IN BERMUDA

Official and Part-time Contessa Crewmembers: Roy and Robin Taylor, Jeannie and Bud Starr, Rick and Dana Neff (part-timers who stayed in a fancy air conditioned resort ‘cause Dana is a gentile lady—grin), Brian Wilson (Australian pilot who keeps his Westsail at the same docks we keep Contessa at; flew in the last day to sail home), and Joe Shearer (Military friend who Roy had sailed with him/his family in the Bahamas years ago; flew in the last day to crew on the way home).

25 Jun 01

First full day on Bermuda. Bud and Jeannie hopped out of bed bright and early, went for a 3 mile hike around St Georges and stopped in town and rented 2 scooters for the week…then they came home and made breakfast burritos for everyone…again, my kind of crew!!! Because Tracy’s flight left at 3:50PM, Roy, Tracy, Bud and Jeannie headed out for a whirlwind tour of the island…and I got to stay behind to do the laundry/straighten the boat up (oh boy…now you understand why I wasn’t in a hurry to get to land!). They headed south, visited the city of Hamilton (all be it by mistake) and then stopped at Horseshoe Bay for swimming and ice cream before heading back to the boat to get Tracy’s stuff and take her to the airport. In the afternoon, us four remaining sea dogs went to Tobacco Bay and snorkeled (gorgeous!) and then got ready to meet up with Rick and Dana for dinner at Swizzlers…great food/drink/fun! We ended the evening with a swim at the Gratto Bay Resort and dancing at their outside band/bar…complete with Dana/Rick/Bud/Jeannie doing the electric slide and Rick throwing his shoe into the audience for "effect"! A scooter ride home (under a quarter moon and brilliant stars) and we tucked ourselves into bed on our beloved Contessa. Bermuda is the closest thing to paradise I’ve seen yet…even better than Bahamas because there aren’t even any mosquitoes!!! Day one on land…a total success.

26 Jun 01

 – Touring Bermuda. Started the day with Bud’s famous egg sandwich (Yum) and then split up to go touring. Roy and I rode the "less than comfortable" scooter all the way to the southwestern-most point of the island, the Royal Navy Dock yards. Great place but VERY far via scooter (ouch!); next time, we’ll go by ferry and spend a day touring. Meanwhile Bud and Jeannie decide to hike 3 miles on the beach …Jeannie about died of heat prostration but Bud had a great time ’cause he found 2 topless babes along the way (Jeannie had a lousy sense of humor about all Bud’s enthusiasm…can’t imagine why)! We decided the four of us really are marching to the beat of the same drum when we both wound up at the same little obscure restaurant at the same time to have lunch (what are the odds?)! Back on those bikes and off to get some souvenirs in St. Georges. We got back to Contessa just in time to witness a great down poring. Roy decided that because he was wet already that it was a good time to put on at tank and clean the bottom of the boat…what a sight! We finished the evening with a hamburger party for the whole rally at the yacht club…pretty good end to a pretty good day.

27 Jun 01

Today Jeannie took frying pan in hand and made her famous egg, cheese, and kielbasa breakfast burritos; Roy and I are getting fatter and happier as the days go by. Rick and Dana joined us and we headed into St. Georges for a "quick cup of coffee" as Bud and Jeannie split off to go to Turtle Beach in St David. Well – an hour later the coffee finally arrived (geesh!) and we were off to the Gratto Bay Resort for swimming and lounging. Several hours of "pleasant baking" later, we loaded up on the scooter and explored the NE end of the islands visiting St David’s lighthouse and Turtle Bay. Back to the boat for a sandwich and naps and then over to Tobacco beach for a quick dip before we headed to San Giorgio’s (best restaurant in the area) for dinner. Well – we never made it to dinner ’cause the rally gang just decided our boat/pier area was the perfect place for an impromptu PARTY!!! A pitcher of margritas/5 hours/a quart of bourbon/untold munchies/several packages of hot dogs later we dragged our tired and very happy bodies to bed. What a party – great memories with new friends and an eternal "visual picture" of Bud and Jake "plank dancing " to Beatles music under the stars. GRIN.

28 Jun 01

Today, Bud fixed blueberry pancakes for breakfast (God, I love these people!). Bud and Jeannie went for their beloved morning hike and Roy went off to get fuel for the scooter. I cleaned the boat while we awaited Rick’s/Dana’s arrival. We headed out for a day of "Rickster’s Fishing" at 1130. Immediately found yet another hazard of Med Docking – our neighbor’s anchor was atop ours!! One and a half VERY TENSE hours later…including resetting two boat’s anchors/lines, dropping ours with a floater, re-anchoring upwind, launching the dingy and diving to retrieve our anchor…we turned toward the pass and headed out. What a glorious sail!! We headed Contessa south with following seas and FINALLY got to see her with a spinnaker flying!!! The "fish Gods" weren’t smiling for the great fisherman "Rickster" today---no fish for dinner today. But—the day still was "a winner"--we got to see a Naval sub up close for hours as she maneuvered back and forth and enjoyed a perfectly pleasant day at sail. Anchored out (NO WAY we were going to Med Moor again today) at 2000 and had lasagna, salad and French bread on the stern under the stars…smile. Ended the day with a dingy ride (Jeannie’s first!) in to the club, one last walk and a nightcap. T’was another perfect day in paradise.

29 Jun 01

Leaped out of bed at 0720 and rushed to get underway in time to get a good spot at the fueling dock because the duty free tanker was arriving at 0800. Well…the fuel truck arrived at 1045!! Ah well, extra time to relax and enjoy chatting with world travelers. Finally docked back up at the dingy club at 1300, had some lasagna/salads and then Brian Wilson (friend from our home docks in Poquoson) showed up (yea for the Aussies—one on the way over and now one on the way back!). We loaded everyone up and headed over to Tobacco Bay for some more wonderful snorkeling. When we returned Joe Shearer (long time military friend) was on the dock waiting for us…Contessa’s return crew now officially all present and ready to Go Sailing!! We had an "early evening" PARTY on board Offline and I managed to get "roaring drunk" on one Bermuda Swizzler (it’s embarrassing to be such a cheap drunk, but everyone seemed to get a kick out of the "less reserved" me!) Steak dinner and our awards banquet at the club – we officially came in sixth out of nine (which is exactly what Steve Black predicted we would do) and we won the $50 pot for the biggest fish caught! Dana and Rick showed up about 10PM but by then we were all "spent" so they hit the road for more exciting company. Tucked in bed by 1130 on our last night in Bermuda…Oh why does this have to end?

30 Jun 01

Leaving Bermuda today (sigh). Jeannie and Bud escaped early again…the rest of us anxiously awaited their return expecting yet another gourmet breakfast…that never happened (oh how dependent we have become in only 2 weeks—don’t leave us Jeannie/Bud!!). Morning weather report showed the guys should "hit the sea" as early today as possible so we went into plan B mode instantly. Brian and Joe scooted off to get 2 hours of sightseeing/souvenir hunting in St Georges, I packed and cleaned the boat, Jeannie and Bud headed for the airport, and Roy paid the dingy club. He then dropped me off at Gratto Bay with Dana so we could catch a taxi ride to the airport and took Rick back with him to process through customs and ready Contessa for the journey home!

The final installment of the Ship's Log:

Copyright © Warriordoc, Joe Shearer, Roy and Robin Taylor, Bud and Jeannie Starr, 2001, 2002. 
All Rights Reserved.

Revised:09/09/02