This served as my baptism of fire. I left my job as Race Administration Manager for the United States Yacht Racing Union (now USSA) in Newport, RI and literally sailed off into the sunset with my companion, Peter McCrea, in his 32' Freedom, Panacea. We sailed to Norfolk, VA, where we joined the first Caribbean 1500, then headed directly offshore to Virgin Gorda, arriving first in class in twelve days. The following ten months were spent lazily cruising in true island style, reaching Grenada before reversing our southerly course and heading north to Newport. We were married on the island of Antigua seven months into the cruise on May Day, a curious date for a captain to select as a wedding date.
While on this cruise we visited nearly all the islands of the Caribbean chain, finding it difficult to select any single island as a favorite. Each was rich with its own flavor.
The trip was recorded in the first of many journals that were to follow. At first, tentative journal sketches were later filled in with watercolors. Later, several miniature watercolors on watercolor paper were completed, which were safely stored in photo albums.
Upon return, this artwork was framed and shown in an exhibition at Hammond and Thames Gallery in Newport, RI. The overwhelming response encouraged me to continue.
