April 2nd -17th

Monday April 2nd
It’s 9 am and we find ourselves at the airport in Antigua. After numerous security checks we are finally in the air flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Just as we are approaching Puerto Rico, I realize that we spent our anniversary in P.R. last year. That’s a co-incidence because this year we thought it would be fun to fly to New York City for our anniversary. Happy 30th Anniversary, Pat & Miriam.
In reality, Monday offered the most direct flights to Bermuda, our final destination, even though we had to overnight in New York City. It’s hard to believe, but there are no flights from anywhere in the Caribbean to Bermuda. While in the airport in San Juan, we bought some Champagne at the Duty Free Shop which we enjoyed later that evening in our hotel room.
1:30 pm Tuesday we arrived in Bermuda to be greeted with open arms by Brian & Paula. We are here to help them sail Magique, a 44’ C&C, to the Caribbean. It will be leg 2 of a trip that started October 31, 2006. Magique ran into problems last November on her way to Bermuda, but is now repaired and anxious to continue her voyage. After last minute preparations we were ready to leave on Thursday April 5th however the weather guru Herb says “Don’t Go Today” it may be Monday before the various Low Pressure Systems & Fronts settle down. Now is the waiting game, which Pat & I have played too many times to count, waiting for the right “weather window” to venture out. Then Sunday April 8th it’s a go. By 3 pm we round the outer buoy at the north end of Bermuda and have nothing but 900 miles of ocean before us. For Pat, it is the continuation of a journey he started last year; for me, it is the opportunity to sail offshore and gain the valuable experience that only offshore sailing can bring.

Magique carried us safely all the way to Antigua. We arrived in Jolly Harbour on Tuesday April 17th. It felt really good to be back home on Rhiannon.
Pat wants to write about the voyage, a sequel to his first Magique Story. Unfortunately, the story is a flop at the box office, no storms or scary rescues, but stay tuned anyways.
Fair Winds,
Miriam