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ShipHappens
  • SaltyHairWeDontCare
  • Tomas Polach
  • SaltyHairWeDontCare
  • Tomas Polach

ShipHappens

A 150-day adventure by SaltyHairWeDontCare & Tomas Read more
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  • ShipHappens
    2

    Nightsailing

    December 19, 2023 in Saint Kitts and Nevis ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Embarking on a 14-hour night sail from Deshaies to Saint Kitts & Nevis was like a floating slumber party. With a cozy 16 knots of wind and calm seas, it was so tranquil that even Tomas managed to sneak in some video calls below deck at 5 in the morning! 😂🙈Read more

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    Nevis Christmas Vibes

    December 19, 2023 in Saint Kitts and Nevis ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Sometimes, the most beautiful places are discovered spontaneously, without any expectations. In Saint Kitts & Nevis, our plan was a brief anchor for a night's sleep before sailing on to the BVI. Pinneys Beach in Nevis became our unexpected gem. The beach is lively but not overcrowded, offering cool beach bars, great restaurants, and friendly locals.

    Charlestown, with its charm and well-maintained ambiance, has everything one needs. We decided to extend our stay, captivated by the town's allure.

    Our anchorage is serene, providing the perfect opportunity to add a touch of Christmas to Zenia. 🎄I hoisted Tomas up the mast, this time on an empty stomach to make it a bit easier for me. 😂 Unfortunately, the fairy lights from the Chinese store were so tangled that Tomas spent over an hour untangling cables, completing only half and now feeling his legs no more! 🙈    Read more

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    ⛵️🏝️🐬🐋🎄

    December 22, 2023 in British Virgin Islands ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We set sail on a 32-hour journey from Nevis to the BVIs, embracing the unhurried pace dictated by the scarce wind. Netflix and intermittent naps kept us company. Tomas, growing impatient, revved up the motor until realizing the diesel tank was nearly empty.

    In the dark, curious dolphins paid us a visit once again, bringing joy to our tired hearts. In the early morning hours, our luck soared as we spotted not just one, but two humpback whales! 🤩

    Arriving in the BVIs, weary and hungry, Tomas insisted on adorning our Christmas tree. The result is a sight to behold, marking the end of our incredible journey! 😁💪🎄    Read more

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    x-mas in paradise🎄

    December 24, 2023 in British Virgin Islands ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    On Christmas Eve, it was just the two of us rocking Santa hats in a beach joint that seemed stuck in time. We were the only festive oddballs and started off as the staff's unintentional holiday decorations—posing at the entrance, getting snapped in all our glory... 🙈

    Come the 25th, we picked up Annina in Road Town, tackled laundry, groceries, and clearance. Got a slap on the wrist for being fashionably late at immigration—a day late to be precise!

    After bidding adieu to Road Town, we dropped anchor in a bay nearby. The quest for a decent Christmas dinner spot turned into a comedy when we found out the only joint was doing a Christmas lunch buffet and shutting down for the night. We rolled the dice anyway, hoping for a 6 pm miracle. Lo and behold, the chef took pity on us, dishing out eight containers of grub and a bottle of wine! Christmas feast afloat—check! 🎄🍷    Read more

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    BVIs Beach Battle: Dinghy Drama! 🚤🌊

    December 27, 2023 in British Virgin Islands ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    The postcard-perfect beach in the BVIs – a must-see! We anchored and attempted to reach the shore with our less-than-seaworthy dinghy. Facing some sizable waves, the Gonser inflatable floor got a bit too acquainted with the sea, threatening to sink our dinghy. Fortunately, we made it back to Zenia, patched up the dinghy, and on the second attempt, we successfully reached the dreamy beach unscathed! 🏝️🚤Read more

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    Island Fun with Annina

    December 28, 2023 in British Virgin Islands ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Hey there! Time for a quick catch-up. We've hopped around 7 islands in the BVIs, mingling with mega-yachts that basically have floating playgrounds – yeah, I got a smidge jealous 😂.

    In Anegada, Annina and I explored the island in a slightly worn-out mini-moke (seen better days, for sure). Gorgeous beaches and a hilariously bumpy ride!
    Evening plans? A short beach ride. The horses, let's just say, were not exactly in the mood...

    NYE found us in a bay, offering a magical view of a twinkling city of boat masts. However, the beach bar party was a bit of a fail 😂🙈.
    So we kicked off the new year on Zenia's bow, soaking in the breathtaking starry sky. Cheers to more adventures! 🌟

    Oh, and the finale? Taking Annina back to the main island. Dinghy went nuts with waves at 20 knots – we played tug-of-war 🙈.
    Annina walks from bay to airport, waves goodbye, and zips past our mast. Until the next wild ride, smooth seas! 🌊✈️    Read more

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    Still here😂

    January 5, 2024 in British Virgin Islands ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Currently still in the BVIs, exploring numerous small islands. It's much quieter now than during the Christmas days. Discovered some cool spots on Jost Van Dyke, including the tiniest sand island we've ever seen. Tomorrow, attempting entry into the USA at Saint Thomas. Heard it might be a bit tricky with the authorities here, but we'll see. If successful, our next stop is Puerto Rico.😎⛵️🏝️Read more

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    🤦🏼‍♀️

    January 11, 2024 in British Virgin Islands ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    After extensive research, I thought sailing into the US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) was feasible. Downloaded the Border Control app, filled everything out, sailed 4 hours to Charlotte Amalie, only to be told that sailboats aren't processed. Advised to sail back to the BVIs, where we had already checked out, take a ferry to St. Thomas, get the passport stamp, return by ferry, and then sail back to St. Thomas with our boat. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ The American ways, hard to fathom!Read more

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    St. Thomas

    January 14, 2024 on the U.S. Virgin Islands ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We spent three days in St. Thomas. On the first day, I wasn't feeling well 🤒
    Day two, we conquered paperwork (yawn), did laundry (exciting, right?), and navigated a sea of jewelry shops in Charlotte Amalie. Bling, bling everywhere – blame it on the cruise ship swarm!

    Day three's grand plan? Hit up a cozy beach. But, oops, we docked at a VIP-only pier. Swiftly moved our dinghy to the public beach, crisis averted.

    Shortly after, an older gentleman approached, assuming we were hotel guests. I explained we were just there for the day, and he nodded, saying "okay," before wandering off.

    An hour later, he returned, declaring us "cool guys" and offering two champagne bottles. He and his wife were leaving and couldn't finish the bubbly, so he wanted us to have it. Of course, we gladly accepted! 😁 We chatted a bit more and discovered that one of his parents hailed from Flums. Cheers to unexpected connections! 🥂

    Oh, and guess what? We anchored right behind Jeff Bezos' amazing yacht for those three days😎    Read more

  • ShipHappens

    Puerto Rico Ahoy! 🏴‍☠️⛵️

    January 17, 2024 in Puerto Rico ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    Sails up for Culebra, Puerto Rico! 🏴‍☠️ The Border Control app cooperated this time! A quick online interview, and boom, we scored the cruising license for Puerto Rico! 💪🥳 #SmoothSailing #PermissionGrantedRead more

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    Wild Beauty

    January 19, 2024 in Puerto Rico ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Zenia's gas gauge went on vacation, making our trip a fuel mystery! 🚤 After three weeks without filling up, we went looking for a gas station. Found one, but Zenia's too deep for it. So, we took the dinghy and a canister on a little adventure. Turns out, the station was closed. After asking around, we found another one. Three trips with a 22L canister later, our tank's full 😁💪 and we treated ourselves to ice cream!

    The Spanish Virgin Islands are wilder and rougher than the BVIs. There are fewer tourists and sailboats. We anchored in Culebrita's bay and practically had the whole beach to ourselves. 😎 Things got busier at Flamenco Beach in Culebra with day-trippers from Puerto Rico arriving by ferry. It felt like a lively beach party! 🏖️    Read more

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    Vieques aka Pony-Island🐴

    January 22, 2024 in Puerto Rico ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    After a wobbly sail to Vieques with more waves than wind, today's island exploration involved a Kawasaki Mule—my ears are still buzzing! 🛺 Vieques is a lively blend of wild horses everywhere (almost everyone has one in the garden), serene beaches, mysterious military bunkers, and enchanting trees.

    The bay where we anchor is a real roller, and Zenia's doing quite the dance. Looking forward to a hotel stay in Puerto Rico to regain our land legs! 😁    Read more

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    Bio-Bay or Life of Pi✨✨✨

    January 22, 2024 in Puerto Rico ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    Vieques is renowned for its bioluminescence. This natural phenomenon occurs in Mosquito Bay, where microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates emit light when disturbed.

    We've never seen bioluminescent plankton glow so brilliantly before! 🌟Read more

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    Fish & Bunker

    January 23, 2024 in Puerto Rico ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Today was a windy rollercoaster – Zenia, our boat, was doing an awkward dance! We decided to lift anchor and find a calmer spot.

    After a bumpy ride on land, we set sail to the West Coast for a cozy shelter. Guess what? West Coast beach had military bunkers and super nosy fish craving a toe nibble 😂.

    Tomorrow, the adventure sails on to San Juan – can't wait to see what's next…    Read more

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    Puerto Ricoooo🎶

    January 26, 2024 in Puerto Rico ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    In Puerto Rico, we opted for a rental car and spent 3 days on solid ground—a real bed, a proper shower, and no constant rocking. 😁 Pure relaxation!

    We drove into the coffee hills and along the eastern North Coast. Along the way, we stopped at a quirky pub for a drink. A boxing match played on the TV, one-armed bandits adorned the wall, and older gentlemen played billiards. We were warmly welcomed and invited to dinner. The mother of a regular guest had cooked a delicious chicken soup! Surprisingly, not many spoke English, making me realize that while Puerto Rico is part of the USA, English is mainly taught in private schools. Public schools predominantly use Spanish.

    Now we're back on Zenia. Before our next long journey, we thought it wise to get our 20-year-old life raft revised. Now, it's a waiting game once again...    Read more

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    4

    Puerto Rico Part ll

    January 28, 2024 in Puerto Rico ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
  • ShipHappens

    Sailing Shenanigans in Samana

    February 4, 2024 in Dominican Republic ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Hey there,
    Today’s adventure takes us from San Juan to Samana in the Dominican Republic. But before we set sail, let me fill you in on a little secret – we’ve picked up a new companion along the way, Willi! Yep, now we're a trio on this wild journey.

    As we cruised towards Samana, our autopilot decided to take a nap again. Cue the unplanned pit stop in a rocky cove to fix it. Let’s just say, trying to repair it with the wind and waves doing their dance wasn’t exactly a picnic. My mood? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

    After a bumpy night, we set sail again for 2.5 days until we finally dropped anchor in Samana. But surprise, surprise – the bay was littered with trash. Not the welcome we were expecting!

    Clearance time! And guess who’s in charge? The military. But don’t worry, they were surprisingly chill. They just wanted a quick peek at our boat. So, off went Tomas with a soldier clinging to the dinghy for dear life – turns out, he couldn’t swim! Talk about an adventure.

    Time to stock up on supplies. But wait, why is there a guy with a machine gun patrolling the ATM? No uniform, just casual gun-wielding. Yeah, that made us a tad uneasy.

    Back on the boat, we decided to sail across the bay to the nature reserve. And boy, was that a blast! 20 knots of wind, smooth sailing, and zero waves. Ah, the joys of sailing! 🌬️⛵️

    Stay tuned for more tales from our Dominican escapade! Who knows what other surprises await us?    Read more

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