Saint Pierre’s Resilience, Snorkeling Anse Dufour & Daggerboard Damage | GTFOplan Sailing Ep 112

IN THIS VIDEO: ticking to our preference for short daytime hops, a five-hour sail from Saint Lucia brought us back to the lush shores of Martinique. First stop: Anse Dufour, a quiet anchorage known for calm waters and decent snorkeling. It was a brief visit, and after one night, we continued north to Saint Pierre. Once Martinique’s capital, Saint Pierre was destroyed in 1902 when Mount Pelée erupted. Walking its rebuilt streets was a powerful reminder of resilience. Life aboard continued: Ann skillfully patched a torn cushion, and Dennis knocked out small maintenance tasks as we headed toward Guadeloupe to meet family, then on to Sint Maarten for repairs before our Atlantic crossing. Technically, our CopperCoat hull coating is holding up well—it keeps marine growth at bay, helps us maintain speed, and can last up to ten years with proper care. This time, cleaning it was easy: just a scraper and green scrubbie. Not all news was good, though. We discovered damage to our port daggerboard, likely from a fishing trap near Ilet Pigeon. A frustrating find, but part of the reality of life at sea. ✅ A walk through the resilient town of Saint Pierre, Martinique ✅ Snorkeling with marine life in the calm, turquoise Anse Dufour ✅ A behind-the-scenes look at our boat damage and how we handled it ✅ Honest moments of problem-solving, reflection, and gratitude ✅ The ups and downs of real-world sailing life ✅ This isn’t just a travel vlog — it’s a raw, real, and beautiful slice of life at sea. 👇 Comment: What would YOU do if your daggerboard cracked mid-adventure? 🔔 Subscribe to follow the GTFOplan and experience freedom, exploration, and sailing resilience. 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 our dream boat, sold nearly everything we owned, and shipped the rest to Cape Town, South Africa. After a safari and time exploring Cape Town, we moved aboard and began our journey. We sailed to Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Fernando de Noronha (Brazil), then across the Atlantic to Martinique, Sint Maarten, the US and British Virgin Islands, and through the Bahamas, including Inagua, Long Island, George Town, Staniel Cay, the Exumas, and Eleuthera. We eventually made landfall in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Both of us grew up as Army brats. Dennis (the Colonel) served 30 years in the US Army—his retirement pension helped us retire in our 50s. Ann (the ship's Captain) worked in test automation using Python and Java. We met on Match.com, where Ann’s profile read: “Do you want to sail the world with me?” Ann introduced Dennis to sailing, and he quickly embraced the GTFOplan of early retirement and global adventure. Years of saving, living on one income, and cutting back on everything made our dream—a Balance 482 catamaran—a reality. 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 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Sailing Prep & Playful Vibes 01:40 – Exploring Anse Noire & Dog Adventures 03:02 – Quick Sail from Anse Dufour to St. Pierre 04:12 – Light Wind Maneuvering Challenges 05:42 – Wind Shifts & Real-Time Adjustments 06:33 – Successful Furling & Boat Awareness 07:27 – DIY Cushion Repair & Material Breakdown 08:52 – Creative Cushion Sewing & Fabric Fix 09:34 – Unexpected Discovery While Cleaning 10:41 – Underwater Hull Cleaning with Carpet Hack 11:54 – Scraping Barnacles & Burnout Snorkeling 13:21 – Daggerboard Damage Mystery & Theory 13:46 – Checking Out of Martinique 14:14 – Immigration Tips & French Island Process 14:42 – Customs Lessons Learned #GTFOplan #SailingAdventure2025 #SaintPierreMartinique #AnseDufourSnorkeling #SailingLifeUnfiltered #BoatDamageAtSea #DaggerboardProblem #IslandExplorationVlog #SailingMartinique #liveaboardlife