Meet the three amigos. Sean, Jon, and myself. After Jon (in the middle) cave in, we really started to look into what would it take to make this sailing trip happen. The plan is to take off after the New Year and head to the Bahamas for a few months. We’re also planning to make our way back to Toronto in April/May. What we need now is to sell my boat asap. I am looking to purchase shoal draft sailboat 30 + feet somewhere on the East Coast or on the Gulf side, around Tampa, and I really don’t want to carry two boats. The old Afterblue has to go and has to go fast as I already have few prospects I want to check out. Here’s my lineup:

• Hunter 30 – 1980, Yanmar 15 HP, 4 feet draft
• Catalina 30 – 1983, Universal 25 HP, 4 feet draft
• Hunter 33 – 1980, Yanmar 15 HP, 4 feet draft
• Hunter 30 – 1980, Yanmar 15 HP, 4 feet draft
• Hunter 31 – 1983, Yanmar 13 HP, 4 feet draft
• Catalina 30 – 1982, Wes 18 HP, 4.5 feet draft
• Pearson 32 – 1981, Yanmar 27 HP, 4.5 feet draft

My criteria are: shoal draft, 1980 or newer, NOT a Atomic 4 engine, under $18k, boat has to be located on the Eastern Seaboard and south of Delaware Bay (we’re starting in January, brrrr…)

After equipping and provisioning the boat we’ll head straight to the Bahamas, and I mean straight. From wherever we buy the boat, weather permitting we’ll go 24/7, until we are in the Bahamas. This time I want to also do the Abaco, but will take the boyz to the Exumas and maybe even Rugged Islands, if we have the time. I am soooo jazzed. We are also expecting several of our friends to join us for a couple of weeks at the time and we will have best time ever. Sailing, swimming, snorkeling, spear fishing, island hopping… Been there, done that, want more!

What is happening with us until then? Sean is heading home now to earn some green bucks – he is hoping to work two jobs for the reminder of the year and then meet me at the boat after the New Year. I have to sell the boat, work out some things with my house and work while making all the plans, buy a boat, plan some logistics, do some fixing, equipping and provisioning and hoping guys won’t stiff me. Jon is working up courage to tell his family and his boss about an upcoming adventure while making plans for some education after the trip.

So here we are, three months and some before casting off the lines, hoping and praying and wishing everything is going to work out.