The Far Reach, Moored, Elephant Bay, St Thomas — Back in February we met Richard and Eilish Wylie on their magnificent self built 35′ steel gaffer Granuaile. They hail from Northern Ireland and are wrapping up a two year voyage to the Caribbean. This is their second trip to the Caribbean. They are intrepid voyagers. They spent last summer on Grainuaile about 70 miles up the Essequibo River in Guyana, S. America before working their way back up the West Indies this winter.

A couple of days ago they dropped anchor next to the Far Reach after a passage from Vieques Island in the Spanish Virgins. We had a delightful time together. I had supper onboard one evening and the next day we rode the safari (a local pickup truck style bus) together to go shopping. It’s away surprising to me when you meet people and instantly connect and feel like you have known them for years.

They weighed anchor yesterday afternoon working their way north over the next week or so to Virgin Gorda.  Once there, they will stage and make final preparation for the long haul back to Northern Ireland via the Azores.