This blog records the start and progress of Liz and Roland’s long held dream of acquiring a blue water capable boat and going cruising.

After years of chartering yachts all over the world, for one or two weeks at a time, we finally started planning and looking for a yacht in early 2015.

It was a long, slow and frustrating process but it helped us to solidify what we were looking for (and could afford).

This culminated in the excitement of flying to Fort Lauderdale in Florida, USA, on 12th August for a week of inspections, a professional survey, haul out in a yard and sea trials. This resulted in us confirming a contract to buy “Windward”, a 1999 Island Packet 45 cutter rigged yacht.

The sale closed on the evening of 30th August 2016 – “Windward” was ours and the dream was becoming reality!

As of the end of April 2017, after making repairs and improvements to Windward, we have cruised via the Bahamas, the i65 Atlantic route from Georgetown to the BVI, St. Maarten, St. Barts, St. Kitts and St. Nevis.