice.  Land travel is readily available too and we will have the opportunity to travel further afield, much like we did in Europe with organised tours at our fingertips.  Perhaps Machu Picchu will open again soon?  We also like being away and being overseas means that we really will spend time sailing WJ3. 

Now we are settled (sigh!), we can plan visas to get back into the US.  In the meantime, we will take a leisurely cruise down the Caribbean to Trinidad where we will haul for this year.  The Cap’n is already salivating at the thought of Trinidad street food (roti, doubles, bake & shark, hmmm) just too good to miss!  Next year we’ll head back to our favourite Deltaville boatyard. 

So, perhaps we’ll see you in the Caribbean this year?

Mike Tyson (2012) is quoted as saying “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”  Some days it just feels like it...

Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park - 112,640 acres to explore... (That's WJ3 behind the navy blue sailboat!)
Squiz, Ingrid are you excited yet??