Our yacht was equipped with solar panels, wind generator, generator, bow thruster, power winches, water maker, air conditioners, all sails were roller furling.

After moving aboard in May 2001 we began our cruising life in Palmetto, Florida. Happy Ours rounded the tip of Florida with visits at Ft. Meyers Beech and Key West, then up the East coast to the Annapolis Boat Show, making many stops along the way.

We split the trip equally between the ICW and out in the ocean, learning as we traveled.

After the boat show we sailed South and eventually wound up in Lake Worth from where we crossed the Gulf Stream to West End, Bahamas.

Eight years in Happy Ours - an Island Packet 44 -  .. .

Having worked our way through the Abacos, we managed to attend race week in Georgetown; then followed the thornless path to the Virgin Islands, and then island hopped to Trinidad where we attended one of their famous carnivals.

Leaving Trinidad, we based in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela from where we explored the beautiful out islands and enjoyed inland travel to Peru and Bolivia .

We continued on to Curacou, Bonaire, Cartagena, the San Blas islands, Colon, Bocus Del Toro, San Andreus, Providencia, The Bay Islands of Honduras, Guatemala, up the Rio Dulce River , Belize, Isla Mujeres, Mexico and now we are in St Pete, Florida.

After eight years, on May 15th, 2009, Happy Ours crossed her track and completed her circumnavigation of the Caribbean.

by Lee Mylchreest

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