S/V Aphrodite

Wow, it has been months since I have updated you on the closure of Cloud 9’s
adventures and the beginning of Aphrodite’s. So much has happened since we
returned to the States. I will summarize briefly, if I can.

While we were in Florida with Mom, we snuck a look at the larger Island
Packet to address some of the difficulties I was having living on Cloud 9.
The price inspired us to look at other options in that price range. What
that eventually led to was a 50′ St. Francis catamaran, made in South
Africa. While we were looking, thinking and planning, we sailed Cloud 9 to
the Chesapeake Bay to get her out of the hurricane zone. Once we decided on
our future boat, we moved all of our stuff off Cloud 9, left her in Rock
Hall, a town in the Chesapeake’s Eastern Side, flew to the Bahamas where
Aphrodite was and sailed her back to the Chesapeake Bay to where we left
Cloud 9 and all of our cruising belongings. We ended up spending over 2
months in the Chesapeake Bay while we transitioned from one home to another
home. We are finally completely off Cloud 9 and on Aphrodite, and oh do we
love Aphrodite!. Aphrodite is St. Francis’ hull #1 50′ model and is a contestant for the Annapolis Boat Show Cruising Boat of the Year award Oct. 5-10. For that reason, we will sail her back to Annapolis Oct 4 and prepare her to be “looked over” and hopefully inspire
other sailors to take the leap from monohulls to a catamaran.

The Chesapeake Bay has been a very interesting place to spend time. I did
one of my favorite cruising activities, read a historical novel about the
area. The Chesapeake, by James Michener, offered me the opportunity to
learn the rich history of this area. His book is centered around the very
sleepy Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake, known as Delmarva, from the 3
different states which comprise this area. The body of water is no longer
clean and inviting, but the history is so interesting that it is easy to
overlook the water color. The Chesapeake is known for it’s blue crabs and
oysters, both of which are still being harvested daily. The oystering has
had a particularly negative influence on the balance of nature here because
oysters are the primary method of filtering and purifying the water. Now
that the oyster population has diminished so dramatically, so has the clear
clean water.

We anchored at several of the beautiful historic spots . There are many old
estates with long inviting green lawns leading to natural wood piers
securing classical style boats. The hot humid weather, combined with the
lake side features, remind me of The Lake, where I grew up. The quaint old
town of St. Michaels and Tangier Island are two of my favorite Chesapeake
Bay places.

We left the Chesapeake Bay two days ago and sailed to Block Island, off Long
Island, New York. All of this coast line is new to me so I am very excited
to be here seeing it for the first time. We are on our way to Boston where
we will meet daughter Kirstin and husband, Adam. They are going to join us
for a sail south to New York Harbor to do some sightseeing and family time
before their first baby is born Dec. 15th.

Now that we are underway again I will be better about updating you. Please
keep in touch. We still love getting e-mails.