Liebster Blog Award

We’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award!  Twice!!

We feel so honoured. Awards are scarce and given out by prestigious committees after careful deliberation, and let the world know that their recipients are the cream of the crop in their chosen endeavour.

Thank you, Gwen & Guilloume of S/V Slow Waltz

(http://www.sailblogs.com/member/slowwaltz/?xjMsgID=331570&c=None),

and Dalynn & Glen of S/V Amoray

(http://dgsail.wordpress.com/2014/09/14/liebster-award/), 

for nominating us for the Liebster Blog Award. It is with great humility that we accept this prestigious award. We will take great pleasure in proudly displaying this award on our blog. We honestly don’t know how to adequately show the depths of our gratitude, other than to once again say that you both have our sincerest thanks.

With our proper thank you’s out of the way, let’s cut the bullshit and be real. What the ????  No trophy??  We’ve accepted a major homework assignment? No, two homework assignments! *%#!@*^

So readers, here’s the down low on the Liebster….   it’s something someone started to increase readership of blogs; a blogger to blogger ‘award;’ a chain letter scheme of sorts, where bloggers nominate each other to answer each other’s questions. There is no real award. There are no judges, no website with an official team to congratulate you. It’s mostly what you want it to be….. and, as we enjoy reading other sailor’s blogs, we’ve chosen to accept this challenge (twice), and pass it along J.  It’s fun, and it’s own reward.

The rules are simple:

1.   Thank your nominee.

2.   Answer their questions and post them on your blog.

3.   Create your own set of questions, and nominate others to keep the challenge going.

Our Answers to Gwen & Guilloume’s 10 Questions:

1. What do you miss the most about back home or life on land?

Diana – Spending time with our adult children, family, and friends; and long, hot showers.

Gil – Spending time with our adult children, family, and friends; and A/C.

2. What is the funniest/most favourite boat name that you have encountered since you started cruising?

There have been several …. “A Loan Again,” “Knot A Clew,” “Reel Life,” “Simple Life” (it’s not),  “Turf to Surf,” “A Moray” (our nominators, who love to dive), “CS‘ta Time” (our friends from home who live aboard their CS sailboat), and “Edge of A Dream” (our very first boat – a Hughes 26 …. and look where we are now J) .

 3. What has been your favourite stop/island since you left home?

Samana, Dominican Republic stands out for us, for several reasons. 

First, there was our ‘Group of Seven’ …. Slow Waltz, White Gold II, Simplicity II, Serenade, Nightwatch, LeeLou, and ourselves – a fun loving group of people,  that we shared great times with and stay in touch with still. 

1 of 2 infinity pools at Puerto Bahia Marina & Resort

Second, we all stayed together at the Puerto Bahia Marina & Resort, an absolutely stunning 5-star property. Third, we lucked into arriving there during two regattas, in which participation was rewarded with a 4-night and a 3-night free stay respectively, individual ‘swag bags,’ and so much free food and drink (welcome receptions, awards dinners, wrap-up dinner and dance)… it was unbelievable. 

 Serenada off to a good regatta start

our little Serenada up front

Fourth, much to our own dismay, we actually placed (3^rd) in the first regatta and went home with a real trophy (unlike the Liebster Award J). 

Fifth, the Dominican Republic is stunning for its’ natural beauty. We had an incredible time there, and we look forward to returning on our trip home (whenever that might be).

4. What is the one thing you would change about your boat if money was no object?

That’s a tough question. Just ONE thing? Our wish list is quite extensive …. more horsepower (we have 20HP), a larger frig/freezer, a galley for 2+ (we have standing room only for 1), running hot water, shower, electric winlass, A/C, life raft, self-steering wind vane, instruments for wind & speed, appliances (dishwasher, washer, dryer), watermaker, a guest room and 2^nd head….  ‘just stop me now, as the list would only lengthen.

From the length of that list, you might not guess that we’re happy with our Serenada, a 32’ Ontario. You can tour her at http://www.aboardserenada.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-tour-of-serenada.html  She has taken us from our home port on Lake Simcoe in Ontario, Canada south to Grenada; an incredible adventure. Oh, and she won us a trophy (not like the Liebster J).

5. What is the one thing you would add to your boat if space was no object?

Gil - An infinity pool with a swim up bar.  It would help us ‘beat the heat,’ and make a great venue for shared sundowners!

Diana – staff!

6. When were you struck with the cruising dream AND how long did it take to get from dream to the reality of leaving the dock?

Isn’t this 2 questions? We’ve already been doubly challenged. I think there’s a conspiracy out there.

Diana – I thought of it more as embarking on a sailing adventure, than fulfilling a cruising dream. I was struck first with the notion of embarking on a longer adventure, when we returned home after spending 6 weeks aboard Serenada on Georgian Bay (summer of 2011), and realizing that we  could comfortably “live aboard.”

Gil – Diana suggested it one day (summer of 2011), when we were chatting with Jorge & Kim (S/V CS’ta Time) in the parking lot of our home sail club. They had been planning and preparing to cruise south themselves, and Di thought we should consider doing the same. 

Ready to Go

Jorge & Kim, Diana & Gil with Serenada & CS'ta Time

Gil & Di – We left the dock 2 years later (August 6^th, 2013) with our friends Jorge & Kim on CS’ta Time J. During those two years, we ‘got ready.’ We sanded down Serenada’s bottom and applied Interprotect and CSC saltwater antifouling to it, added solar panels, the wind generator, an SSB radio, a GPS/Chartplotter, radar, a weather satellite system, and upgraded the VHF radio. We got Nexus cards for ourselves and a boat decal for Serenada. There seemed to be an endless stream of tasks to complete, and it was a busy time.

7. What made you finally decide to leave when you did?

We read that it was important to pick a specific date for your departure. Kim picked one for CS’ta Time – August 6^th, 2013 weather dependent J - and we just tagged along.

8. What one piece of advice would you give to someone with the dream to cruise?

Buy your rum in the DR, and your diesel in Venezuela.

All kidding aside…. We’d say that if you wait until you feel “ready,” you may never leave. There’s always one more thing your boat could have or one more thing you should do. Go. Cast off those bow lines. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” (Confusious)

9. What is your favourite sailing/cruising song?

 Eileen Quinn's 'Gotta Regatta.' 

10. Where are you planning to spend Christmas?

We will be returning to Grenada for Christmas. Serenada will be at Port Louis Marina in St. George’s. Our three children, and two of their partners will be joining us, and we are very much looking forward to spending time together with them!

Our Answers to Dalynn & Glen’s 10 Questions:

1. When and where did you learn to sail and what have you learned about sailing on this part of your adventure?

Gil grew up in Penetang, on the shores of Georgian Bay. His friend, Graham, had a Morgan 22 sailboat. It had a retractable keel, tiller, small outboard, and a compass; no VHF radio, no electronics; and just one big paper chart. Gil & Graham learned to sail on her, not through lessons, but through play.

I learned to sail in Gil’s company, on Graham’s Morgan 22, while we were dating. I wasn’t completely green to sailing when we met. I had been a guest aboard for a week’s sail with friends amongst the Thousand Islands. I’ll always remember Gil confidently assuring me that it was physically impossible for a sailboat to overturn, as the keel keeps it right side up. I utterly trusted him (and the Morgan’s keel was retractable!). On a week’s vacation together, we sailed the Morgan 22 from Midland up to the North Channel and back. 

Georgian Bay's North Channel

That was when I learned to sail. When I think back on that week…. ‘on our return leg home we left Club Island in northern Georgian Bay and headed for Christian Island to the south, almost 100 km away. We were out of sight of land most of the day (no electronic charts, or radio remember) and the skies around us were more purple than blue. Just as the sun was setting, Christian Island came into view. Somehow, we’d kept a perfect compass course.

What have we learned about sailing on this part of our adventure? To respect the weather and the wind driven sea state! Just as there’s a name for the (trade)winds; there should be a name for those (wicked)waves.

respect the weather Gods... they can be wicked

2. Is this a forever dream or how long do you plan on sailing for?

This was not a forever dream for us – it was a sailing adventure. When we left home, we didn’t know if we’d enjoy cruising long term, and we didn’t know if Serenada would be up for the task, and you can’t always count on your health. So, we gave ourselves a year or two…. 

We’ve been cruising for just over a year now, and we’re enjoying the lifestyle, and both we and Serenada are quite healthy enough to continue.

We’re thinking now that we’ll keep Serenada in the Carribbean for another year or more; and we’ll return home in the summer of 2015. Once back home, we’ll reflect on our journey, and decide from there what we’ll do next. Summers at home and winters in the Carribbean? Cruise fulltime? Who knows? 

Sailors plans are written in the sand at low tide.

3. What specific item do you miss the most from life on land?

Gil – the car.

Diana – ‘not my make-up. An item? I miss playing mah jong and euchre with the women. I have to think…. I don’t miss much in the way of things. Ah ha! The dishwasher.

4. Why did you decide on the boat you are currently sailing?

We’ve never researched boats. Serenada is our third boat, and they were all impulse buys. Serenada came from our home sail club and we knew she’d been well cared for by her previous owner, who had put her up for sale at a price we could afford. For us, the boat being comfortable enough to live in, led us to the sailing adventure; not vice versa.

5. Which island(s) are on your “must visit” list for this year?

St. Lucia's pittons

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving.” (Lao-Tzu)   

We don’t have a “must visit” list, but we’re looking forward to visiting St. Lucia and Antigua for the first time; and revisiting Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique and The Saints. I’m sure we’ll stop at others along the way.

6. What was your most challenging sail and why?

Gil – Our 3^rd overnight Atlantic passage, from Port Royal Sound, SC to Cumberland Island, Georgia. Conditions were greater than forecast and the sea state was such that we depleted our stocks of gravol and ginger tea. Serenada rolled from starboard to port, and port to starboard, at the count of ‘1001, 1002, 1003.’ You can read the full story at: http://www.aboardserenada.blogspot.com/2013/11/cumberland-island-georgia.html

Diana – The passage from Samana, DR across the Mona to Puerto Rico. Winds were stronger than forecast, and the sea state was therefore rougher. While underway our starboard davit broke, so the dinghy was dragging in the (very choppy) water. Gil sprung into action to save the davit and the dinghy; but for the first (and only) time, I felt scared for Gil’s safety. You can read the full story at: http://www.aboardserenada.blogspot.com/2014_03_01_archive.html

our cracked starboard davit

7. What’s in a name? How did your boat get hers?

We can’t tell you because we don’t know, as Serenada was her name when we purchased her. 

8. Land based activities keep us busy on every island. What has been your favourite land adventure?

 El Limon waterfall

 trail improvements to/from El Limon falls

Las Terranes’ beaches

Gil – While waiting for weather in Samana, DR we took an excursion to El Limon waterfalls and toured around Las Terranes’ beaches on Dominican’s north shore. You can see more photos at: http://www.aboardserenada.blogspot.com/2014_03_01_archive.html

my sister, Margaret and myself at The Smithsonian

Obama's motorcade

Diana – Touring Washington, DC with my sister, Margaret during the US Federal Government shutdown. Obama’s motorcade pulled up beside us. It took him all day and into the night to find us, to personally apologize for the inconvenience of all the closures due to the shutdown. You can read this story and see more photos at: http://www.aboardserenada.blogspot.com/2013/10/washington-dc.html      

Gil & Diana - another highlight was seeing the nesting leatherback turtles.

a nesting leatherback turtle on Grenada's Levera beach

9. What is your most memorable story about anchoring or being at anchor?

Francis Bay

We took a mooring ball while in Francis Bay, St. John’s Island in the US Virgin islands. Gil was up in the middle of the night, and happened to look outside. Why didn’t all of the other boats have their anchor lights on? The boats in the anchorage across the way all appeared to have their anchor lights on ….. or, was that our anchorage? Over there? We’re adrift?? We’re adrift!! I awoke to noises on deck. What was Gil up to? He ran forward to check the line. It was there, but minus the shackle. The line had come undone from the shackle, which was presumably still attached to the mooring ball. One of us didn’t tie the bolan knot properly =:O   Thankfully, Francis Bay is huge, and the winds had been light. We had drifted quite some distance, but had not gotten into trouble. We motored back to our mooring ball and retied onto our shackle. In the morning, only we were aware that there’d been any drama in the mooring field that night. It’s worth checking out this blog post, titled ‘A Week of Mishaps’ at: http://www.aboardserenada.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-week-of-mishaps.html

10. If you have had family or friends visit, what was their greatest understanding, appreciation or reaction to living this type of lifestyle?

picking our son, Curt up from the airport at St. Martin

Captain Curt 

I passed this question on to Curt, and his response follows:

" I would have to say that my greatest understanding of the sailing lifestyle is simply how much constant work it involves. Simple tasks like showering, cooking, sleeping and even moving around the boat are much more challenging! Everything has to be stored in its special spot where it just fits right for the boat to not feel cluttered & have the ability to move around freely. My greatest appreciation for the sailing life is the sheer terror of the sea. When you sail in too much wind, or directly into the wind (which is always somehow) the boat pounding against the waves feels as though the boat is going to split in half or keel over! It is certainly not a sedentary lifestyle, rather a loud and exciting one. The expression 'smooth sailing' rarely applies."

BONUS! 11. If you could do it all again, would you? What would you do differently?

YES!! We wouldn’t do too much differently, though we’d have bought the Wirie AP sooner!

OUR questions:

1.  Where have you been? Give us an overview of your cruising route from your departure point to your current location.

2.  What’s the nicest thing a stranger has done for you?

3.  What boats have you owned?

4.  Share three random facts about yourself/yourselves.

5.  What inspired you to blog?

6.  Has the cruising life affected your health?

7.  Are you planning a return to land life? If you are currently on land, will you be cruising again?

8.  What has been your scariest moment?

9.  Share your funniest or most favourite experience.

10. What has been your greatest surprise?

  BONUS. 11. What one piece of advice would you give to someone considering cruising?

OUR nominee:

 Rob & Serena Cole       S/V Vita