Hello crew! We hate to interrupt your regularly-scheduled Cuba Series, but we wanted to send you all a special invite for an opportunity to meet up with us this February, in Pensacola, Miami and/or Key West and make sure you all are aware of some very cool opportunities we have in store for you. As you likely know, we are commuting cruising for a bit and will be taking a short break while we sail on s/v Libra to the Miami Boat Show. We will be hosting and planning several get-togethers, parties and educational opportunities during that time and wanted to extend a personal invite to each of you. We hope you can make some of these:
Send-Off Party in Pensacola, Feb. 9th:
This was a pic from our send-off party before our voyage to Cuba back in December at a restaurant in downtown Pensacola and we’re planning a similar get-together for our send-off to the Miami Boat Show the evening of February 9, 2017. No set time. ‘Round happy hour’ish. At a little delightful gin joint in Pensacola called O’Riley’s on Palafox. We’ll have some drinks, tell some tales about our recent voyage to Cuba (feel free to ask us anything!) and have a fun night out on the town before the Miami Boat Show crew gets ready to toss the lines the following morning, February 10th, headed out Pensacola Pass to Miami for the boat show. If anyone ends up crashing in Pensacola that evening, feel free to come out to Deluna Plaza that next morning and snap some pics of Libra on her way out into Pensacola Bay to share on Facebook! Then follow along via our Delorme tracker posts on HaveWind’s Facebook page where we will keep you updated as far as our conditions and headway during the passage, much like we did during the Cuba voyage, as we make our way, back once again, across the Gulf. (We must like out there or something. ; )
Sail With Us to Miami on s/v Libra, Feb. 10th – 15th:
Okay, this is a biggie, but that’s a good thing. An offshore sail on Libra is a phenomenal experience that we would love to share with you if you have time available and can join us on the sail. Like our recent trip across the Gulf on Libra, this sail will include a stop at the exquisite Dry Tortugas, weather permitting, or Key West on the way to Miami. Phillip and I here, snorkeling at Ft. Jefferson. Such a cool place!
I have included a fun video below for you all from our recent sail to give you a flavor of what this voyage entails. The dates are Feb. 10th – 15th, $2,750 pp and includes tickets to the Miami Boat Show (all days) and all passage expenses. You can also stay on the boat the evening of Feb. 9th before castoff on the 10th. Just as the boat show is a great experience to help you learn more about boats, meet other cruisers, absorb engaging, educational seminars from some very experienced sailors, a sail on Libra is all of that, but hands-on, on the water. We hope some of you can join us. There are still a few bunks available; enter promo code HWWT for a $500 discount. Book at http://www.saillibra.com/join-a-sail/.
Meet Us at the Miami Boat Show, Feb. 16th – 20th (particularly Feb. 17th!):
Who’s already planning to go to the Miami Boat Show? Sweet! We can’t wait to meet you there!
Phillip and I went to the Miami Boat Show in 2015 for the all the reasons most folks new to (or dreaming about) cruising do: to learn more about boats, products, rigging, sail tactics, navigation, weather routing, you name it! The Boat Show is also where I made some very rewarding and long-lasting connections with many cruisers I now call very good friends, including Pam Wall and Bob Bitchin’! Phillip and I, as well as Captain Ryan, will be on Libra many of the days during the show talking with boat show attendees and sharing stories from our recent offshore voyages, including both of our recent trips to Cuba, as Libra plans to make that run again in April 2017 in the second annual Pensacola a la Habana race. In particular, we will be hosting a fun meet-and-greet style get-together on Libra, Pier 2 at Miamarina at the Miami Boat Show February 17, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. where we will serve drinks, snacks, have music and my fiery friend, Hanna, and I will do some aerial silks performances. Please come!
Hanna was one of my first silks instructors, the first person I ever saw doing silks on a sailboat (which totally inspired me) and the person who made it possible for me to go race in the Abacos Regatta back in 2015. I’m serious! Story here. She’s a huge part of my sailing/silking career and I can’t wait for you all to meet her. Thanks again, Hanna, for agreeing to come “hang out” with us : ) during the show!
Attend My Seminar at the Show, Feb. 20th:
It’s official! I’m speaking at the Miami Boat Show, and I am so honored to be listed right there among my many idols–Nigel Calder, Pam Wall, Chris Parker–whose seminars I attended wide-eyed and eager just a few short years ago. I will be speaking about my “First Time Across the Atlantic,” sharing our reflections on a first time ocean-crossing and lessons learned that are applicable to all passages.
I hope all of you who will be at the show still on Monday can attend. In addition, please help me make my presentation the absolute best it can be by commenting below with your own input as to what topics you think I should cover. If you were considering an Atlantic-crossing and had the ability to ask a fellow sailor about his or her recent first-time crossing, what would you want to know? What, specifically, would you ask? Thank you followers!
All-Women’s Offshore Sail, Feb. 21st – 22nd:
Ladies, come sail with me!
I put this sail together specifically to offer women who want offshore experience (but who perhaps may be reluctant, a little scared or just unable because of work and time commitments to jump off on an extensive five-day overnight sail) a quick, more cost-efficient opportunity to get some overnight experience underway. You can stay on Libra the evening of Feb. 21st at Miamarina, downtown Miami and we will cast-off the morning of Feb. 22nd headed for Key West on a quick, 24-hour run. There will also be a fun congratulatory get-together in Key West afterward where you can all cheers your awesome all-women’s voyage on Libra. I will serve as your instructor providing detailed sailing instructions and will share anything with you that I know about navigation, electronics, weather routing, sail tactics, etc. (along with Captain Ryan who knows way more!). I am no expert, but I’ve made a ton of mistakes and I’m happy to share all 138.4 of them with you! This is where you can ask all the stupid questions (because there are none) and learn in an environment that is comfortable for you. The cost is only $500 pp. If you are planning to come to the Miami Boat Show Feb. 20th, let us know and we will get you tickets to the show if you want to come see my presentation on the last day. Book at www.saillibra.com/join-a-sail/. Also, follow along on HaveWind’s Facebook page for updates from the ladies while we are underway. I hope some of you salty gals join me!
Key West Get-Together, Feb. 22nd:
Heck, let’s do it again. We love to get-together (obviously). Which means we love a good party. If you’ll be in Key West on Feb. 22nd, join us for our all-women’s post-sail celebration. To be honest, I have no clue yet when we’ll dock, but we will likely be at one of the downtown marinas and will probably start rounds at Schooner’s Wharf Bar or somewherest (that’s an Annie term) close by. I’ll probably be wearing that very dress, as it’s one of my three ship-to-shore numbers. Look for the gal in stripes or stay tuned on HaveWind’s Facebook page for updates and come hang out with the salty, sultry ladies in Key West who just went offshore on Libra. Oooooh.
Okay, whew! After all of that, Phillip and I are going to have to crawl in a cave for a while. And by cave, we mean head out on Plaintiff’s Rest for some quiet days on the hook alone! We love those too. But, we also love to meet our followers, share our stories, hear theirs and enjoy spending time with like-minded people like all of you. We hope some of you can join us at some of these get-togethers or on passage, and we are grateful for all the support you have shown us on our journey. It’s all about sharing the passion Phillip and I have for this lifestyle and inspiring others to it. Get inspired and what … ??
That’s right. See you soon!
