Sunset at Great Bird Island, Antigua
Orient Beach on St. Martin
The Quay at Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua
Savannah Sky’s mast coming off
Savannah Sky’s mast coming off
Captain Steve and Patty
Jolly Harbour Marina in the night
Sint Maarten’s Greenhouse Restaurant with two-for-one drinks
The French decided to damage the French Side Bridge once again in a protest. Ah the French…
S/Y Savannah Sky – January 23, 2026 – Log #25
Savannah Sky Position: 17 degrees 04’ N, 61 degrees 54’ W
Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, Caribbean
Back in the Caribbean Again
Arriving in Antigua, Caribbean we found Savannah Sky just as we left her last April, waiting serenely on land for our return to Jolly Harbour Boatyard.
We flew from Denver with eight bags of boat parts. I think that is a record for us.
Da Customs man in Antigua politely asked me to put the largest checked bag on his table and open it.
With a knowing smile he said, “What do you really have in all these bags?”
Oh boy. In Grenada we would have been moved to the dreaded “Something to Declare” area and forced to pay a LOT of duty on boat in transit parts.
Yet in Antigua I told the Customs Mon, “I have clothes and LOTS of boat parts”.
Smiling at me once again, the uniformed man flipped my bag shut and said, “Welcome to Antigua” while waving me through and away from the Customs area.
Antigua is one of our favorite islands!
Seeing Savannah Sky at Jolly Harbour Boat Yard after seven months brought butterflies jumping in my stomach.
New bottom paint had already been applied to help control growth of aquatic life on the bottom of Savannah Sky while sailing in the tropical waters of the deep blue Caribbean Sea.
That dirty paint job was done before we arrived, something very different than down island too.
A day later, the gigantic Jolly Harbour travel lift gently pulled Savannah Sky into the air from her solid supports, moving her to the slipways and lowering her into the water once again. Savannah Sky floats!
Now, will the engine start? That is kind of an important part as you might guess.
Yes! The engine immediately turned over and we were on our way into a berth at Jolly Harbour Marina, about a 1-minute quick motor away.
Now the fun(?) began.
Several weeks were spent preparing Savannah Sky for sailing amongst the tiny latitudes of the Eastern Caribbean.
During this time in Antigua our good friend Patty joined us for Christmas in da islands, escaping winter’s grasp in snowy Colorado, spending her time snorkeling, exploring beaches and enjoying ginger beer with spectacular sunsets sailing around Antigua together.
Magical places like Falmouth Harbour, Nelson’s Dockyard and even remote Great Bird Island gave Patty a taste of Antigua’s treasures.
With the dawn of a new year, Patty was gone and Savannah Sky was sailing off the coast of St. Barths.
St. Barths, where the beautiful people and billionaires gather to enjoy a place like no other in the world.
The Christmas party at St. Barths that Jeff Bezos threw on his yacht Koru was legendary, or so we heard. I guess typical sailors such as us were not invited, for some strange reason, haha.
We kept sailing on by.
Maria and I sailed Savannah Sky to a place we have known for over 37 years, Sint Maarten/St. Martin, the island where two countries sharing the same piece of rock in the sea, France and Holland.
There was so much work to be done in Sint Maarten that we had reserved six months before we arrived.
Savannah Sky’s mast was pulled off and new stainless-steel rigging installed, a downwind whisker pole was mounted, new safety lifelines were put in place and a Code Zero sail was fitted for extended light weather sailing.
A new Raymarine autopilot was installed as well, something that is essential for ocean sailing.
Ah, the list of work was long and essential for a successful journey across the Atlantic to Portugal this spring and of course during the Longue Route 2027 I will be sailing solo.
Ah but the work isn’t finished yet.
Next, we’re sailing south and down island to St. Lucia. But that is for another day and another time.
Sint Maarten is the winter home to the massive mega and super yachts of the world. So much wealth lines all the berths at Sint Maarten’s Lagoon Marinas that it is becoming another billionaire’s showroom, seeing so much stainless glistening in the morning light.
I promise to post more frequent updates as we sail down island, enjoying the beauty in these little latitudes, one day at a time.
Sail on, sail on Savannah Sky…
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