Arrived in Newport! Took 4 days 4 hours, but used all together far too many fossils as we negotiated a windless ridge for over 24 hours and then got hit with no wind heading into Newport (when there was supposed to be about 20 knots! Blah!

Uneventful trip otherwise – we got to use the entire inventory of sails, we dodged a really nasty looking line squall during the middle of the night – but it had thrilling lighting to watch! and we were visited by a nice pod of dolphins…

Visitors on passage!

We then got boarded by the coast guard as we arrived in Newport – first time ever – apparently this is the new norm when coming into Newport. All OK they left happy. Then we went to Fort Adams to clear in with customs – and got to use the hose there while we waited and washed the entire boat down – nice!

It’s cold here! Feels like we’re heading into winter!

Misty morning

The Newport we know and love!

Here we are in these numerous small islands that are Bermuda, waiting out the weather alongside the fleet of Tall Ships – anchored right next to the Pride of Baltimore! There must 10 or 12 massive old ships all anchored here in St. George’s. Very neat!

Toodle-oo! lies to anchor in St. George’s

Waiting for a blow to pass – in good company with the Pride of Baltimore

We’ve been here 3 weeks now – a little longer than planned as there hasn’t been a suitable weather window to head out – so we’ve been enjoying ourselves, celebrating Bermuda Day in Hamilton, watching the America’s Cup preliminary races from aboard our friends Mindy and Reinhard’s boat ‘Rockhopper’, strolling around the island and visiting the Oceanographic research center here. All while trying not to spend too much money – it’s a bit of a stark contrast between Dominica, the Caribbean’s second most poor country to Bermuda, the world’s most expensive spot!

Swiss leading the Kiwis – for a while…

The USA Defenders

The British Hope!

Still the weather here has been great – gone is the heat and humidity of the Caribbean – now if the weather between here and Newport would just cooperate!!!