Getting Ready for the Bahamas

This trip feels like it’s been a lifetime in the making, and now it’s just a few weeks away! I’ve been dreaming of taking my family on an adventure through the Bahamas since I did a similar trip when I was 30 on Rebellion - a C&C 27. All the pieces are finally falling into place! We have a boat, and I’m retiring from PepsiCo on December 28, 2024, after 20 years.

So, what’s the plan? Well, my son Andrew and friend Juan Carlos will join me in Tortola, BVI, on January 4th. We’ll have about 14 days to make the journey to the Abaco, Bahamas. It’ll be over 860 miles, and we’ll likely spend 6-7 days sailing non-stop offshore in Rumaway. This is a big adventure for us, as both Juan Carlos and I have done long-distance racing (Lake Ontario 300) on inland lakes, but neither of us has taken on an offshore passage like this one.

Once we reach the Abaco, Andrew and Juan Carlos will fly home, and Sue will join me through the end of March with some friends hopping on and off the boat. During that time, we’ll sail the following route:

• Abaco

• Eleuthera

• New Providence

• Exuma

• Long Island

Sue will be leaving Rumaway at the end of March, and Mike, the owner of Rebellion will be joining me for a 2-week sail back to the BVI’s through the southern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. This trip will be challenging because the prevailing winds will be against us on the way back. On April 14, Rumaway will be back home in the BVI’s and available for charter until 2026, when we’re planning our next adventure.

Planning this trip has been a huge undertaking. I’ve been thinking through every possible scenario we might encounter, as we need to be self-sufficient. I had to consider the boat, what could go wrong, what spare parts we might need, and any upgrades we could make for safety and comfort. Then there’s the safety gear - 7 days offshore is a long time, so we need EPIRB’s, Man Overboard beacons, safety lines, satellite communication, weather routing advice, first aid, navigation, and fishing gear for Andrew. I’ve also had to learn new skills like deep weather understanding, offshore sailing tactics, and diesel engine maintenance. I’m sure I’m missing some things, and I hope most of the safety gear never gets used. It’s been a lot of work, but I’ve really enjoyed thinking about this trip.

I’m super excited and counting down the days until you can join us for the adventure! I’ll be posting weekly updates starting in January.