THE Island for Chores & Projects (MJ Sailing – EP 66)

If there were ever an island in the Eastern Caribbean to get projects done, this is it.

Settled into Simpson Bay in Dutch Sint Maarten, we continue to tackle our weekend of projects. First up is getting Georgie to the vet for some blood work. In order to get her into the E.U. she needs to have a rabies titer test performed, the results have to be sent to the US, and she’ll need one more vet appt after that to prove she is healthy enough to travel.

Matt starts a project we’ve been lagging on for way too long now, and begins to shape the PVC which will hold the bolt rope for the fabric part of our dodger. Using some driftwood as a template, we use a heat gun to make the plastic pliable, and then bend it around the wood, holding it there until it cools and keeps its shape.

And although we’re knocking out our projects left and right, the swells rolling through Simpson Bay make our stay a little less than comfortable. Matt puts a bridle on the anchor so our bow is pointing into the waves, instead of taking them on our side, which would be the case if our bow had been pointing into the wind.

Oh, and we also get a new neighbor for the night of Riley and Elayna from Sailing La Vagabonde (no, we did not get the chance to meet up).

There was lots for us to do, but this one little island held everything we needed to get them completed.

Cheers from Sint Maarten!

Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible.

To join the Patreon ranks, please visit http://www.patreon.com/mjsailing

or

Buy us a beer through PayPal!
https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing

Thank you!,
Matt & Jessica

Matt’s performance sailing gear: https://www.code-zero.com/en/

Use code MJSailing for 20% off your next order! https://abacopolarized.com/discount/m…

Online shop: https://mj-sailing.myshopify.com/

Music:
00:28 – I Met You in the Summer – Loving Caliber (ES)
02:56 – Parallax – Luwaks (ES)
07:50 – Wasted Education 2 – Anders Bothen (ES)
11:46 – Intimate Electric 10 – Stefan Netsman (ES)

Camera equipment used:
– Panasonic Lumix G85 – http://amzn.to/2iv2g4G
– Shure VP83F shotgun microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsIHLL
– Sony HDRCX675 – https://amzn.to/2FTMZRm
– Rode VideoMicro microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsemOk
– SJ CAM SJ6 Action Cam – https://amzn.to/2wnzGZZ

Our boat: 1983 Trisalu 37 (custom aluminum, built in Quebec)

Where we’ve been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth’s; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores

Where we’re going in 2018: Ireland – UK

Our Previous Boat: 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity)

Where We Sailed Her: U.S. – Bahamas – Jamaica – Cuba – Cayman Islands – Honduras – Guatemala – Belize – Mexico – Bermuda – Azores – Madeira – Canary Islands – Sint Maarten – BVI’s – USVI’s

Editing software:
Windows Movie Maker & Adobe Premier

The Hunt Continues… (MJ Sailing – EP 65)

We’re on a mission to get a load of projects done within about a 5 day time period.

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Of course aside from clearing in to Sint Maarten, getting our propane filled was our number one priority. On the list as well was washing our laundry (hasn’t been done since Florida); restocking food supplies; and getting Georgie an appointment for blood work that will allow her into Europe.

While trekking around Sint Maarten to work on our chores, we also see for the first time the destruction left by Hurricane Irma. Although the island has cleaned up well, there are still signs everywhere of the chaos that happened only months before.

Finding a good spot to tackle the mountain of laundry we’d accumulated was no small task, but thankfully, we came across Kleanway Laundry. It was a game-changer for us—a bright, clean facility with machines big enough to handle our salty, sun-soaked load from weeks on the water. The staff was friendly and efficient, and we were able to knock out the laundry while catching a much-needed breather from our bustling day. There’s something satisfying about seeing a pile of freshly folded clothes after so long living out of a duffle.

Cheers from Sint Maarten!

Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible.

To join the Patreon ranks, please visit http://www.patreon.com/mjsailing

or

Buy us a beer through PayPal!
https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing

Thank you!,
Matt & Jessica

Matt’s performance sailing gear: https://www.code-zero.com/en/

Use code MJSailing for 20% off your next order! https://abacopolarized.com/discount/m…

Online shop: https://mj-sailing.myshopify.com/

Music:
00:28 – I Met You in the Summer – Loving Caliber (ES)
02:56 – Parallax – Luwaks (ES)
07:50 – Wasted Education 2 – Anders Bothen (ES)
11:46 – Intimate Electric 10 – Stefan Netsman (ES)

Camera equipment used:
– Panasonic Lumix G85 – http://amzn.to/2iv2g4G
– Shure VP83F shotgun microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsIHLL
– Sony HDRCX675 – https://amzn.to/2FTMZRm
– Rode VideoMicro microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsemOk
– SJ CAM SJ6 Action Cam – https://amzn.to/2wnzGZZ

Our boat: 1983 Trisalu 37 (custom aluminum, built in Quebec)

Where we’ve been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth’s; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores

Where we’re going in 2018: Ireland – UK

Our Previous Boat: 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity)

Where We Sailed Her: U.S. – Bahamas – Jamaica – Cuba – Cayman Islands – Honduras – Guatemala – Belize – Mexico – Bermuda – Azores – Madeira – Canary Islands – Sint Maarten – BVI’s – USVI’s

Editing software:
Windows Movie Maker & Adobe Premier

Website:

Home

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mattandjessic…

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattandjess…

Will Tommy Hilfiger Give Us Propane? (MJ Sailing – EP 64)

We continue to enjoy absolute paradise in St. Barth’s…except, we’ve run out of propane on the boat.

After a few more days of lounging in the anchorage of and on the sands of Shell Beach, we find that our propane has run out mid dinner prep! Not a big deal for that first night, but the next day we realize that almost everything on the island is shut down due to being a holiday weekend.

Finding one bakery that is open, we live off sandwiches for a few nights until we can hunt the streets in search for any place that can either fill our propane canisters or sell us butane bottles to run our grill.

Then a surprising thing happens….a mega yacht drops anchor just next to us, and it happens to be Tommy Hilfiger’s boat! Maybe he can lend us a little propane to get through the next few days?

Cheers from St. Barth’s!

Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible.

To join the Patreon ranks, please visit http://www.patreon.com/mjsailing

or

Buy us a beer through PayPal!
https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing

Thank you!,
Matt & Jessica

Matt’s performance sailing gear: https://www.code-zero.com/en/

Use code MJSailing for 20% off your next order! https://abacopolarized.com/discount/m…

Online shop: https://mj-sailing.myshopify.com/

Music:
00:16 – I Met You in the Summer – Loving Caliber (ES)
01:00 – Parts of You – Bird of Figment (ES)
01:49 – Body of Water – Velee (ES)
02:37 – Baby Without You – Loving Caliber (ES)
03:55 – Eunoia – Andrew Rothschild
12:49 –

Camera equipment used:
– Panasonic Lumix G85 – http://amzn.to/2iv2g4G
– Shure VP83F shotgun microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsIHLL
– Sony HDRCX675 – https://amzn.to/2FTMZRm
– Rode VideoMicro microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsemOk
– SJ CAM SJ6 Action Cam – https://amzn.to/2wnzGZZ

Our boat: 1983 Trisalu 37 (custom aluminum, built in Quebec)

Where we’ve been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth’s; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores

Where we’re going in 2018: Ireland – UK

Our Previous Boat: 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity)

Where We Sailed Her: U.S. – Bahamas – Jamaica – Cuba – Cayman Islands – Honduras – Guatemala – Belize – Mexico – Bermuda – Azores – Madeira – Canary Islands – Sint Maarten – BVI’s – USVI’s

Editing software:
Windows Movie Maker & Adobe Premier

Website:

Home

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mattandjessic…

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattandjess…

Champagne Life on a Beer Budget (MJ Sailing – EP 63)

We’ve just made it from the Bahamas to St. Barth’s, and we’re ready to enjoy ourselves! We’ve been placed on an island with perfect beaches, perfect waters, and breathtaking views.

After stumbling around town our first morning, still suffering from sleep deprivation, we instantly fall in love with St. Barth’s and its main harbour of Gustavia. There are beaches full of shells, brilliant turquoise waters, and panoramic views from up on the hillsides.

Being such a popular harbour, we were pushed to the back where we ended up anchored on a bed of rocks, but luckily the forecast was for very light winds and we were not worried about dragging.

Cheers from St. Barth’s!

Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible.

To join the Patreon ranks, please visit http://www.patreon.com/mjsailing

or

Buy us a beer through PayPal!
https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing

Thank you!,
Matt & Jessica

Matt’s performance sailing gear: https://www.code-zero.com/en/

Use code MJSailing for 20% off your next order! https://abacopolarized.com/discount/m…

Online shop: https://mj-sailing.myshopify.com/

Music:
00:27 – I Met You in the Summer – Loving Caliber (ES)
01:20 – Get Away – Tatono
02:47 – Freedom – Dias D
05:55 – Backpack – CG Guitar
08:57 – You Got Me Too – Loving Caliber (ES)
12:28 – Islands – Prod. Syndrome
15:00 – Summer Nights – Jack Ferguson
16:13 – Keep You Near 2 – Niklas Gustavsson

Camera equipment used:
– Panasonic Lumix G85 – http://amzn.to/2iv2g4G
– Shure VP83F shotgun microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsIHLL
– Sony HDRCX675 – https://amzn.to/2FTMZRm
– Rode VideoMicro microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsemOk
– SJ CAM SJ6 Action Cam – https://amzn.to/2wnzGZZ

Our boat: 1983 Trisalu 37 (custom aluminum, built in Quebec)

Where we’ve been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth’s; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores

Where we’re going in 2018: Ireland – UK

Our Previous Boat: 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity)

Where We Sailed Her: U.S. – Bahamas – Jamaica – Cuba – Cayman Islands – Honduras – Guatemala – Belize – Mexico – Bermuda – Azores – Madeira – Canary Islands – Sint Maarten – BVI’s – USVI’s

Editing software:
Windows Movie Maker & Adobe Premier

Website:

Home

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mattandjessic…

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattandjess…

Sailing I-65 from Bahamas to St. Barth’s (MJ Sailing – EP 62)

We round out the second half of our trip, and complete our 977 miles from Eleuthera Bahamas to St. Barths.

Day 5 still brings somewhat unpleasant conditions, leaving both of us still not feeling our best, but starting to get over it a touch. While the waves continue to drench the cockpit, we continue to hunker out below deck.

Day 6 brings the sun and some calmer conditions, and we can start moving about the boat more and even get outside to enjoy the sun. Our hopes are temporarily brought up that we might make it into harbor the next night, but a quick check of our math shows us we still have two more nights at sea.

By day 7 the winds have shifted just off our nose, died down to under 10 knots, and force us to put on the engine. Matt explains why we’ve chosen to go to St. Barth’s over Sint Maarten, and even starts to clean himself up for the arrival.

Morning 8 puts us in sight of many beautiful Caribbean islands, and the entrance of Gustavia Harbor in St. Barths. Elements has finally entered her first port in the Caribbean. Toasting our passage with a bottle of champagne, we go over the boat’s performance on her first offshore passage with us.

Cheers from St. Barth’s!

Watch the full performance review of Elements of Life:

Thank you SO MUCH to our Patrons. These amazing supporters help keep us on the boat, our camera equipment up to date, and the videos coming. Without our patrons, these videos would not be possible.

To join the Patreon ranks, please visit http://www.patreon.com/mjsailing

or

Buy us a beer through PayPal!
https://www.paypal.me/MJSailing

Thank you!,
Matt & Jessica

Use code MJSailing for 20% off your next order! https://abacopolarized.com/discount/m…

Online shop: https://mj-sailing.myshopify.com/

Music:
00:27 – I Met You in the Summer – Loving Caliber (ES)
02:28 – You Got Me Too – Loving Caliber (ES)
07:25 – Floating Hearts – Julyan Brynn (ES)
10:55 – Get Away – Tatono

Camera equipment used:
– Panasonic Lumix G85 – http://amzn.to/2iv2g4G
– Shure VP83F shotgun microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsIHLL
– Sony HDRCX675 – https://amzn.to/2FTMZRm
– Rode VideoMicro microphone – https://amzn.to/2rsemOk
– SJ CAM SJ6 Action Cam – https://amzn.to/2wnzGZZ

Our boat: 1983 Trisalu 37 (custom aluminum, built in Quebec)

Where we’ve been: 2.5 year refit in Indiantown, Florida; Abacos, Bahamas; St. Barth’s; St. Maarten; Antigua; Saba; Azores

Where we’re going in 2018: Ireland – UK

Our Previous Boat: 1989 Sabre 34 Targa (Serendipity)

Where We Sailed Her: U.S. – Bahamas – Jamaica – Cuba – Cayman Islands – Honduras – Guatemala – Belize – Mexico – Bermuda – Azores – Madeira – Canary Islands – Sint Maarten – BVI’s – USVI’s

Editing software:
Windows Movie Maker & Adobe Premier

Website:

Home

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/mattandjessic…

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mattandjess…