Atlantic Jim

SV Esprit - 2023 Canadian Maritimes Summer Cruise

Captain's Comments - June 20, 2023

Esprit is 'on the hard' in Boston now for bottom cleaning, anti-fouling application and general preventative maintenance.

On July 20 I will be departing for a cruise northward up the coast to Halifax Nova Scotia and a couple days in Nova Scotia's capital city; then on to Cape Breton Island and the fabulous Bras d'Or Lakes. Esprit visited the golden waters of the Bras d'Or in summer 2022 for a perfect 10 day slo-cruise filled with swimming, relaxing and watching eagles fly overhead ... exceptional cruising!

Additional destinations being considered this summer include the Magdalen Islands, Newfoundland, St. Pierre and Prince Edward Island ... all with their uniquely Maritime beauty and culture.

St. Pierre and its companion islands Miquelon - Langlade are located 12 miles off the coast of Newfoundland and form the last piece of French governed territory in North America. St. Pierre was somewhat famous one hundred years ago as a rum running ally of Al Capone during the prohibition era; it is quite a unique island with lovely French wines, bakeries and the authentic French provincial language.

Alert - Esprit Crew Openings!

^ July 20 - Boston to Halifax- CREWED UP

^ July 23 - 6 week Maritime summer cruising -CREWED UP

^ September 10 - Nova Scotia to Boston MA
British Virgin Islands into 2024
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Captain's Comments - March 2023

Three months into 2023 and Esprit has been running smooth and easy; routine maintenance and no weather events on open water. We sheltered against Hurricane Fiona in Shelburne for 5 days before crossing the Bay of Fundy to Plymouth MA in October 2022.

SV Esprit continues to perform to sail plan very well, leaving Nova Scotia in October 2022 for Plymouth MA; then south to St. Augustine FL in November; then departing St. Augustine early February 2023 with a new delivery crew for a lovely, basically non-stop Gulf Stream passage to Georgetown with overnight stop in Freeport; then cruising the cays with a variety of interesting crew changes every 2 weeks.

Thank you to all new crew this year for quickly adopting the 'Esprit Chill Vibe.' We've had a happy boat, and the 'wind gods' have been with us allowing non-stop, high quality cruising!

Esprit begins her sail north May 1.

Cheers - Atlantic Jim
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Crew Alert ... Crew Alert ... Crew Alert

Booked - Esprit has crew booked through April to close her Bahamas cruise schedule.

May 1 - 21, 2023
Crewed up and departed Georgetown Bahamas for a 3 week slow sail north, stopping in Nassau and St. Augustine Florida; then departing for Boston MA

CREWED UP ! - July 10- August 31,2023
Departing Boston MA sailing north to the Canadian Maritime Provinces for two months of summer cruising which will include the fabulous Bras d'Or lakes (see photos from 2022 Maritime summer cruise) ...
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About Esprit

Captain's Note
Clear communication and trust before and during a sailing cruise are necessary for Captain and Crew to be comfortable and enjoy the experience. Please review Esprit's 2022 - 2023 sail plan below . If you think you see a chance to jump into the good life on SV Esprit - please contact me for a chat.

Captain’s Duty
Crew safety and general well-being, navigation, communication, insurance, business and financial affairs plus fuel, moorings, docking, boat maintenance and repair costs.

Sailing Style
Islands to explore, hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, Esprit meals at anchor, local cuisine meals ashore, new friends, music, cocktail hour, quiet times at anchor and Esprit performing well in fair winds.

Crew Expectation
Crew will travel to Esprit at their expense, present a current passport, proof of health vaccinations,( if Govt. required), share onboard duties, cost of food and refreshment provisioning.

Crew Shared Duty
Standing watch, sail trimming, anchoring, docking; cooking, provisioning excursions. If your sailing experience is light, Esprit will be an opportunity to mile-build and learn more about boat handling with shared responsibility … jump in, learn, relax, have fun, go sailing!

Sailing Companions
It’s worth saying now that Esprit mission 2023 is to develop crew relationships with those who share a love for the ocean, have some sailing experience and offer a lightness of being. My expectation of crew is simply good company and shared onboard duty. Yet friendship and relationships can evolve … life is like that. Here’s to new friends, slo-cruising, island exploration, miles & smiles!

Atlantic Jim's Motivation
In between sailing trips I’ve had a relatively successful career. Now it’s sailing full time and reveling in the freedom of the cruising life.

Esprit Readiness
Esprit is a ‘Little Harbor 44’ cutter rig center cockpit, Ted Hood design; well maintained in beautiful condition. Weighing 20 tons, she is very stable with less roll in big seas. Her draft is 5’.7” and with centerboard down to 10’.7” she holds her position well and tracks nicely in strong wind conditions. Her 75 HP Yanmar diesel engine and Westerbeke diesel generator are fresh with low hours and all navigation electronics are updated. 2 private cabins with 2 heads and a main salon cabin sleep 5 comfortably. With updated electronics Esprit is 'ship shape and ready to cruise!'
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2023 Sail Plan

January 2023
Plan - St. Augustine FL, boat maintenance
Crew - n/a

February
Plan - St Augustine to Freeport to Georgetown Bahamas
Crew - Jodie, Mark & John

March
Plan - Exumas and South Bahamas
Crew - Lisa, Jazmine & Herman, Jodie

> APRIL
Plan - Exumas and South Bahamas
Crew - Andy, Rachel ... and one more

> May
Plan - Nassau, St Augustine, Boston
Crewed up

> June
Plan - New England maintenance on the hard

> July
Plan - Canadian Maritimes
Crewed up

> August
Plan - Canadian Maritimes
Crewed up

> September
Plan - Nova Scotia to Boston MA ( New England)
Crew - open

> October
Plan - New England - Layover
Crew - n/a

> November/December
Plan - Boston to Bermuda to BVI
Crew – open

> December
Plan - BVI
Crew – open
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2022 Sail Plan / completed

July
Plan - Boston USA, Halifax NS
Crew - Chris

August
Plan - Halifax NS, St Peters & Baddeck, Cape Breton Island
Crew - Colin

Plan - Baddeck NS to Magdalen Isles, Quebec
Crew - Tom

Bras d’ Or Lakes, Cape Breton Island
Plan - 5 day slo-cruise & swim
Crew - John & Helen

Bras d’Or Lakes, Cape Breton Island
Plan - Slo-cruise & swim
Guests - Candice & Mark, Colin & Ruth, Terry & Marilee, Tahlia

September
Plan - St. Peters, Cape Breton Island, Halifax NS
Crew - Single-hand

October
Plan – Halifax, Shelburne NS, Plymouth MA
Crew - Barry

November
Plan - Plymouth MA, Atlantic City NJ, Norfolk VA, Beaufort NC, Savannah GA, St. Augustine FL
Crew - Single-hand

December
Plan - Dock Esprit - St. Augustine FL
Crew - Single-hand
Boston MA - Family and business affairs

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