Category Archives: Jeff’s Blog

Bear in Florida – Fall 2019 Update

This is the first of a multi-part series to catch folks up on the last several months. Margaret and I have been writing these posts jointly, switching off every paragraph. We returned to the States right around June 1, coming … Continue reading

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Podcast Interview

We had the pleasure of talking with Chris Smith, creator of The Bonnie Boat Sailing Podcast, a few weeks ago. We discussed preparation for our offshore trip to the British Virgin Islands, what it is like to live aboard Bear, … Continue reading

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The Government Shutdown and Our Bay Host Duties

With the government shutdown, the National Park Service suspended the bay host program, temporarily releasing us from our role. Consequently, we no longer need to be in Leinster Bay. And, when we are, we are not supposed to engage in … Continue reading

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Seven Days on St. John, USVI

Our friends, Sasha and David, will be our first visitors down here in the Virgins. Some of you may remember them from our Abacos charter before we even purchased Bear. In anticipation of their visit, we put together a list … Continue reading

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Virgin Islands National Park Bay Hosts

Last night at 5pm, Margaret and I started our new “job.” We are now volunteer bay hosts for Virgin Islands National Park. For the next two months – at a minimum – we will be living on a mooring in … Continue reading

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Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke post-Hurricane Irma Update

As we continue our posts on the British Virgin Islands in the wake of the 2018 storms (see our last one on Trellis Bay), we turn our attention to Great Harbour post-Hurricane Irma. With Foxy’s drawing in cruisers, charterers, and … Continue reading

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Trellis Bay post-Hurricane Irma Update

We are going to start highlighting the major anchorages of the BVI, describing some of the damage from Hurricane Irma and giving a rundown of the current state of the bars, restaurants, and other businesses. We start this little series … Continue reading

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Our BVI National Parks Trust Marine Parks Mooring Permit

Before arriving in the British Virgin Islands, we had read up on fees and procedures on Noonsite.com, in The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands, and elsewhere. Everything mentions an additional BVI National Parks Trust Marine Parks Mooring Permit that you … Continue reading

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Our AIS Transceiver on Passage

Installing an automated identification system (AIS) – an AIS transceiver in particular – was a priority for us this spring. And although it took us until July, when we spent two weeks in the mooring field at Annapolis completing our spring … Continue reading

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Fixing a Furler to Get Out of Nanny Cay

We finally slipped the grip of Nanny Cay today. And it was only after a monumental effort this morning that we were able to get away. When Felipe and I first arrived at Nanny Cay marina a day after we … Continue reading

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