Somewhere in Trinidad 31 March 2008

In a few hours I will drive to the international airport to meet my nephew John Foster who is flying in from British Columbia. He is joining me on an sea journey northward through the Caribbean chain and then 1,500 miles of open ocean to Canso Strait (separating mainland Nova Scotia from Cape Breton Island) and on to our destination, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

The next week will be boat preparations - haul out and anti-fouling, some sail repairs, and a few other odds and ends.

The vessel that will carry us there is called Ara' Deg (meaning 'easy does it' in Welsh) , an Alberg 37, (formerly registered as 'Figment' in the USA), hull no. 111 (which I consider to be a lucky number).

Ara' Deg has proved herself with over 8,000 ocean miles logged by self in the past 21 months. Starting in Maine in June 2006, I sailed her up through eastern Canada across the North Atlantic to Ireland and then back home in Wales where she wintered in Cardiff. I left Burry Port (Wales) on 15 September 2007 stopping in Porto Santo (Madeira), Las Palmas (Gran Caneria), Dakar (Senegal), Banjul (The Gambia), Porta da Praia (Cabo Verde), Charlotteville (Tobego), and Chagauramus, (Trinidad)

The journey back up to PEI will complete the circle of the North Atlantic.

That's the background. I hope that John will take over this blog for the duration of the trip with photos and commentary as we progress towards our goal.

But of course I'll have to interject my side of the story from time to time!

hwyl fawr!

Simon Foster