2016, I am so torn. On the one hand, you were a year of great personal victories. We completed our first year outside of the United States, pushed the limits of our sailing experience, explored a ton of beautiful places, and made some interesting and wonderful new friends. It was a good year for sailing and for Brian and me personally.
It was a good year for our family, which expanded when we welcomed my new sister-in-law, Maia, and her clan into the fold with open arms.
But, it was also a scary year, watching all the shit that’s unfolded at home and abroad. The “real world” seems more unstable, greedy, and hate-filled than when we left it. Part of me wants to stick my head in the sand (of the nearest beach), but a bigger part of me wants to fight.
In short, 2016 was a good year to be out sailing. Here’s the highlight reel to prove it.
January

After weeks of waiting for a window to cross the Gulf Stream, we kicked off the first day of 2016 by completing a 27 hour passage from Miami FL to Nassau, Bahamas. We rang in the New Year with an uncomfortable night of motoring into the wind – an appropriate start. This lighthouse in Nassau was one of the first things we saw in the Bahamas on New Years Day.

Lots of stuff broke this year. This is me using our new winch for the first time, once we had it shipped to the Bahamas from an American eBay seller. I look pretty happy in this photo, because the new winch is THE BOMB.

First lobstering session was a success thanks to our seasoned friends on s/v Basta showing us the ropes! Too bad we took this totally blurry selfie to remember a super fun day of catching and cooking lobsters.

Meeting the famous pigs of Staniel Cay.

The clear Bahamian water – there is nothing else like it.

We spent at least 30% of our time in the Bahamas seeking protection from cold fronts. This is the view from one of our favorite hidey-holes for when these frequent storms blew through the Exhumas.
February

One of my favorite spots in the Exhumas – Bitter Guana Cay

The 5F ( First Friday in February Little Farmer’s Cay Festival) regatta.

With Bo and Allison of s/v Selah in Pipe Creek

Welcome to summer camp for seniors!

At the monument to monuments in Georgetown with Deb, and Pete of s/v Delancey, and Allison.

Eric and Thea flew all the way from Brooklyn to visit us in Staniel Cay!
March

We left Georgetown and started making our way to the Out Islands. First stop, Calabash Bay, Long Island, Bahamas

This sailfish (possibly swordfish?) that we caught en route to Rum Cay was more than we could handle.

Snorkeling the wild reefs of Mayaguana

Easter aboard s/v Delancey with Deb and Pete. Deb’s got serious skills and turned a canned ham into a culinary masterpiece!

We waited 2 whole weeks for a weather window to cross to Turks & Caicos. We left on April 1, the same day that our 3 month clearances into the Bahamas expired.
April

Reunion in Turks & Caicos – Nightingale Tune, Delancey, and Selah crews, together again!

This shabby marina felt downright luxurious – first land showers in over three months! That’s Delancey, Selah, and Nightingale Tune all lined up at the dock.

After 72 hours, we arrive in Puerto Rico at dawn.

My favorite house along the “Venice of the Caribbean” in Parguera, PR

Homemade conch fritters in Coffin Island

Roadtrip to Old San Juan!

Arriving in St. John, USVI – an important milestone for us, since it’s where we first sailed a big boat.
May

Lobsterfest 2016 – the most epic boat reunion weekend ever with the crews of Selah, Asante, Necesse, Mary Christine, and Kalani

It was hard parting ways with these two as we moved on south and they returned to Puerto Rico to put their boat on the hard for a while.

The Anegada Passage – or as I like to call it – 17 hours of nausea
June

My Champagne birthday in St. Martin

Oh la la, St. Barts!

My favorite beach in the Leewards – Colombier Bay, St. Barts. This is where we first met Corpse Pounder, but we didn’t take any photos.

Learning how to rig a stern anchor – a critical tool for surviving the swell in these Leeward Island anchorages

Lovely Nevis volcano

Double rainbow over Guadeloupe

Brian, holding down the fort in Fort de France, Martinique
July

Blue Bequia

Celebrating 3,500 miles and our arrival in Grenada
August

Mango festival in Grenada

Fish market awesomeness

Carnival – kicking it off with the pre-dawn party, Jouvert

Partying in the streets for Monday night mas
Just as Carnival was ending, I flew home to the States. Brian joined me two weeks later.

Working on one of the four cakes I made for the wedding – everybody played a role in making the big day happen.
September
After the wedding, we bounced to New York for visits with Brian’s family on Long Island and our friends in the city. I didn’t take a lot of photos, unfortunately. I guess it was nice not feeling like a tourist in a place where we belonged. The one below is of the place I miss most in the whole city.
September

Lulu watching over Corpse Pounder at Le Phare Bleu Marina. I am in love with her – luckily Jen and John let me smother her whenever we’re together.

Sky of s/v Abby Singer

Boat crawl party, the last hurrah before the end of hurricane season
October

Tons of prep to get the boat ready for season 2

First stop, Sandy Island, Carriacou

Beth and Randy of s/v Moorahme, celebrating Brian’s birthday

Happy Island Bar, Union Island, St. Vincent

Mopion Island, Petit St. Vincent

With the crew of Vidorra, plus Beth

Tobago Cays BBQ with crews of Renaissance II, Discofish, and Corpse Pounder

It rained a lot while we were in Mustique, but we still had a really good time with our friends on Corpse Pounder
November

The night we said, “fuck it, let’s go hang out in St. Lucia!” Oh hey, the sun came out for a second.

Marigot Bay, St. Lucia. Life at the pool is pretty sweet!
December

Hopefully, our terrifying night at anchor will be the scariest boat moment of 2016.

Leaving St. Lucia to begin a week long sailing marathon to avoid getting stuck too far south in the Christmas Winds.

Cheese pit stop in Fort de France

Hiking up to the party in Shirley Heights, Antigua with friends from Planet Waves, Discofish, and Neko

Mary and Pete of s/v Neko – we ate an embarrassing amount of Italian food with these two in Antigua.
Great shots! Amazing photography! Love being with you two, hope to catch up again soon!
randy and beth
s/v Moorahme