Finally, off the dock. Destination Antigua!

I can’t believe it.  Finally, two weeks later than we had hoped, we are on our way to Antigua.  Ironically, November 12th, today was the day that we were scheduled to begin the planned series of more than a dozen events upon arrival in Antigua.

The last few days have been just a whirlwind of emotion as we were getting daily weather briefings and the fleet was getting more and more itchy to head out.

I won’t go through all the conflicting weather we were facing but I thought that Chris Parker, our weather router was a champ, finally sorting through the daily changes as we faced hurricanes and many cold fronts that complicated our plans over the last few weeks.

I had headed back to CT when the delays began at the end of October, but finally, two days ago, the coast was clear, mostly, to head back to Hampton.

My crew George, circumnavigator and fellow Salty Dawg board member booked a train from Newport and Bob, another experienced offshore sailor also arrived at the BWI Amtrak station yesterday afternoon.   I picked them up and we hightailed it to Pandora.

Our final pre-departure weather briefing was scheduled for 7:00 last night and we only arrived back at Pandora about 15 minutes before it began.

The good news is that Chris gave us a green light to head out this morning with the hope that we will be able to get across the Gulf Stream before things become too sporty on Monday.

Anyway, it’s good to be on our way, finally.  Hopefully, we will have a fast run and perhaps we will be in Antigua in about 10 days.

Thanks to fellow Dawg Brian, here’s a photo of Pandora leaving the dock this morning. All I can say is FINALLY.  Destination Antigua.