Anchors Aweigh

Sometimes you might not have a full week to break away, but still want to make it a sailing trip. In this episode I discuss my process for planning a shorter trip and how I put together an abbreviated itinerary, even if it's to a new destination.

Charter companies mentioned in this episode:

In this episode of the Anchors Aweigh podcast I discuss The Mooring Yacht Ownership program and why we chose it as our first form of sailboat ownership.

In this episode we head out early and make our way back to the Dream Yacht Charter base at Compass Point Marina on St. Thomas.

In this episode, our luck finally changes and we finally get to fill our sails with wind!

In this episode, we sit on a mooring ball, waiting on a tech boat and to find out what the rest of our charter would look like. We also have a great meal ashore at Lovango Cay, learn Tripp's foolproof way to eat a great meal and run into "Captain Crack Sparrow!"

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In this logbook episode, we were hoping our luck would turn around, after discovering diesel in the bilge. Unfortunately, we were about to discover what real trouble looks like.

In this episode we continue our adventures in the U.S. Virgin Islands, discover a cool sailboat with a storied history, drop Karen off to head to the airport and snag the last mooring ball at our anchorage.

Show Notes:

In this episode the plumbing issue is cleared up, we start making water, we do some snorkeling and once again enjoy some of the best tacos anywhere from Lime Out, a floating taco bar!

Links from this episode

"The Seas Were Angry That Day"
This episode details the second sailing day of our May 2021 USVI sailing trip. We start the day in rough seas, enjoy lunch at Pizza Pi and end up in Cruz Bay for dinner. Oh yeah, and our head got clogged!

Mentioned in this episode:

After an extended break, Anchors Aweigh is back for season two! We kick off this season with logbook entries from a USVI sailing charter in May of 2021 - and this one was quite the adventure!

In this episode I discuss planning a sailing charter in the U.S. Virgin Islands on short notice. We are setting sail in May on a 42ft catamaran and it's time to start planning!

Show Notes:

In this episode, I discuss the tools and workflow that I use to capture the details of our sailing trips. It took three charter trips to find the best solution for me, so I thought I would share it here.

Apps:

In this final logbook episode from our St Petersburg sailing charter, we cover the short 9.5 nautical miles from Antigua Cove back to the Vinoy Marina and wrap up our trip with a visit to the St Pete Pier.

Show Notes:

This is the third logbook episode from our first family sailing charter in St Petersburg, Florida. This entry covers the 24.7 nautical miles from the Twin Dolphin Marina to Antigua Cove at Little Harbor.

Show Notes:

This episode is day one of the logbook from our very first charter as a family in St Petersburg, Florida.

In this episode I discuss my preparation for our upcoming charter, including crew briefings and some of the documents I've prepared to hopefully make our trip smoother.

In this episode, I discuss my initial sailing gear purchases as I prepare to head on my very first charter as skipper.

Show Notes:

In this episode I discuss the planning of my very first charter, which is just two weeks away.

Show Notes / Apps Mentioned:

In this episode I talk about my upcoming ASA 104/114 combo course with Sailing Florida. I also provide initial details on my very first sailing charter as a captain!

Show Notes:

hat I used to track our trip, and our plans for what’s next with sailing, including booking an ASA 104/114 combo course.

Show Notes:

I hope I’m sailing on a 50ft catamaran somewhere in the USVI’s right now - but that’s not keeping me from bringing you today’s episode. In honor of the BVI’s recently opening back up, In this episode I’m bringing you the final logbook entries from the 2019 British Virgin Islands.

Welcome back from the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. and from Covid quarantine in our household. In this episode, we talk about finalizing our plans for our USVI sailing charter next week and I begin the ASA 119 Marine Weather endorsement.

Show Notes:

In this logbook episode we sail from Diamond Cay to Great Harbour, via White Bay with a stop at the infamous Soggy Dollar Bar!

Show Links:

In this episode, I discuss the trials of attempting to book a sailing charter during the Covid-19 pandemic. It hasn't been easy, but we have a trip booked....for now.

Show Links:

In this episode I discuss the ASA 105 Coastal Navigation certification I earned from Starpath School of Navigation in more detail.

Show Links:

My sailing education continues! This episode recounts the ASA 103 certification course I took at the Charleston Sailing School, immediately following the 101 course.


Show Links:

I'm now an ASA certified sailor! In this episode I recount the two day ASA 101 Basic Keelboat certification at Charleston Sailing School.

Show Links:

In this logbook episode, we recount day 5 of our 2019 BVI sailing trip (the one that got this whole party started) - from Anegada to Diamond Cay, with a few awesome stops in between.

My Favorite Sailing Youtube Channels

In this episode, we head back into the journal for another logbook episode. We pick up on sailing day 3 of our British Virgin Islands trip from the summer of 2019, where we sail from Virgin Gorda to Scrub Island.

In this episode I discuss a potential USVI sailing trip, a possible pivot in selecting a sailing school and getting started with ASA 105 certification.

Sailing Term(s):

• Tack: This term has two distinct meanings, both of them very important. As a verb, to tack is to change direction by turning the bow of the boat through the wind. As a noun, your tack is the course you are on relative to the wind. For example, if the wind is blowing over the port side, you are on a port tack. If it’s blowing over the starboard side, you’re on a…you guessed it…starboard tack.
  
  
• Jibe: A jibe is another way of changing direction, in which you bring the stern of the boat through the wind. Whether you choose to tack or jibe entirely depends on the situation–what’s around you, and the direction of the wind.

In this second logbook episode, I read from the journal of Day 2 of our BVI Sailing Trip in July of 2019. It was my intent to space these logbook episodes out a little more. However, this past week I finished editing the full length movie of our trip last year and it got me excited to share another small piece of that adventure on the podcast sooner than later.

In this logbook episode, I recount the travel and first sailing day of our July 2019 sailing trip in the BVI. Raising the sails on that first day is one of the things that hooked me and I can’t wait to get underway again soon.

In this episode, we launch a news segment and discuss where I’m at in my decision making process regarding sailing courses, schools and certification.

News:

In this episode, we launch a segment where we learn a little sailing terminology and then discuss certifications and sailing schools and my considerations in choosing each.

Sailing Certifications / Organizations:

This episode touches on a brief history of my desire to start sailing and what ultimately led me to get started on the journey.

Below are resources mentioned in this episode:

Welcome to Anchors Aweigh, the podcast that chronicles a landlocked, future sailor’s journey to finding freedom and adventure at sea.

I’m your host Todd Middlebrooks and I welcome you along on my journey.

It has been a dream of mine for years to learn to sail. Through this podcast I will document my journey as I research sailing schools, learn to sail, plan adventures and make this dream a reality.

If this adventure interests you, I invite you to subscribe and have future episodes automatically docked in your favorite podcast player. 

So welcome aboard, it’s time to set sail.