Brother Bob to the Rescue

A challenge faced by many offshore cruisers is finding a crew to help you safely sail from one place to another.

Offshore passages do not operate like the trains, buses, and ferries that most people are used to. “Schedules” are more like guidelines and weather is the ultimate decision maker.

More often than not, the “scheduled” day of departure arrives. Your crew has arrived ready to go, and the weather forecast strongly suggests that you wait for a better time window to make the trip.

Most folks don’t have a flexible schedule that allows them to wait more than a few days to get going. Many times there are flights home that have been pre-purchased, or other events that they are committed to. Also, many times a big incentive for your crew is spending time at the destination after making the trip. Every day delayed is a day they can not spend where we are going.

So, you as the skipper are placed in an uncomfortable position trying to balance looking for a safe/enjoyable weather window vs. losing your entire crew and being stuck where you are for far longer than you had hoped.

That is where we found ourselves this week. Kim and Doug (more flexible than many – thank you!) have “other commitments” and need to leave Bermuda no later than the 11th. At this point, the passage of tropical storm Philippe will not allow safe/comfortable departure until Monday, Oct. 9th.

It takes at least 3.5 days to get to Bermuda, so by default, I have lost my original crew!

Enter my brother Bob! Bob is more familiar with these issues than most. Over the past couple of years, he has come to the East Coast to help deliver Morpheus or our friend, Gibb Kane’s boat Bounty to Bermuda/the Caribbean. In every case, he has been shut down by the weather and forced to fly home without going sailing!

Seeing and understanding my situation, he sent me a message yesterday with his availability dates!! Bob to the rescue!! That message could not have come at a better time. I was working through the weather and actually considering making the passage single-handed. (not a good idea) Another alternative was blowing off Bermuda and the Caribbean all together and just working down the coast to Florida and then onwards from there.

Bob is now flying out on Sunday, and the weather window for the next 4-5 days looks close to perfect.

Thanks Bob!!!