The day after we arrived in Horta, Azores, the second leg of the Les Sables – Les Açores – Les Sables regatta started. We were the only cruisers out there in a dinghy and were able to get close. These boats fly and seeing the spinnakers come up was really cool. Start was between Horta and Pico.

Filmed in Woburn Bay, by the Hog Island bridge.

In my question to do a night-time sail, I need my running lights working. I get the tricolor and anchor light (FINALLY). Even connected to a switch panel! Feeling high off the success of the tricolor and anchor light, I take on the steaming light. All three work! All three connected to switches! This boat is really coming together!

Back in Martinique, I start working on the boat again. After years of neglect, I start with servicing two of my worst winches. I have the goal to do a night sail and need to get the boat ready, but that doesn't mean I don't have time to procrastinate with some winches.

With a leak on Tropic Bird, we race back to Martinique to get her fixed. We make a dash from Mayreau, to Canouan, to Bequia, to St Lucia, and finally to Martinique. I have a lot of fun learning to sail Blooper, but I still can't catch up to Tropic Bird. I enjoy my longs sail yet: 62.5 nautical miles from Bequia to Marigot Bay in St Lucia. Max speed of 8 knots, total time 12 hours. Along the way, I show how I bleed my engine of air, fill up on diesel at a fuel dock, and dolphins decide to swim with Blooper. Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

The saga to the south continues as we jump around islands in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Going in what looks like, and are, circles around Union Island, we have some fun time snorkeling and sailing. I'm slowly getting better at trimming those sails. We also are the very first people to rent e-bikes on Union Island. But, we discover a leak on Tropic Bird and have to decide where we go to haul out: north or south? Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

Time for DPM's longest sail yet: St Lucia to Bequia. Around 50+ nautical miles. Unfortunately, the wind was not great so most of it is motoring. I make it there just after sunset only for my engine to overheat and shut off as I'm entering the anchorage. Luckily, my friends are there to bail me out. Also, there is a Pizza Hut on Bequia....sort of. Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

Over the last few months the Dread Pirate Malcolm has been doing little improvements here and there. None of them big enough to warrant a whole video. So here they are, all in one blast! Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

In this episode, Dread Pirate Malcolm sails to Martinique from St Lucia for a few days then sails back. This is the first sail since being stranded in St Lucia with a broken motor. All goes well, but I need to learn my sail trim because I'm SLOOOOOOOOW.

Planning to leave St Lucia, I started my motor only to be engulfed in smoke. This lead me on a month long quest where I fixed multiple parts of my diesel motor. Now she's purring like a kitten! Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

After spending a week in St. Lucia it was time to leave until....I turned on my engine. I was engulfed in white smoke. Oil pouring out of every hole in the boat. So...I'm stranded in St Lucia until I can resolve my engine issue. Everyone is on vacation so, to pass the time, I do some projects I've been putting off: getting a fridge and getting running water on the boat again. Engine video coming once I resolve my engine issues! Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

My first solo passage turns into a disaster. I made a mistake in preparing my genoa which left me with my main and mizzen, but unexpected squall after squall hit me, I end up motoring the rest of the way. Exhausted, I make it to Rodney Bay and lick my wounds. Luckily, I had a great buddy boat keeping an eye on me the whole time. I'm fine. The boats fine. I've got room for improvement on the next trip. Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

I'm about to do my first passage in my 40 year old Amel Sharki. I've been in Martinique for months preparing the boat. It's still not perfect but it's good enough. I have some important prep work to do before leaving, such as getting fuel water, finishing up some projects, tying my starter battery down, and dumping my fridge. I am a little nervous going into this. Luckily, I have a buddy boat.

Batteries are safely installed but the wiring is a mess. I clean it up, still have some work to be done but it's way better. Then...I give the boat its name, finally! Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

Finally get a new windlass motor installed. This week has been great. All of my projects are coming together. When I run into an issue I'm confident I can solve it. It feels so much better than when I was frustrated at every turn. Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

After a long wait, with my davits done, I can finally install my new batteries and solar. And...great success! My boat has 660ah of LiFePo4 batteries and a single solar panel that is 490 watts. I need more solar eventually, but this is a huge upgrade from my 200ah AGM (so really closer to 100ah) and 150 watts of solar (which never ever got close to that). The old setup had solar and a wind gen and maxed out at 7 amps, assuming a strong gust of wind and a sunny day. On the first day of testing this new panel I've seen 35 amps going through it. It feels so good to be able to use charge my phone or turn on the Starlink without worrying about the energy. Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

After being away from the boat for a month, I'm back! And I've got a new alternator to install. After a week of frustration, I finally get it pumping out some amps! Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

I'm moving Blooper to a slip for a month. Getting there went smooth as buttah. Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

Take the boat out for a few hours sail getting to know her. It was a fantastic time and I was a fool for not doing it sooner. Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw

As Tropical Storm Bret comes to Martinique, I make sure the boat is ready to move and get my rear into some mangroves. Music By Erik Herrmann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrN-jf-03scHzJ5IODSR7nw Weather by Mr Weatherman https://www.youtube.com/@UC6Ov32gNPTKAa7-seHTl8Xw