We're getting ready for our next big cruise. Starting some time in early January we are heading south in our Grand Banks 49 trawler to spend the winter in the Caribbean. The route will take us through the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas, on to the southern most Bahamian Out Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the American Virgin Islands, followed by the British Virgin Islands - and that's just the beginning. Eventually we hope to work our way south through the Windward and Leeward Islands all the way to Grenada, about 100 miles north of Trinidad and the coast of South America. By the time we get back home to Florida in early summer we'll have traveled about 5,000 miles on the boat and been to about 15 different countries.

Up to now we've been in the planning and preparation stage. Endless lists have been made; Trip insurance has been obtained; Charts, cruising guides and courtesy flags have been purchased; Equipment has been overhauled and spare parts have been stowed away onboard. It goes on and on but serious progress has been made and things are coming together.
Once underway we'll be sending up track logs from our SPOT device and regular position reports via http://www.findu.com/ and http://www.shiptrak.org/. My radio call sign is W2TLI, more on all of that later. We'll also be updating this blog from time to time of course.

The URL for our satellite SPOT tracker is:
http://www.tinyurl.com/waynebspottrack