Location: 22° 30N, 62° 34W
Saturday, 04.26.2008

At noon on April 26th, the Schooner Maggie B was at 22° 30N, 62° 34W. We are motorsailing directly towards Bermuda, helped a little by a 10 knot NE breeze. It is 599 NM to Bermuda, we have come 345 from Antigua. The sky is mostly clear and the humidity is significantly lower. On night watch last night we had to dig out a jacket. Blankets are beginning to make their way back from the linen closet to the bunks.

When in Antigua, different members of the press and public would ask: “Whichplace is most beautiful?” or “which is your favorite harbor?” It was a tough question to answer, partially because I didn’t want my favorites overrun because they had been written up in widely-distributed sailing magazines. But it got us all thinking about what are the attributes of the “best port.” Every person values different attributes differently, but we all should be able to agree on the general attributes.

Here’s what we came up with after serious consideration over popular local beverages:

1. Technically good anchorage: Good holding, no swells, shelter. It doesn’t matter how pretty the beaches are if you are rolling out your masts in the anchorage (Fernando de Noronha).

2. Water quality and clarity.

3. Character of town: history, shops, artistic community, vibrant, culture. Not too big, not too small.

4. Attitude towards foreigners and strangers.

5. Technical support: laundry, showers, Internet, phones, water, fuel.

6. Costs.

7. Distance from amateurs. Martinique is lovely, but 1000 catamarans get rented every week and every nearby nice harbor is filled up with plastic floating
condos, many manned by incompetents. Conversely, places that attract cool
“traveling boats” and their seasoned crews are significantly more attractive.
Puerto Williams, Chile being a good example of the latter.

8. Food - local specialties.

9. Yacht support. Can you get critical supplies and skilled help? Are there
specialists who can make your life easier.

10. Security. Not just are there night watchmen at the marina, but is town and the local area safe.

This is just a preliminary list and I would love to hear more ideas of what I missed.

All is well.