Expedition: Around the World

On June 15, 2008 we will launch our most ambitious and exciting venture – an Around-the-World Sail/Travel expedition.  Let me explain.  Of course you can’t sail around the world in five weeks, or can you?  This extraordinary expedition, limited to six fortunate souls, will combine around the world air transportation, explorations of some of the world’s great cities, and four distinct weeks of bareboat charters in the world’s most exotic locations. 

Here’s how it works.  We will assemble at Los Angeles International Airport and board our plane for Papeete in French Polynesia.  We’ll spend a day exploring this enchanting port city, the hub of the South Pacific, before flying on to Raiatea.  Here we will board a 47’ sloop with 4 cabin and three heads.  We will spend six days sailing in the shadow of magical islands: Bora Bora, Huahini, Taha and others.  We’ll return the boat, fly back to Tahiti and then on to our next destination

We will arrive in Sydney, Australia on June 24. 2008 and spend two days and one night in this vibrant city.  Then we will fly up the Queensland coast to Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday’s group of islands.  Here we will board a 42’ four-cabin, four head catamaran and spend the next six days exploring these storied islands perched along the Great Barrier Reef. 

Our next destination is Bangkok, Thailand in Southeast Asia.  Again, we’ll spend two days and one night in this exotic city where east and west collide.  Then we’ll fly south to Phuket and board a 50’ sloop for six days of gunkholing among the alluring pearl green waters and gravity defying islands of Phang Nha Bay. 

Our next stop is Athens, Greece where we will take up lodgings in the Plaka district, on the very doorstep of the Acropolis.  After a couple of days, we’ll take the ferry to Milna and board a 41’ catamaran for our final 6 days of sailing, exploring the less trampled Sporades, in the Aegean Sea.  After we return the boat, we’ll return to Athens and fly on New York where our incredible expedition will conclude on July 19.

For more information and a detailed expedition program contact: John@yayablues.com

Expedition:  Working Sail Behind the Belize Reef

The working sailboats of Belize are handsome, nimble, low-slung plank on frame hulls with sweeping sheer lines and generous sloop rigs.  They range in size from less than 20’ to just over 30’.  Some are maintained in good order while others are rough and ready but they are all genuine working boats. Fishermen from northern Belize use the sloops to sail to the lobster and conch beds further south.  They spend days and weeks sailing from one anchorage to another.  Their crews free dive from small dugout skiffs.  They often anchor off fish camps for the night where they rendezvous with other sloops and their crews. They are among the last working sailboats and sailors in the Western Hemisphere.

My unique expedition provides an opportunity to see how these sloops are built, to sail them for several days, and to explore the pristine waters and cays along the Belize reef.  Each boat will have a local skipper.  You will be part of the crew with a total of four people aboard.  We’ll sail four to six hours a day before making landfall. A few nights we’ll sleep on the beach in tents, most nights we’ll hole up in unique island resorts.  We will enjoy delicious local food and drink and make several exciting inland excursions. We will have frank discussions with local fishermen and learn how sustainable working sail is along the Belize reef. We’ll also learn about the ancient Maya maritime culture and how mariners played a decisive role in the collapse of classic Maya civilization.

Our expedition will assemble in Belize City.  We’ll make our by van to Sarteneja, a Mayan/Mestizo village on the Shipstern Peninsula in northern Belize. We’ll meet master shipwright (and former mayor) Juan Guerrero.  We will watch as he puts the finishing touches on his latest boat, and meet the skippers of our boats.  The next morning we will have some sail training and an expedition brief. After lunch we’ll set sail for the twenty-mile passage to Ambergris Cay.  We’ll spend our first night ashore and rejoin the sloops in the next morning. We’ll continue south, visiting Cay Caulker before anchoring off St. Georges Cay.  We’ll continue just inside the thundering Belize reef to Tobacco Cay and then on to S. Water Cay.  This will be our base for a couple of days, and we’ll make an excursion inland to the Mayan archeological site of Xunantunich and also explore a vast cave network.  From South Water Cay we will sail toward the inner channel and eventually make our way to Laughing Bird Cay, a national park, and finally, to the charming village of Placencia where our expedition concludes. After a festive night ashore, we’ll fly back to Belize City and make our way home. 

Space is limited and these working sail expeditions fill up fast.  For detailed information and reservations contact me john@yayablues.com

Itinerary

December 1, arrive Belize City Airport, travel by van to Sarteneja. Meet master shipwright Juan Guerrero.  He will join us for dinner along with the skippers of our boats.  Accommodations: Fernando’s Seaside Guesthouse

December 2, After breakfast, we’ll go over the boats and have a brief sail-handling lesson.  Just after lunch we’ll set sail for Ambergris Cay.  Accommodations:  Mother Ocean Guesthouse.

December 3, An early start will see us sailing south to Cay Caulker. We’ll stop for lunch and then carry on to St. George’s Cay.  Accommodations: St. George’s Cay Lodge

December 4, An early start, sailing south to Tobacco Cay.  This is extraordinary sailing as we make our along just inside the reef.  Accommodations: Tobacco Cay Lodge

December 5, A leisurely morning ashore. We’ll set sail in the afternoon, and head south to beautiful South Water Cay.  This will be our base for the next two nights.  Accommodations: IZE Marine Biology Station and Lodge.

December 6, An early start, we’ll take local skiffs to mainland where we will meet a van for the drive to the incredible Mayan sight of Xunantunich.   This is a long, exciting day, and we’ll return to S. Water Cay for the night. 

December 7, After breakfast, we’ll rejoin the sloops and set sail for the Pelican Cays on the inland channel. Intricate navigation required.  We will set up camp on the beach. 

December 8, We’ll break camp early, and head south for Laughing Bird Cay. This island is a national park.  We will camp here and enjoy some of the finest snorkeling in Belize.

December 9,  We head for Placencia, the charming village at the end of a long, snaking Peninsula.  We arrive midday.  Accommodations:  Sea Spray Hotel. 

December 10, fly from Placencia to Belize City and onward.