Angelasails.com

After 4 months on this beautiful island it is now time to move on. Or actually, move back. Today I am flying to New York where I will spend 24 hours (window) shopping. Tomorrow I will fly to Bermuda and prepare for my second Atlantic crossing in 6 months. I am looking forward to it.

Antigua has been good to me. When I arrived I didn’t know anybody and look at me now. My network is huge and I have a liver that can attest to that. To find a boat, to meet people, to set up regattas and deliveries.. everything starts in the bar with a rum, gin and/or beer in your hand. I don’t think I have ever been on drinking spree this long. And I have a couple of shorts to prove that yes, alcohol makes you fat.

But it was worth it. I passed my Yachtmaster Offshore and have now all abbreviations necessary behind my name. I sailed every possible regatta, used a minimum amount of flights to go to and from the different islands and made some really good friends that will last me a life time.

The last 2 weeks I was in charge of an Italian Cookson 50 which I sailed with 3 guys from St Barths to Antigua. Then they left and I actually got paid to check on the boat on a daily basis. A couple of days ago the original skipper came back and yes, it was hard work to clean the hull under water, to prepare it for shipment, to reassemble the cradle at the cargo vessel and to deal with all the bureaucratics imaginable. But it was educational and thus a great experience.

Furthermore I got to sail the Antigua Sailing Week on a boat of which the owner told me after the regatta that he really wanted to pay me. He loved my experience, input and coaching during the races and he already made me commit to coming back onboard in the Med.

It is not the first time this happened so most of the boats I sailed on will team up with me again. I cannot imagine a bigger compliment.

When I crossed the Atlantic in November I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Now I know and it exceeded every expectation. I left my business life and sold my house to give myself some space. To find new happiness after losing my son George*.

And eventhough I am living my plan B, it is the best Plan B I could have ever chosen.

I am proud to say that I am officially a professional sailor. I am being paid to do what I love most. All of a sudden I understand how it feels when people say: I never feel like working because my job is my passion.

Right now that is me.

If you wonder about my wish list? The next couple of months I am going to (try to) find a boat to sail the Fastnet, Middle Sea Race and Sydney Hobart, to name a few..

I am allowing myself to dream big.