Its been a very windy week ... locals call this the "Christmas Winds" and it means windy trades in the 20-25 knots with higher gusts...

We have been making fast passages hopping north from the Grenadines to St Lucia where we picked up friends Scott & Austin Swift (Singer Taylor Swift’s father and brother respectively). They sailed with us to Martinique, Dominica and the Saintes before flying out again. It was great having them on board.

Starting as we left the Tobago Cays in the Southern Grenadines we passed one of the world largest mega-yachts... that’s a real helicopter - it just looks like a model since the yacht is over 400 feet long.

Folding-out decks to launch all the boats and beach toys...

Rainy squalls meant some lovely rainbows including this nice double-rainbow.

The Saintes are one of our favourite stops

Here are some sailing pix from the trip north! It was quite breezy and a bit uncomfortable but very fast!

Some sunny patches with trade wind clouds but also lots of squalls passing

We charged along at 8-9 knots most of the time!

Paul ventures forward during a more settled patch to set up the camera at the bow and film the windy conditions.

Distant Shores II has a "bone in her teeth" as they say.

We sailed with the small 100% jib - often reefed down and sometimes full out as here.

Nevis in the background as we complete the 2nd last day


Waves do not look as large in photos ... Video shows it much more accurately...

Seas are down to 2.3 meters - 7 feet or so and winds 20-25... pleasant :-)


We Celebrate the arrival in Nevis with an excellent roast pork Sunday Dinner... gravy et al!

Then its on to St Martin where we will store Distant Shores for a few weeks as we go home to the Toronto & Chicago Boat Shows.