GTFOplan #96: Lessons Learned on Crew Selection, Sail Repairs, and Festive Fun in Saint Martin

IN THIS VIDEO: During our passage to Bermuda, we discovered more damage to our Code Zero sail after the unfurling incident. Ann quickly patched up the two small holes with her amazing sewing skills, allowing us to unfurl and refurl the sail smoothly. This sail has been our trusty companion for downwind conditions, and losing it would have been a huge setback. With our crew gone, we took a moment to reflect on how much of a blessing they've been, especially after our disastrous first attempt almost a year ago, sailing from Cape Town to Saint Helena. We've learned the importance of a good mix of skills, professionalism, and a positive attitude for future crew selections. After arriving in Saint Martin ahead of the holidays, we indulged in some relaxation and cultural exploration. We anchored near Balaou, a fantastic floating bar, and unexpectedly found ourselves amidst a lively boat rally with over 50 boats blasting music. A few days later, we were in the middle of a dazzling Christmas boat parade, and the next night, Grand Case hosted a charming Christmas parade on the main street. Our great friend Rob joined us during this time, and we enjoyed snorkeling at Rocher Creole, the local snorkeling and diving hotspot. Rob brought his pole spear and caught two lionfish, which we promptly cooked and devoured. With our Code Zero fixed, we made a stop in Marigot to refuel before heading to St. Barths for an unforgettable New Year's Eve! GTFOplan #92: The Bermuda Triangle or Just a Really Rough Passage? https://youtu.be/YlzyyxydEq0 GTFOplan #55: What happened to our crew in St Helena!? https://youtu.be/xn_6SksMSrs CURRENT LOCATION: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/SV-GTFO/ ABOUT OUR CATAMARAN: We love our new Balance 482 - it's a perfect size for a cruising couple to handle and is a great "balance" of performance and comfort. One of our favorite features is the excellent ventilation since we mostly live as "hookers" (aka at anchor) where the boat automatically turns into the wind so we stay cool and we don't need to battle mold. We also have starlink for easy off-grid life. Our 2400 watt solar panel array also means we rarely need to run an engine to charge our batteries. ABOUT US: We saved for a our future boat, sold everything that we owned, and shipped the rest in a container to Cape Town, South Africa. We then flew there and explored South Africa by way of a safari and touring Cape Town before moving aboard our boat. We then sailed to Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Fernando de Naronha (Brazil), Martinique, Sint Maarten (Dutch and French side), the US Virgin Islands (Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas), the British Virgin Islands (Anegada, Norman Island, Jost van Dyke, and Anegada), The Bahamas (Inagua, Crooked Island, Long Island, George Town, Staniel Cay, the Exumas, and Eleuthera). We then sailed back to the United States, making landfall in Cape Canaveral, Florida. From there our destinations are endless! Both Dennis and Ann grew up military brats with Army fathers. Dennis (the Colonel) served 30 years in the US Army and his retirement pension helped us retire in our 50s. Ann (the ship's Captain) wrote Test Automation in Python and Java. Dennis and Ann met on Match.com where Ann had in her profile "Do you want to sail the world with me?" Ann easily brought Dennis into sailing, and he loved the GTFOplan of retiring early and sailing the world. After many years of saving, living on one income but earning two, and cutting back on everything possible, they saved enough to buy a Balance 482. Follow them as they get real about boat life and all the hassles of buying a new boat because we all know N.E.W. means Not Everything Works. Kisses, Ann & Dennis Twitter: @GTFOplan Facebook: https://facebook.com/anndennis.snellikin.3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtfoplan/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/gtfoplan Email: gtfoplan@gmail.com