Orion has arrived

[Jim Walsh]

Orion is in St. Georges Harbor, Bermuda. I left Noank on 5/23 at noon. Seven days later I was 43 miles off the island at 2:30pm. I knew I couldn't make it safely into the harbor before darkness fell so I spent the night short-tacking and got within 30 miles of Kitchen Shoal. Due to the traffic I didn't want to get any closer to the island than this. At dawn I headed in and by 7:25am I spotted the island from 11 miles out. I dropped my sails a couple miles from the Mills Breaker bouy and headed into the channel through the reef under power alone.
Once customs was cleared I found a nice spot and anchored in 18 feet with 80 feet of chain and my 35 pound Spade. It didn't take long to get my lines neat and my mainsail cover on. My next order of business was to take a nap for a couple hours.
Here are a couple pictures I snapped a few minutes ago. It took until this morning to get wi-fi access.

[pete faga]

Jim
Glad you arrived safely.
How was the weather crossing the stream? And did you land any big fish.
Keep the pictures coming!
Pete

[Capt Hook]

Congratulations on a safe voyage.

[Chrisa006]

Very nice, congratulations and safe travels!!!

[Paul D.]

I give you joy of your safe, and sounds like pleasant, voyage Jim. Good work!

[Jim Walsh]

Very sunny but breezy day today, 20+ knot winds. There are a few of us heading to the St. Georges Dingy Club to watch the Americas Cup race while drinking adult beverages.
Lots of long distance cruisers coming and going from Customs. Very interesting choices of vessels in the harbor. Here are a couple photos just taken.
Notice the red steel hulled sailboat...dismasted at sea. That'll ruin your day.

[gates_cliff]

Can't quite make out the origin (nationality) of the boat in the foreground. Have any idea. It looks to be about a 27 footer. The one with "anchor ball" at least that's what it looks like.

[tjr818]

That looks like a Queen Anne's Flag according to my book; That would be about 240 years too late though.

Some people never give up.

[Jim Walsh]

Can't quite make out the origin (nationality) of the boat in the foreground. Have any idea. It looks to be about a 27 footer. The one with "anchor ball" at least that's what it looks like.

I think it's Polish. It's flying a flag but it's very faded and obscured. I see the. E.U. Flag clearly. Certainly an unlikely looking ocean cruiser. Makes Orion look like a thoroughbred, but I already knew that

[jbenagh]

Congratulations! I hope to see you when we get there.

Jeff

[John Stone]

Jim
Outstanding passage. Well done. I look forward to your updates and photos.

[Bob Lascelles]

Jim
Congratulations on a great trip down! Enjoy the Cup Races

Bob

[distand]

Excellent news Jim. Enjoy

[Jim Walsh]

My internet access has been out for three days. It's one thing to pay for a service and another thing to actually get what you paid for
My outboard is a freeloader, it hasn't run since I arrived. Luckily I still remember how to row....
The activity of arrivals and departures is surprising. There are a lot more blue water cruisers than one might think. Yours truly is about the smallest cruiser in the fleet. It seems the vast majority of cruisers set 45' as the minimum length.
The tall ships have returned to St. Georges and are beginning to head back to sea. It's easy to imagine what this harbor looked like a couple hundred years ago when you have a dozen of them surrounding you.
The next couple days will bring some wind and rain...free boat wash....I'm still covered in salt from the passage over so I'll appreciate it.
A Chinese junk just arrived at customs. I just heard on the VHF that the first Bermuda 1-2 racer is just outside the reef.
Here are a couple photos.

[bobdugan]

Hey Jim,

Any word from Steve Laume? I know that he was supposed to leave last Thu. It looks pretty nasty right now offshore.

Bob