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svmavis

That late season vibe means it’s almost time to

That late season vibe means it’s almost time to begin south again. The boat is steadily being readied to resume her cruising and get out of the Great South Bay. Life tries to get in the way but we sailors are always called to the sea. #sailing #geminicatamaran #gemini105mc

We've hauled out and Mavis will sit this cruising

We've hauled out and Mavis will sit this cruising season out on the hard. The "real world" has conspired to keep us from cruising this winter but we will be tackling maintenance projects and getting her ready for more exciting adventures at sea in 2023. #geminicatamaran #onthehard #geminicatamarans #cruisinglife #boatyard

This summer on the Great South Bay took a while to

This summer on the Great South Bay took a while to settle in but once it did the days just flew by. Hard to believe we’re halfway through August already. #gemini105mc #geminicatamarans #geminicatamaran #sunset #greatsouthbay

Good morning. #geminicatamarans #geminicatamaran

Good morning. #geminicatamarans #geminicatamaran #sailinglife

I’m settling in for a (hopefully) relaxing overn

I’m settling in for a (hopefully) relaxing overnight voyage up the Chesapeake Bay from Solomon’s Island, MD to the C&D Canal. Unlike yesterday, the bay today is flat calm with light winds forecast into tomorrow morning. Things can change out here but for now, I’m happy as can be at the helm.

If things go according to the ever-evolving plan, we will arrive in time to catch a favorable tide through the canal. In a boat that motors at 7 knots, a 3 or 4 knot current on the bows can really be a problem. I haven’t decided if we will make it down the Delaware Bay to Cape May, NJ yet but as of now it looks doable on Sunday but I’m not seeing any good weather window for the offshore hop from Cape May to Fire Island Inlet anytime soon so we may have to wait it out there.

So close but still so far. #sailing #geminicatamaran #geminicatamarans

Good morning from the Chesapeake Bay. We’ve run

Good morning from the Chesapeake Bay. We’ve run nonstop for the last 24 hours and are arriving in Solomon’s Maryland.

Since leaving Stuart, FL we have traveled 940 nautical miles. About another 300 to go.

The original plan for this leg was to travel nonstop from where we anchored just north of the Albermarle Sound all the way up the bay to the C&D Canal but unfortunately the south winds we have been enjoying will go north today until late tonight as a weak cold front moves through.

Even though the winds are expected to be light, Mavis slams horribly into winds and seas on her nose so I’ve elected to tie her up for the day and get soMe rest before resuming the voyage tomorrow.

The overnight was uneventful and the seas were calm. I spoke with several container ships to coordinate passing but otherwise just sat there on watch watching the miles click up while the autopilot did it’s thing.

We've travelled 727 Nautical Miles since leaving S

We've travelled 727 Nautical Miles since leaving Stuart, FL and although I would like to be further along on this journey than we are, maintenance issues and few good offshore sailing windows made this trip more tedious than I would have hoped.

Yesterday we arrived at the Dowry Creek Marina, one of my favorite stops along the coast, and a good place to leave Mavis for a week or so. It's time for a crew swap. Rob's been very generous with his time and I promised I'd have him back by Easter so tomorrow we will leave Mavis and head back to Long Island. It will be nice to be off the boat for a few days before I return, this time with Cindy, to finish sailing her home to her slip in West Sayville.

The voyage ahead will be between 400 and 500 nautical miles depending on which way we go. We'll need to sail up the Pungo River to the Alligator River-Pungo Canal and then out into the Alligator River and across the Albermarle Sound. Then we'll take the North River up to the Virginia Cut into the Elizabeth River and Norfolk, VA.

At Norfolk we will decide based on the weather if we will jump offshore and sail the last 250 nautical miles offshore to Fire Island Inlet or if we will travel up the Chesapeake Bay, through the C&D Canal and down the Delaware River to Cape May where we will wait for a weather window to sail the 135 miles home.

Either way, I'm hoping for an enjoyable, boring, and uneventful voyage.

#dowrycreekmarina #dronephotography #sailing #geminicatamaran

We left Hilton Head, SC yesterday morning at dawn

We left Hilton Head, SC yesterday morning at dawn and have travelled about 170 nautical miles overnight to Southport, NC where we will enter the Cape Fear River inlet in a few hours and continue onward on the inside until we run out of light. We have been about 20 miles offshore most of this hop and are just now getting our mobile data back. It’s amazing how reliant we have become on the internet. It feels weird out here when it’s gone.

With hopefully all of our mechanical challenges behind us, we are making steady progress now but looking at the charts it’s very easy to get overwhelmed my the sheer size of this continent.

We are eating the elephant… Slowly.

Although I’m ready to be home and tied up in the Great South Bay, I remind myself of how fortunate I am to be able to have these experiences aboard Mavis. So I’m kind of trying to suck it all in while simultaneously trying to get this trip done… Hard to explain.

Robert Sheldon is a first class crew member and I’m very lucky to have him on board. He’s learned the ropes and has the sea time…. Maybe it’s time for him to get his captain’s license. In addition to handling his watches, the guy has been upside down in the bilges quite a bit on this trip. His mechanical abilities are much appreciated.

That’s all for now.

Mavis is spending her last few days on her mooring

Mavis is spending her last few days on her mooring ball here in Stuart, FL at the awesome Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage. It seems our steering system needs some maintenance before we can begin the epic voyage back to Long Island, NY. The crew and parts should all arrive on Monday and with some elbow grease we should be good to depart next week.

The captain is appreciating the time alone with his vessel but is anxious to get underway.

#sailing #geminicatamaran #sunsetbaymarinaandanchorage #stuartflorida

Loving the sunsets here in Stuart, FL.

Loving the sunsets here in Stuart, FL.

Mavis is floating happily on her mooring ball. Se

Mavis is floating happily on her mooring ball. Seems like more and more boats are arriving every day. Tis the season.

We’re happy to be back aboard Mavis together in

We’re happy to be back aboard Mavis together in lovely Stuart, FL. It’s been rainy since we got here yesterday but at least we’re warm!

Miles offshore, Mavis’ cockpit gives me plenty o

Miles offshore, Mavis’ cockpit gives me plenty of screens to fiddle with. I love long overnighters. Much respect to the ole paper chart, parallel rule and dividers captains but I prefer all of the modern tools that make navigation and situational awareness so easy. #sailing #navigation #geminicatamarans

Salty sailors and long distance cruisers know that

Salty sailors and long distance cruisers know that this buoy, R36 in Norfolk, VA marks Mile 0 of the Atlantic Intracoastal waterway which runs 3000 miles along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. #mile0 #icwcruising #intracoastalwaterway

We are 190 miles into our offshore run from Long I

We are 190 miles into our offshore run from Long Island to Norfolk, VA with continuing service to Bellhaven, NC. Tonight’s sunset did not disappoint.

Mavis anchored off of Fire Island at sunset. Anot

Mavis anchored off of Fire Island at sunset. Another season on the Great South Bay has flown by! #geminicatamaran #gemini105mc #sailinglife

Starting to feel like fall on the Great South Bay!

Starting to feel like fall on the Great South Bay! #greatsouthbay #sailing #longisland

It was an amazing day for sailing on the Great Sou

It was an amazing day for sailing on the Great South Bay! The north winds brought cool air and a taste of fall. Mavis isn’t scheduled to start South for another month so we’re hoping for some Indian summer.

It’s a little cooler today and that makes Willow

It’s a little cooler today and that makes Willow the Salty Sailing Pup happy. The summer at home on the Great South Bay is quickly winding down and soon Mavis will return to sea and head South again. After taking last winter off from cruising it will be nice to make some miles again. #sailingdog #geminicatamaran #gemini105mc #sailingaway #sailingstyle

Our new Highfield dinghy makes trips to shore with

Our new Highfield dinghy makes trips to shore with the dog much more enjoyable! We loved anchoring in Lake Montauk! #lakemontauk #lakemontauksunsets #sailinglife #highfieldboats

Breaking in the next generation of crew today!

Breaking in the next generation of crew today!

Good morning from beautiful Atlantique, Fire Islan

Good morning from beautiful Atlantique, Fire Island, NY.

Always taking pictures. At the start of an amazin

Always taking pictures. At the start of an amazing overnight sail from Lake Montauk, around Montauk Point into the Shinnecock inlet and westbound on the inside for another 35 miles to the Great South Bay.

We were happy to do some cruising over the last fe

We were happy to do some cruising over the last few days sailing Mavis about 100nm out and around Montauk Point to 3 Mile Harbor where we anchored with two other Gemini Catamarans. One of the things that make these boats so amazing is their ability to float in very shallow water. This photo was taken with the boats in water that was about knee deep.

Mavis is anchored off of Fire Island where we are

Mavis is anchored off of Fire Island where we are consuming the first Rocket Fuels of the season in celebration of our awesome captain’s birthday. Let the games begin.

Sunrise on the Connetquot River. This summer has

Sunrise on the Connetquot River. This summer has flown by way too fast. Mavis is taking this winter off from cruising to take care of maintenance and to prepare her for an epic voyage in the fall and winter of 2021.

Happy 4th from S/V Mavis!

Happy 4th from S/V Mavis!

After another awesome cruise from NY to the Bahama

After another awesome cruise from NY to the Bahamas, Mavis has been unloaded and we are on our way home for a few weeks. We're excited to be home but miss our little floating home already. #geminicatamarans

It's been great having @robertsheldon65 aka Babou

It's been great having @robertsheldon65 aka Babou on board for the last week. We managed to have a blast despite the heavy winds. Sadly it's almost time for him to fly out of here. We tried to get him to sail back to the USA with us but the real world needs him back. #sailinglife #bimini #bahamas #saltlife

Our winter cruise to the Bahamas is winding down f

Our winter cruise to the Bahamas is winding down fast. Soon we will begin waiting for a weather window to return to the States. Trying to take it all in and absorb this beautiful place and it's people because all too soon we will be wishing we were here. #sailinglife #alicetown #bimini #bahamas #saltlife #cruising

One of the coolest things about the cruising lifes

One of the coolest things about the cruising lifestyle is all of the amazing people you meet along the way! Sharing the highs and lows and helping each other overcome the challenges we face out here is always better with friends.
This is Kevin and Dorothy our friends and boat neighbors. We met them back in Miami and were so glad to see them pull up here! They've been pinned down with us for a few weeks waiting for weather to allow them to move deeper into the Bahamas and we have really been enjoying their company.
These winds should settle down for a few days giving them a chance to jump soon. It's always bittersweet when friends move on but that is part of the deal out here!

#boatfriends #sailinglife #bahamas #cruiselife

Sunrise at Brown's Marina, Bimini, BS. It's been a

Sunrise at Brown's Marina, Bimini, BS. It's been a little cool and blustery over the past few days as cold front after cold front make their way through. That's winter in the Bahamas, though. We're not complaining but it's amazing how thin skinned we have become after two winters down here. This morning when I took this picture it felt like Christmas in NY... Then I looked at the temperature and saw it was 67F. #bimini #sunrise #palmtrees #coconut #bahamas #sailinglife #sailing

We need a bigger boat. 😄Due to a Bahamian immig

We need a bigger boat. 😄Due to a Bahamian immigration paperwork snafu our friends had to jump back to the States for a day. We are puppy sitting their adorable golden retriever while they're away. Willow and Ozzy have been having fun playing in paradise over the past few weeks. Now they're having a sleepover party. #sailingdogs #puppysleepoverparty #gemicatamarans #saillife #sailinglifestyle #englishspringerspaniel #goldenretriever

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