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Cathy Manuel
Cathy Manuel

Cathy Manuel

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  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja
    14 days with no shoes or flushing toilet

    Made it to Antigua

    18. marraskuuta 2025, Antigua ja Barbuda ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Yesterday morning around 9:45 we arrived at the fuel dock. A scary few moments of docking as reverse took awhile to activate. We added 188 gallons of diesel. Then, we waited…. For about 2 hours before Nelson’s Dock Yard was able to help us med moor.
    As expected, it was a circus. Lorena doesn’t reverse well and Sherman had to just on our boat to assist us. We had let out all the chain and the line was getting stuck on the gypsy. We had to remove it and finally, after about an hour of bow thrusting (which died) and reverse, we were finally secured at dock.
    We immediately went to immigration and check in, then Brian went to check into the boat yard, while I showed the crew around. Back on the boat we had things to put away, the gypsy to fix and wanted to get water in the tanks.
    We walked over to ABSAR hoping to have Brian’s finger looked at, but they were closed for the day. We then went to Isabelle (and Eric’s) store, La Brassarie. Had a juice and a coffee, and chatted with Michelle and Nick (who I had meant a couple of times, recently in Hampton and before that in Atlantic Highlands). They are from the UK and have been living aboard for 3-4 years, but last year Michelle had a brain tumor removed. She looks great and even attended yoga class this morning.
    We had dinner at Antigua Yacht Club. While there the sky opened and it poured for a couple hours…. It was tough as I knew our aft cabin portals were open and I just wanted a good night sleep in fresh sheets. Instead, it was on top of soaking wet sheets.
    Brian passed out shortly after we got back. I noticed the battery was at 11% and ran the generator. I stayed up for 1.5 hours, chatting with the guys as Andy packed. Eventually they went off to take a shower and I went to the wet bed.
    Andy was leaving at 6:30am, but at 5:20 he woke us saying that the boat batteries had died. Brian tried to start the generator, but it wouldn’t go. However, there was a surge in batteries and he was able to start it. We chatted with the guys, said goodbye to Andy and Michael went off for a run. We had coffee and breakfast, and then I went to teach yoga on the lawn… thinking a handful of people would show up, but there were actually 9 people.
    After we went back to ABSAR for a Dr appt. She sent us to Belmont Clinic for X-rays and it turns out that Brian’s finger is ok, but he has a Jones fracture on his 5th metatarsal that is not joining. Donald, the taxi driver took us to St Johns and wait while we got the X-rays, then we returned.
    We bought some fruit (vegetables) from Maynard, and went to see Blossom across the street at the juice stand (and Nevel at the Dive shop). Then a pit stop at Covent Garden (grocery) to pick up more produce.
    Back in the boy we looked at the stern gland and the option of replacing the flax. Doing it while in the water makes me nervous! The rain rolled in and we cut the job short… perhaps we will hire someone to do it.
    I had the Hawaiian Beef Casserole for super and then we went to the Mexican spot for drinks, with Michael and the Salty Dawgs. We sat at the table with Steve and Jen on Second Chance (from Colorado). They were 40-50 miles ahead of us the whole trip and are our neighbours on the dock.
    Back to the boat and time for bed 🛏️. We all need sleep!!    Lue lisää

    Katso käännös
  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja

    Last night watch

    16. marraskuuta 2025, Caribbean Sea ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    It’s 2:30am, I can see the lights of Antigua’s skyline in the distance, only 28nm to the eastern side and another 10-12 to reach the docks. It has been rough weather for the shift, wind picked up to 34knots and the swells have sent things flying in the galley. Thankfully the engine is still on and only the stay sail is up…. Pulling us to 6.5 or 7knots, allowing Lorena to go further on a tank of fuel.
    We have done 11 fuel transfers from the port tank (with no reading) into the day tank. We will need to do one more transfer, to make it to the fuel dock. I suspect we will be there around 10am.
    Other than finishing two books (Out of Africa - paperback and Hidden Potential- audio), and making a big salad for the crew at lunch and a turkey and sweet potato meal at supper, I did very little. Although I struggled to nap when I tried as the bed is damp and the swells have made the sleep conditions unfavourable.
    I am looking forward to clean bedding, a flushable toilet, a shower and a full nights sleep. It has been a long journey, over 13 days at sea.
    ***We are now 12nm away…. And can see land , 8am local time!!    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja
    1

    Day 12

    16. marraskuuta 2025, Sargasso Sea ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    It is dawn, 5am EST, and the sun has risen and the moon is still in the sky. We are starting to see more birds now.
    I have another hour in my shift, my coffee is almost gone and I just finished a tough Sudoko game. Two chapters left in Out of Africa and hope to complete the book in the next 24 hours, just prior to the completion of this journey.
    The engine is still on, the winds are still light and when they do blow it is from the South (so we are pointing directly into them). We should be seeing East Trade Winds but they have gone on vacation. Our sender (fuel gauge level) despite finally being able to pull it out, still doesn’t work and we are going on a hope and prayer, rough calculation, recording each fuel transfer.
    If the engine is still going, and we don’t hit bad weather, we should arrive midday tomorrow. Another 148nm to go!
    Yesterday felt like a long day! I made breakfast for everyone (breakfast burrito on corn tortillas), and had to take things from Freezer 2 which isn’t working well…. So I heated split pea soup for lunch. It was good! We lost some shrimp, which I despised of over board, and enjoyed sitting on the transom, until I got sick of the fumes. I did some yoga and went for a nap in the afternoon before on shift from 3-6pm. Michael heated his Shrimp and rice while I did the dishes. Andy, our susceptible to sea sick crew still doesn’t volunteer to do much below.
    Yesterday Brian caught his finger in the wind turbine and cut it up pretty bad. He imagines it might be broken, but it doesn’t look so to me, although likely very painful. He has chosen the open air, dip the deep wind in sea water method, rather than keeping it moist. I am hoping it heals fine and he will be able to play guitar soon.    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja

    Fish and Freezer space

    13. marraskuuta 2025, Sargasso Sea ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    At my new writing post, the he, trying to ignore the sheet lighting around me as it isn’t showing up on the radar, and I can’t outrun or maneuver around something I cannot see. I am sure there is a life lesson tucked into that last sentence but I’m too tired to peel it apart.
    Yesterday, Brian was taking a bucket shower off the transom and the crew was asleep when I heard the fishing reel go off. It was the lighter one, that is squished under the wind generator (and always scary removing it). I tightened the drag, but the feisty bit was dancing atop the sea and I was doing my best to not loss tension and slowly reel it in. As it flew out of the water, it was apparent it was a Mahi. I reel it all the way in, Brian had the gaff ready on the transom, but it was a fighter. I had the fishing line wrapped around my hand trying to keep tension while Brian tried to find and opening through the gills but ended up puncturing its side. We pulled it up to the deck, & poured rum in its gills to kill it.
    We noticed that Brian had the swelling of two golf balls on his small calf. The fish must have hit him hard are it gave its final fight before being poked. We iced his leg and I set about skinning and filleting the big guy (46 inches and 15-20lbs). It took along time, and was painful for Brian to watch… but I managed to do a good job and get lots of meat. We trimmed and bagged it before again working on the sender for the port fuel tank.
    Having been up since 2:30am and now, after making a big egg, spinach and salmon breakfast, catching a fish, & doing boat chores I was exhausted. I went to the aft cabin to try and get some sleep but it eluded me.
    We had fish, quinoa and salad for supper. I made the salad, and heated the quinoa and our sea sick crew volunteered to try and cook the fish. He was below for 3/4 of the cooking before coming up. It was delicious!
    I went directly to bed, taking an Aleve and melatonin (a combo that seems to work) and got some sleep before my midnight to 3am shift.
    Today the morning was started with the engine off and tried sailing… but with barely any wind or forward momentum it was havoc for the sails and rigging. It wasn’t long before the roar of the iron sails pushed Lorena forward….. unfortunately she coughed and sputtered black smoke before finding her rhythm. The long continuous wear on the engine has taken its toll on the batteries and the freezers. The lithium isn’t changing well and the voltage in dropping below 13v. The freezers are not freezing. It was one of the many things keeping me awake when I tried to nap the previous day. I wished I had taken action then… half the Costco meat was thawed as well as the fish. We removed everything from Freezer 1 that wasn’t essential and moved it to freezer 2…. Putting all our meat in the coldest. Sadly it is still reading pretty high, although I haven’t checked it yet.
    The big event of the day was bathing. It is finally warm enough for bikini, so I tied myself and my bucket to the transom of the boat, and sat there with handfuls of conditioner trying to de tangle my hair. Eventually, when my fingers could run smoothly through the wet curls, I applied some shampoo. Yes the opposite of how you usually do it…. But conserves water and doesn’t create more knots. The rest of the day I read, we removed the icing glass, tried again to figure out the port tank sender and finally switched over to said tank. We are tracking in the log book, as well as a bread crumb trail of waypoints on the Garmin, each time we fill the day tank. First tank (about 7 gallons) we got 40nm.
    Filet Mingon was on the menu tonight, with baby potatoes and salad. The sea state had calmed down and although there was a lot of cloud cover and occasional showers, it was easy to grill the meat and be in the galley. Once done, I did the dish and went to bed before my shift. We are still on EST and it is dark by 4:30pm. In another few hours, we will be at Day 11 and less than 400nm to Antigua.
    We have already travelled 1300 miles…. And would love to arrive in Antigua for a party on Sunday night, but it will likely be Monday before we arrive.    Lue lisää

    Katso käännös
  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja
    My nephew, Kai

    Day 9

    12. marraskuuta 2025, Sargasso Sea ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    At the helm for my 3-6am shift again. Lucky for me, I was off the previous night after the 6-9pm shift, where I struggled to keep my eyes open. We had been sailing well the previous day, BUT, not towards our goal.
    We tacked and were still running parallel to the weather line we needed to cross by Tuesday Sunset. I argued hard that we needed to drop sails, point into the wind, and drop down a few degrees of longitude (south). Although the guys we have as crew are very knowledgeable, they also hesitate to assert there opinions so Brian and I tend to make the tactical decisions….and we usually have differing opinions. For 9 hours we motored (no sails) into the wind and although only making 3-4knm/hr we make southerly progress. The sea was churning and it was an unpleasant night. I did my shift from 6-9 and then tried to sleep. Brian was supposed to be on at 3am but was awakes at 1am as the autopilot stopped working and couldn’t handle motoring into the wind and waves. For awhile they hand steered, and then put up the storm sail and fell off a few degrees to where it was agreeable for the auto pilot to work.
    Phew…. I didn’t lose my writing. Suddenly the sails started to quiver and I realized the wind shifted. I popped on the radar and saw I was surrounded by squalls. I increased engine speed (as we are motor sailing … with three sails), and spent the last 40minutes weaving through them. We are close hauled, heading due south (178 degrees) and the squalls are moving west to east, and sucking all the wind out of the air.
    It is 5:10am and fully light out now… which made it easier to dodge the squalls as I could see them as the sun rose. We are still on EST but it is dark by 4:20pm and we are eating before 5pm. Soon we will need to shift our clocks to Antigua (Atlantic) time.
    Back to sipping coffee that Brian made for me at the end of my shift. Since we have been running the engine so much, and the water temperatures are warm, the freezers are struggling. We may need to cook up food and refrigerate it.
    From now (Wednesday) to Sunday there isn’t going to be much wind after the Cold Front (mainly 10-12 foot waves) passes. This means either motoring and hoping we have enough fuel (with the port gauge gone it’s hard to assess… although there was 7/8 when it conked). I am
    No opposed to having a few lull days (or at least 24hrs of slowly drifting South in order to preserve freezer food and fuel. Brian is worried that he made the wrong decision by not stopping in Bermuda. I think we’ll be fine.
    The only other excitement yesterday was a fish on the reel that got off as we couldn’t slow down in time. When Starlink was on, I got to chat via text with Andrew and that was so nice! I got the cutest video from my nephew as well ✨.
    My book is now published on Amazon (https://a.co/d/c2mfna0), but I want to figure out how to get a hard copy before I start to advertise it. Hopefully this helps FTHS and we can find sponsors who will purchase the books for inmates. Thrilled to have this project finally concluded!!    Lue lisää

    Katso käännös
  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja

    Day 7

    10. marraskuuta 2025, Sargasso Sea ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    At the helm again, the sailing is beautiful, although the wrong direction. The engine room is too hot to keep all our precious Costco meat and fresh caught fish frozen…. So we are giving it a break!
    There is a Cold Front coming tomorrow and we are racing our way towards a line, below which the storm won’t be so bad. The past few days have been fairly calm, although we did have one squall.
    Yesterday we ripped apart the boat trying to find the sender for the Port fuel tank, with no luck. I also manually pumped out the bilges and prepped and “froze” the Tuna and Mahi we caught yesterday. The guys were pretty happy with the fishing success! Last night we feasted!
    After a week we are all a little tired and trying to find the groove of sleep, solving problems, outrunning weather and bracing for the next unknown. Many boats, about 1/3 of the feet have diverted to Bermuda to wait for a better weather wind…. We persisted (but are now close to the back of the pack). There are 7 other boats within 25nm of us.    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja

    Fifth Day at Sea

    8. marraskuuta 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    It’s 3:30am on Saturday morning. I am on shift. A sea sick crew member is sleeping in the helm, and Brian has gone to bed. My Veggie Straw snacks have been eaten and now I am trying to stay awake for the next 2.5 hours.
    We are heading close hauled, triple reefed (over reefed as weather is 18-20knots), and only making an average of 5knots. Bermuda is 184 from us (ENE), and we are slowly tracking to Antigua.
    The forward bilge pump stopped working as did the Port fuel gauge. Otherwise, the trip is fairly smooth. It’s frustrating having a sea sick crew as they are unable to assist with food prep or anything below. He does take his shifts, but he also sprawls in the helm, making it impossible for all 4 of us to sit above. I am sure it’s even more frustrating for him.
    In our crew rotation we each have a night off. Mine was yesterday and the sea was calm so I got some good Zzz’s and feel pretty good now. On day 2 I was feeling pretty rotten and also on the verge of sea sick. I’ve found the rhythm between sleep and helm.    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja

    Third Day at sea

    6. marraskuuta 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    This was a rough two days! I am sitting at the helm on my 6-9pm shift writing. Finally able to look at my phone as I was feeling sea sick yesterday. The weather has calmed although we are still around 22knots of wind.
    The gust got up to 39 knots yesterday and the swells were about 8-10feet. It was nasty! Today much better and I got a few hours sleep during the day.
    This Morning after doing a walk around, where lots had shifted due to the violent rolling of the boat all night, we decided to get rid of the Gudgeon, so I unceremoniously threw it overboard.
    Tonight we have 1 reef in the main and 80% jib. It will be a much calmer night, and after this shift, I have the night off! The auto helm noise is beside our head in the aft cabin, and very loud. Reminds me of trying to sleep in a hospital! However, I downloaded some music and use that and headphones to lull me to sleep.    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja
    1
    1

    First Day at Sea

    4. marraskuuta 2025, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    I am in my midnight to 3pm shift. Only an hour left 😊. We have been sailing for 22 hours and should hit the Gulf Stream in the next two hours. We won’t stay in it long, crossing it in six hours. There are about 50 boats within 10nm of us… however over the next 48hrs the pack will spread out more. The winds have been light and we have motored ALL day and night and will likely need to do so for a total of 5 days on this trip.
    The crew, Andy (from the UK, whose wife teaches Pilates) and Michael seem great and I don’t think we will have any problems. Brian and I were on the helm for the first 6-8 hours, then took a break in the afternoon. I was first in for meal prep (Shepherds Pie) and Brian did clean up. Brian was the 9-12 shift and Michael comes on at 3am. We rotate the shifts so that every 4th night you get a full nights sleep.
    I managed to do some yoga and a little exercise today, plus some journal writing. Hopefully I can keep that up every day. The calm seas are a nice way to start this journey! Due to the government shut down in the USA I cannot officially depart the country through ROAM (an app) so I don’t know how it will affect my re-entry. Happy to be heading to another country though…. As my allowable days in the USA was dwindling.    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelPassages and Paradise ⛵️Matkaaja

    The Docks at Downtown Hampton

    2. marraskuuta 2025, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We have been at the Docks for a week now… getting the boat ready for passage to Antigua. Lots of boat chores and little socializing! Although I have been teaching a lot of classes for RWW and continuing to practice yoga once a day.
    The morning have been very cold (6 degrees today), but Melissa and the wind and rain have passed so at least there is sunshine ☀️.
    The crew bunks are ready, although a project today it to make sure the door to one of the bunks closes properly and to waterproof the hatches. Crew will join us tomorrow and we will leave at dawn on Tuesday.
    I have cooked 5 meals and want to get one or two more in the freezer so we are prepared for the 12-14 day passage… especially if there is rough weather.    Lue lisää

    Katso käännös
  • Cathy ManuelEurope with MelanieMatkaaja

    Apple Picking

    27. syyskuuta 2024, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Yesterday Ashlynn told me with excitement that she booked a car from noon till 6pm to go Apple Picking in Saint Jacque. We picked up Des and then headed out. Hugo drove and for some reason I felt very car sick on the way there. We had fun at the orchard, which was about 80minutes from there home.
    We then went to the cheap grocery store to pick up “Christmas Dinner” food. At home Ashlynn and Hugo BBQ sausages and tofu for dinner.    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelEurope with MelanieMatkaaja

    Montreal

    27. syyskuuta 2024, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Brian had to get to grocery and hardware store, drop off the car and get to the marina and leave before noon. The marina was really tough to get into, and he was concerned about getting out solo.
    He dropped me off at Rise Bakery (gluten free), and I feasted on croissants, pumpkin spice cheesecake and a ham and cheese herb croissant to go, which I later had at the airport.
    I knew I needed shoes / sneakers for the trip after wearing flip flops in Washington all day and having sore shins. I went to a store, but didn’t fine anything, so I took an Uber share to the airport. It was an Afghanistan driver who didn’t speak English well and couldn’t seem to find his way to the girls boxing gym before dropping me to the airport.
    I headed to Toronto and then had a 5hour layover- yuck. Arrived in Montreal at 11:30 but it was after midnight when an Uber brought me to Ashlynn’s, where I crawl into bed … after shooing Vinny away, and had a short but solid sleep.    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelEurope with MelanieMatkaaja

    Stores and more

    26. syyskuuta 2024, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I went for a walk with Ashlynn in the morning and then she went to her office and I had a meeting. We decided to head to a cafe to do some work, and on our way there, stopped at a few consignment stores. I bought two dresses and a jean jacket at XX even though I was just looking for footwear.
    In one of the stores, a plant poked me in the eye, and Ashlynn eventually went back (Bee ?) and bought a purse.
    We worked for 3-4 hours while I had a few calls and sipped some Scotch. Then she gave me a tour of her gym. I decided to book a massage on Sunday and then we could do the Nordic experience afterward.
    We continued on to another shoe place and Ashlynn found a beautiful pair of wine ankle boots.
    Then to another second hand store, where I finally found d a pair of men’s black Van’s for $6.00! Great find!
    Hugo met us and we walked back to the apartment to drop off bags and then we took bikes to a small restaurant, where we had a fabulous Asian meal (Basil Beef) and then walked home.    Lue lisää

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  • Cathy ManuelEurope with MelanieMatkaaja

    Washington, DC

    26. syyskuuta 2024, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    After a push to get all the teak on in the aft cabin, leaving the boat and walking around Annapolis at midnight, and then settling into the V-berth and crew cabin to sleep, it was time to go to Washington. We got picked up my Enterprise outside of the South Annapolis Yacht Club entrance and taken to the store. We were upgraded, which often happens to Brian, to a big Jeep. We went to the UPS store first to mail back some parts (fridge handle) that didn’t fit. We then made our way to Downtown Washington, passing the Capitol Building, monument and Mall. We spent most of the afternoon at the National Gallery as Brian showed me all his favourite spots/ artworks… I found a few favourites too.
    We then went to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and among other things saw the Native American portraits.
    We made our way to the Airbnb, 35minutes to go 3.5miles. I was really tired and wanted to get something delivered to us, but Brian couldn’t find anything. He left and went to the nearby grocery store, then came back to me curled up in the comfy bean bag chair. He made the most amazing steak with blue chesse and spinach dinner. It tasted so very good!!
    The Airbnb was nice but the walls were thin and you could hear upstairs easily. Eventually we fell asleep, but I think the contact cement fumes were still agitating us…. And I was having lots of mixed emotions about leaving
    .    Lue lisää

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