Wrightsville Beach Anchorage

The anchorage is peaceful tonight.

Change of Plans

Departed Broad Creek, North River this morning. Winds were 20-25kts from the north. Albemarle was a bit rolly but not ugly. Approaching Alligator River bridge now.

Hunkered Down

Blowing hard. 20-25kts G30-35 tonight and well into tomorrow. We will hang on the hook until at least Thursday.

Update Part 3?

Got underway Sunday past. Now tied up at the Museum at Great Bridge, VA. Moving south again tomorrow. Big blow coming. We will likely anchor in the North River, let the blow move through.

Update Continued

So we did get to Maryland and our dock early 2020 but no real cruising since. However we did install the extra solar on the new hard top. Now 1920 watts. Scotty got on board for a bunch of mechanical stuff. We did a major electronics upgrade and luckily found a diver who would go under and clean/check the hull early March 2023 in Pocomoke. Thanks Brian!!!

Major Update

The Covid years really messed us up. In Dec 2019 Sylken Sea was in Trinidad. We purchased and took possession of a cottage in Maryland site unseen, but with help from friends in Pocomoke. Big draw was a deep water dock with good weather protection and the bonus of a cottage with a great work space.

Back Cruising

Ok. I did not have much success with earlier Blogger apps on the phone. Probably me. Anyway thought I would reinstall and try again.

January 26 to April 19, 2020

Our InReach track from January 26th to April 19th, 2020. Chaguramas Trinidad & Tobago to Pocomoke City, MD.

We were very fortunate with the weather this year.

Heading North

Well after 6 seasons in the South East Caribbean we decide it is time to move back north. We purchased a property in Maryland on the Pocomoke River. Riverbend Cottage is just that, a nice little cottage with a great garage/workshop, and a freshwater dock! So, we were planning a nice leisurely cruise up the islands, hanging out, cruising with friends. Everything started out fine, met up with MiVia and CrackerJack. Had great weather, some of the mildest conditions we have seen in a long while. We visited Carriacou, The Grenadines, Bequia, Dominica (wonderful!!!). On to Les Saintes, Guadeloupe, Antigua without any issues. But things were going to change and quickly.

By the time we got to St. Kitts & Nevis the Covid-19 Pandemic was getting serious, on clearing in we were required to fill in a health declaration form and list our five previous ports with arrival and departure dates. We spent about a week there, really having a good time along with CrackerJack and their guests. We did  island tours, a trip to Nevis, Killer Bee rum punch, you know all the usual "island" stuff.

Towards the end of our stay in St. Kitts things really started changing, around the world the outbreak had spread rapidly, border restrictions were beginning to be put in place. We made a unplanned quick run to Puerto Rico, CrackerJack traveled with us until St. Thomas, USVI. We carried on as we were hoping we could clear in at Culebra and get a US cruising License (Sylken Sea is Canadian flagged). Once we were on a mooring in Culebra we used the ROAM app to clear in and at the same time requested  "verified traveler numbers". A short time later we got a phone call from CBP in Fajardo. The had received our application and directed us to appear at the CBP office at the airport in Culebra.

The officer in Culebra was very helpful, after reviewing our documents and submitting our paperwork to Fajardo we were issued both a US cruising license and verified traveler numbers. "That should help expedite your arrival in the US" he tells us.

We had lunch at the Dingy Dock and the next day everything shut down. On to the south coast of Puerto Rico, all the marinas are closed to any boat movement but in Salinas we were able to take on fuel so we filled her up not knowing what challenges lay ahead. We were well provisioned had full tanks so that was our last time ashore for a while. It was March 19th, we decided to go into isolation and beat it to the US.

We anchored in Boqueron waiting for a window. We got one, our friend Rita on Calypso in Martinique has been helping with weather when we are out of cell coverage. She sends us updates based on Weather 4D over our InReach. She can also follow us so the weather is very useful and appropriate. THANKS Rita!

Direct to Acklins where we wait out a blow then on up the island chain. Bahamas at that time was closed to new boats arriving but would allow you to transit, just anchor and DO NOT GO TO SHORE.

We anchored on the bank near North Rocks April 3rd then to Lake Worth April 4th. Again we used the ROAM app. Shortly after filing we received a text message clearing us into the US, no need to appear in pearson. Whew! Big sigh of relief!

We begin our trip north. Pam & John Loving graciously did a grocery & liqour store run for us so once again we were well provisioned. The rest of our trip north was uneventful, when we needed good weather we got it, when it blew like stink we hunkered down. April 19th we arrive at our dock in Pocomoke City, MD. Another sigh of relief!

Hadtop Project Part 9

The top is nearing completion, just need to remove it, fair it, prime, paint and do the final install.

Above: attaching and fairing the supports to the top.

Below: Kirby prepping for paint. He will put down 2 coats of Epoxy Primer and 2 coats of Awlcraft 2000.

 Painting all done! Install is next.

 Installation Day!

Paul Ammon, owner of Caribbean Carbon Works checks the final installation. Great guy to work with. Very talented, he can build you anything. Our entire hardtop including supports weighed in at 310 pounds!


Paul is located at Peake Yacht Services, Chaguramas, Trinidad & Tobago. We had some great work done in this yard over the three seasons we spent there. If you are down that way and want to get some work done check them out, Say Hi to Greg, Lincoln and Susan in the Service office for us.