My wife and I recently did the Atlantic crossing from the US to Europe. In a few years, we will be following in your wake when we return to the Caribbean!
Distant Shores TV thanks! We lived aboard when we got married but my wife didn’t want to go cruising. Your DVD set got her hooked with the Cruising Bug! We’re in the Azores doing a refit over the winter. Hope to see you guys in an anchorage somewhere!
Best Atlantic crossing Vlog yet👍 love the balance of information, sense of how it feels to be involved with the crew and the boats interaction with the ocean. Almost feels like I am there. Thank you and safe travels.
Perfecting timing on the release of this episode. It gave me a chance to escape the weather where I live. I am in the northern midwest of the US and today it is snowing and the temp is 7F. Not much sailing going on here for the next 3 months. Safe Travels!
For all you Distant Shores fans who have not been as lucky as us... My wife and I met Paul and Sheryl briefly in southern Spain in the summer of 2018. They are even nicer in person! Such lovely people. We wish them all the best on their coming adventures.
I second that. Met Paul and DSlll at Boot 18 sadly Sheryl was away being busy. Short but pleasant meet, must do it again one day maybe over a beer or a coffee or... When is your itinerary bringing you back to Scotland?
Looking good out there, happy to see the new boat is doing well. The anchor chain just added to the adventure. Your sailing definitely inspires me to cross the ocean. Thanks for sharing your videos and information.
Living the dream, great title and I think you guys are doing just that. I agree with Nick, also the best guys to show how its done. More video please keep safe and keep living your dream.
It's my dream just to get a sailboat again. I just retired this month, the last time I went sailing was in 1975. The older I got the more I missed it. I would love to sail with you sometime if you're ever taking new crew again. I was very sorry I missed you when you came through Oswego and the Erie Canal system. I live in Syracuse NY. I love the new boat. Thanks for the first and original sailing channel that started them all. Safe journeys.
Thanks so much for the kind words Tom 💕 Good luck with your plans to get a sailboat again! We quite enjoyed our various passages through the Erie/Hudson area - lovely!
Hey! I retired five years ago and didn't go voyaging. Now it is getting a bit too complicated. Go when you can. I do sail a lot as I am semi retired as a charter captain. But... that's not like sailing for pleasure. Go, go, go...
Mr/Ms Shard. I really love your videos. You guys are such good teachers. No goofy stuff with broke couples supposedly living the dream. It hurts I've missed my shot at blue water cruising. Thanks. Vaughan Joned
Howdy. Just got back from Boot Dusseldorf, yesterday. Was nice to see a Southerly 480 in person, you both certainly have a nice ship. Safe sailing. Cheers
Thanks Hans! I have seen a few pix of the boat at Dusseldorf but will look forward to seeing her in person. She is quite different inside than ours I see.
Hello Paul & Sheryl ...Paul I really enjoyed your explanation of the sail set up. This is the technical information I love to learn . Well done 👍 Congratulations on your 9 th crossing . Fairwinds from the @captains.chair P.S. we are freezing are butts off here today (OTTAWA) 🇨🇦 enjoy
Thanks Oxnate! Its always bothered me that we couldn't film the night scene (stars, plankton etc) so we got the camera and also a super-fast lens so we could capture it. Sony A7SII and 1.4 lens.
Perhaps its time to invest in scuba tanks. I got certified a few years ago so I can work on my dock moorings in comfort. It makes underwater work very easy.
Hi Sheryl and Paul, great video! Your new boat looks wonderful. Sorry we won't be joining you in the spring but perhaps later. We missed you at the boat show this year. Polar vortex going through here so time to head south. All the best, Gareth and Cheryl.
Hi great video and awsome crossing , my nephew is now in the exumas, he will try to go to shooners cay , after i refered him to Nic Hulot's video on kite surfing the Bahamas on youtube. You know very well the Bahamas , i could make it a take 2 in the bahamas one of those days, now looking at bringing to canada our mac26x for canal rideau etc adventures. We had a good time in florida it was a bit cold but canucks can handle it cant we. we will keep an eye on your adventures in the carribeans, as well we follow rick moore on his rally to colombia from ABCs. It was fun to see you guys meet. cheers and thumbs up. michel
Hi Guys. Great video. I love the way you explain everything, nice a simple. Great tips that we plan on using on our own boat. We have been watching your videos for many years and finally decided to subscribe. Keep em coming and we'll keep watching.
I love applications like this. It's a shame we didn't have any underwater footage. So I've heard the saying "Head South until the butter melts, then turn right."
Great video. We're adding a 12 volt hookah dive system on board for just that situation with stuck anchors or chain. Not sure that would of helped you, but at least you wouldn't have to hold your breath and you can take your time down below looking at the situation.
Very cool as a delivery captain,long range, I have many Gill products. My all go to is the off-shore jacket. Very interesting to see him on board as I just randomly picked this vid! Lynn A. Stokes Eastern Pacific Yacht Delivery Service
WOW! That thumbnail! If that's not clickbait I don't know what would be 😂. What an awesome sail guys, thanks for sharing. Informative and entertaining as always. #LivingTheDream
Underwater flashlight would greatly increase visibility compared to surface light. Clipping a float and line to cut chain and returning in morning to see chain better and possibly save all that new chain is an option.
Loves the video! A few quick questions: 1) noticed your fore and afterguys for the poles are relatively loose. Is there a downside to making them more taut to prevent the pole moving? especially if sail is furled in?, 2) I noticed your inflatable on your deck and your sister-ship’s was in the davits, I assume across the Atlantic. Any reason your boat does not have davits? I ask since I love my davits but never crossed an ocean. Also, any safety issue on sister-ship with inflatable in davits across the ocean or are they super heavy duty davits where it is not an issue? Thanks!!
Two years ago I had the same problem with my anchor chain. We tried hours to lose it from the rock. We had been succesfull, getting the anchor on the ship as you did and then throwing both ends of the chain with big fenders into the water. Now the chain was loose and I could try in wich direction I could get it free. After some attempts I could wrap the chain free. But it was under daytime.
2:32: Sometimes you just have to get out the clippers. 8:25: A crew briefing is not only a good idea, it's got cinematic value! 8:43: Nick Gill? You get some unusual crew! 10:07: We pulled in a big mahi-mahi on my last Atlantic delivery. They are delicious any way you make them. 12:00: Good seamanship there, Paul. 17:54: Would you spend a bit more to go to two carbon fibre poles or do you considered it's not necessary because you have an adequate lift and guy setup for the big 'un? Great video, guys.
Thanks Marc! Definitely twin carbon poles would have been worth the extra $$. Coincidentally I weighed them while making this video so it was the first I realized just how much extra weight aloft the alu pole is - 10kg additional weight for crew to handle and weight up high while sailing. We plan to replace it with a second carbon one...
@@DistantShoresTV Thanks...I should factor in the cost as we are cutter-rigged and poling out requires a pretty lengthy pole for our yankee-cut working jib.
I will rig up a dippable underwater camera for manuveuring between shallows. This vd would be more useful when you include the berthing cost and other docking expenses. Still a lot to learn, so thanks. I was hoping to see more night sky; don't do ocean crossings so it would be nice to see a ocean-sky.
Another excellent video. Have you considered having a Scuba Diving System onboard, as it might well have given you the bottom time you needed to free the chain.
Over the years I have "rescued" probably a dozen anchors & chain for other cruisers using scuba gear. I was really surprised you didn't have a scuba rig on the boat? I'm betting if you had had this you would have had enough bottom time to sort out that tangle!
Great video again. looking forward to the new Distant shores season. Paul and Sheryl could you let us know some details of your passage planning? what weather were you watching for for your departure? and when did you head out to Las Palmas? and how long did you stay in Mindelo? thanks again for another great video.
Shame about the anchor chain. Were there any lessons to be learned from that, or was it just one of those things that occurs from time to time? Congrats on what certainly looked to be a fantastic passage.
Thanks Patrick! I think if I had checked what was wrong when we first found the anchor was stuck it might have been easier to free it... in my past experiences it had been worth trying to turn and lift the anchor from a different direction, but in this case turning might have added to the tangle of chain under the two rocks :-( so I think its just one of those things...
Yeah, just one of those things. You handled as well as anyone could have - and you saved that expensive anchor! Looking forward to the next episode. :-)
Paul, Wow new boat looks amazing and looks like its preforming the same, have a question though, you said your making 160 to 170 miles a day, how does that contrast with last years trip on the cat, how many miles a did it make when the wind was blowing, I recall a few windless days if I'm right...
We were much faster this year but it doesn't reflect on the Discovery 50 Cat. The cat is a great and swift boat but we had the lightest winds ever on that passage in 2017. Honestly we didn't have even one day with the proper winds to compare to this year's breezy crossing. Our fastest speeds were right at the start at Las Palmas when the winds on the beam and suddenly we were zipping along 11-14 knots! But then we didn't see such winds again :-(
With a swept spreader rig (as we have) the main doesn't go all the way forward so it needs careful tending to make sure it doesn't jibe. Also the twin jibs don't need to be tacked if the wind comes from the other side. With main and headsail we need to keep the wind on the correct side of the main. So we'd have a set-up for port tack or starboard tack 150-180 degrees. With twin jibs we kept the same setup even when the wind was one side or the other. Hope this helps :-)
Stefan, it gives more sail area for downwind sailing. The poles prevent the sails from collapsing and make it very easy for a single crew member to furl in the sails if the wind gets up or a squall approaches.
My favorite thing about your videos is that you never stay in one place to long and we can actually watch sailing ⛵️❤️
Thanks, Laura. We appreciate your feedback. Sailing to new places is what is so much fun for us! ⛵️
My wife and I recently did the Atlantic crossing from the US to Europe. In a few years, we will be following in your wake when we return to the Caribbean!
Fair winds and I hope you enjoy cruising Europe!!
Distant Shores TV thanks!
We lived aboard when we got married but my wife didn’t want to go cruising. Your DVD set got her hooked with the Cruising Bug! We’re in the Azores doing a refit over the winter.
Hope to see you guys in an anchorage somewhere!
Love your channel I will be looking back in time and watching every one of your shows thank you
Awesome! Thank you, Chase!
What an opportunity to sail with the founder of Gill. We love our Gill foulies. It was wonderful to see his excitement. Thanks for sharing!
Loving the series. Glad you are showing the good and the bad, and all the hard work and details involved. It is not all fair winds and sunny skies!
Your videos are exquisitely filmed and edited. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful boat!
Best Atlantic crossing Vlog yet👍 love the balance of information, sense of how it feels to be involved with the crew and the boats interaction with the ocean. Almost feels like I am there. Thank you and safe travels.
THANK YOU FOR PRECISION DETAILING YOUR TRIPS AND EVERY THING YOU DO , LEARNING A LOT FROM YOU GUYS, KEEP HAVING FUN
Perfecting timing on the release of this episode. It gave me a chance to escape the weather where I live. I am in the northern midwest of the US and today it is snowing and the temp is 7F. Not much sailing going on here for the next 3 months. Safe Travels!
For all you Distant Shores fans who have not been as lucky as us... My wife and I met Paul and Sheryl briefly in southern Spain in the summer of 2018. They are even nicer in person! Such lovely people. We wish them all the best on their coming adventures.
😊💕❤️
I second that. Met Paul and DSlll at Boot 18 sadly Sheryl was away being busy. Short but pleasant meet, must do it again one day maybe over a beer or a coffee or... When is your itinerary bringing you back to Scotland?
Looking good out there, happy to see the new boat is doing well. The anchor chain just added to the adventure. Your sailing definitely inspires me to cross the ocean. Thanks for sharing your videos and information.
I love sailing down wind...you guys take it to a whole knew level......keep up the great work
Nice crossing! What a dream. Enjoy the warm sun!
Living the dream, great title and I think you guys are doing just that. I agree with Nick, also the best guys to show how its done. More video please keep safe and keep living your dream.
😊💕 Thanks Keith for the kind words!
Great solution for the chafing problem. Thanks for sharing another great video.
Glad you guys enjoyed it Kelly :-) 👍💕
It's my dream just to get a sailboat again. I just retired this month, the last time I went sailing was in 1975. The older I got the more I missed it.
I would love to sail with you sometime if you're ever taking new crew again. I was very sorry I missed you when you came through Oswego and the Erie Canal system. I live in Syracuse NY.
I love the new boat.
Thanks for the first and original sailing channel that started them all.
Safe journeys.
Thanks so much for the kind words Tom 💕
Good luck with your plans to get a sailboat again! We quite enjoyed our various passages through the Erie/Hudson area - lovely!
Hey! I retired five years ago and didn't go voyaging. Now it is getting a bit too complicated. Go when you can. I do sail a lot as I am semi retired as a charter captain. But... that's not like sailing for pleasure.
Go, go, go...
I love the educational aspect of your postings! Beautiful boat!
Wow! What a wonderful trip!
Thank you very much
Love the new boat, nice setup. Nothing quite like grill cheese and soup on a rainy day.
Mr/Ms Shard. I really love your videos. You guys are such good teachers. No goofy stuff with broke couples supposedly living the dream. It hurts I've missed my shot at blue water cruising. Thanks. Vaughan Joned
Great to see you again Sheryl and Paul. I'm amazed by what you do! See you back in Canada when the weather is warmer😁🇨🇦
Excellent explanation of your dual foresail rig.
Great video! Beautiful shots along the way. That new sailboat seems to cut through the water quite easily. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Great video. I loved it. I especially loved the lessons regarding the sails.
Cool Videos. I especially liked the fact that you explained how long it takes, and the math behind the speed/distance covered in a crossing.
Glad it was helpful!
Howdy.
Just got back from Boot Dusseldorf, yesterday. Was nice to see a Southerly 480 in person, you both certainly have a nice ship.
Safe sailing.
Cheers
Thanks Hans! I have seen a few pix of the boat at Dusseldorf but will look forward to seeing her in person. She is quite different inside than ours I see.
I thank you for reminding me how boring my life is. Such a great video to sit back and enjoy. Cheers mate.
Hello Paul & Sheryl ...Paul I really enjoyed your explanation of the sail set up. This is the technical information I love to learn . Well done 👍
Congratulations on your 9 th crossing .
Fairwinds from the @captains.chair
P.S. we are freezing are butts off here today (OTTAWA) 🇨🇦 enjoy
I’m so happy you came out with a video. I have been waiting for so long. Thank you so much and safe travels
Glad to help you out Corey!
Distant Shores TV keep the videos coming.
How often do you post videos?
I love your camera. I don't think any other youtuber has been able to show us phosphorescent plankton. That was a real treat.
Thanks Oxnate! Its always bothered me that we couldn't film the night scene (stars, plankton etc) so we got the camera and also a super-fast lens so we could capture it. Sony A7SII and 1.4 lens.
Nice video one of this days I will be crossing, thank you for publish have a wonderful week
Perhaps its time to invest in scuba tanks. I got certified a few years ago so I can work on my dock moorings in comfort. It makes underwater work very easy.
Hi Sheryl and Paul, great video! Your new boat looks wonderful. Sorry we won't be joining you in the spring but perhaps later. We missed you at the boat show this year. Polar vortex going through here so time to head south. All the best, Gareth and Cheryl.
Thanks Gareth! Glad you enjoyed it. And we're also sorry you couldn't come along! 💕❤️
Hi
great video and awsome crossing , my nephew is now in the exumas, he will try to go to shooners cay , after i refered him to Nic Hulot's video on kite surfing the Bahamas on youtube. You know very well the Bahamas , i could make it a take 2 in the bahamas one of those days, now looking at bringing to canada our mac26x for canal rideau etc adventures. We had a good time in florida it was a bit cold but canucks can handle it cant we.
we will keep an eye on your adventures in the carribeans, as well we follow rick moore on his rally to colombia from ABCs. It was fun to see you guys meet.
cheers and thumbs up.
michel
Hi Guys. Great video. I love the way you explain everything, nice a simple. Great tips that we plan on using on our own boat. We have been watching your videos for many years and finally decided to subscribe. Keep em coming and we'll keep watching.
Great professional vlog as usual. Congrats on another crossing!
Thanks for the kind words Gerard 😊💕
As always, such an enjoyable video. I really like your two-pole fore sales. We have much the same, with the second being a hank on.
Thanks SBS 😊💕.
Thats' a great way to add a second foresail. I presume you also have a second (removable) inner stay for the hank-on sail?
I am new here. It looks like a professional outfit. Very aware of safety unlike many others.
Great video! 👍❤️ from Vancouver 🇨🇦
Outstanding episode. Thank you so much. Your posts are always a major treat.
great video . living life ! with some nice people .
One of your best videos ever! Thank you for all you do!
You are very welcome Gerald! 😊💕❤️
great passage, great crew :) Getting excited for sailing season to start here! Cheers from PEI, Bryan
Excellent vid ya'll, great info also, fair winds guys.
Crossing the Atlantic is a fantastic experience!!!
Happy to see you back, very nice passage as well!😊 That was a bummer losing some of that anchor chain.😡 Thanks for sharing. Fair winds. 👍👍👍👍👍👍😊⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵
Nice! Again! Regards from Sylt, nothern Germany.
Nice video and the new boat is beautiful 👍🏻
Thanks Paul!
I love applications like this. It's a shame we didn't have any underwater footage. So I've heard the saying "Head South until the butter melts, then turn right."
Great video. We're adding a 12 volt hookah dive system on board for just that situation with stuck anchors or chain. Not sure that would of helped you, but at least you wouldn't have to hold your breath and you can take your time down below looking at the situation.
Very cool as a delivery captain,long range, I have many Gill products. My all go to is the off-shore jacket. Very interesting to see him on board as I just randomly picked this vid!
Lynn A. Stokes
Eastern Pacific Yacht Delivery Service
Looks like you guys are settling to the boat fine!
WOW! That thumbnail! If that's not clickbait I don't know what would be 😂. What an awesome sail guys, thanks for sharing. Informative and entertaining as always. #LivingTheDream
Thanks guys ❤️
Underwater flashlight would greatly increase visibility compared to surface light. Clipping a float and line to cut chain and returning in morning to see chain better and possibly save all that new chain is an option.
Watching a great video from Toronto with a blustery -38C outside. I now know why you didn't make the boat show here this year!
great vid..i learned a few things..thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Awesome video! More more more!!
Great video. Love it. Take care ❤🇳🇴
Tusen Takk 😊❤️
@@DistantShoresTV
Bare hyggelig😉
Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant!
What a beaut boat !
Loves the video! A few quick questions: 1) noticed your fore and afterguys for the poles are relatively loose. Is there a downside to making them more taut to prevent the pole moving? especially if sail is furled in?, 2) I noticed your inflatable on your deck and your sister-ship’s was in the davits, I assume across the Atlantic. Any reason your boat does not have davits? I ask since I love my davits but never crossed an ocean. Also, any safety issue on sister-ship with inflatable in davits across the ocean or are they super heavy duty davits where it is not an issue? Thanks!!
beautiful ship!
Two years ago I had the same problem with my anchor chain. We tried hours to lose it from the rock. We had been succesfull, getting the anchor on the ship as you did and then throwing both ends of the chain with big fenders into the water. Now the chain was loose and I could try in wich direction I could get it free. After some attempts I could wrap the chain free. But it was under daytime.
I think I've sailed against Nick Gill in National 12s at Nottingham many years ago. Better sailor than me!
Very well done, Cheers !
2:32: Sometimes you just have to get out the clippers. 8:25: A crew briefing is not only a good idea, it's got cinematic value! 8:43: Nick Gill? You get some unusual crew! 10:07: We pulled in a big mahi-mahi on my last Atlantic delivery. They are delicious any way you make them. 12:00: Good seamanship there, Paul. 17:54: Would you spend a bit more to go to two carbon fibre poles or do you considered it's not necessary because you have an adequate lift and guy setup for the big 'un? Great video, guys.
Thanks Marc! Definitely twin carbon poles would have been worth the extra $$. Coincidentally I weighed them while making this video so it was the first I realized just how much extra weight aloft the alu pole is - 10kg additional weight for crew to handle and weight up high while sailing. We plan to replace it with a second carbon one...
@@DistantShoresTV Thanks...I should factor in the cost as we are cutter-rigged and poling out requires a pretty lengthy pole for our yankee-cut working jib.
Hi great video. I saw some boats using a parasailor. Is this a good option instead of twin sails?
I think my favorite segment was Paul introducing the Gil founder while wearing a Columbia shirt. 🙄
What a life....
Mahimahi with Sagres beer, what can you ask more? ;)
Great footage.. and well done as usual.. I'm wondering why folks looked like they were at the helm a lot instead of using the autopilot... drudgery!
P&S....that wing on wing dual headsail rig is brilliant !!! Damn it...just when I thought our boat was all tricked-out !!! lol
18:07, is that a dolphin? Looks quite tiny.
I will rig up a dippable underwater camera for manuveuring between shallows. This vd would be more useful when you include the berthing cost and other docking expenses. Still a lot to learn, so thanks. I was hoping to see more night sky; don't do ocean crossings so it would be nice to see a ocean-sky.
awesome
I love your videos I hope some day I can do the same trip
Thanks Efrain 😊💕 and good luck with your plans!
One question, did you ever found a plastic item in the sea?such as bags,bottles,etc.
Which one is better for long range, catamaran or monohull?
Another excellent video. Have you considered having a Scuba Diving System onboard, as it might well have given you the bottom time you needed to free the chain.
I like your boat
Very beautiful. 13:27 what is that sheet in the water for?
Thanks Ales! 😊 The line is the short tail end of the foreguy around the bow cleat.
Over the years I have "rescued" probably a dozen anchors & chain for other cruisers using scuba gear. I was really surprised you didn't have a scuba rig on the boat? I'm betting if you had had this you would have had enough bottom time to sort out that tangle!
you could've at attached a buoy to the anchor chain when you cut it so you can come back during the day and got it back
Great video again. looking forward to the new Distant shores season. Paul and Sheryl could you let us know some details of your passage planning? what weather were you watching for for your departure? and when did you head out to Las Palmas? and how long did you stay in Mindelo? thanks again for another great video.
Where did you get the music?
Love your videos. What kind of program do you use to make the maps with routes in your presentations ?
The Gill guy was probably 12 days straight at the helm 👍🏻💪
LOL Nick was great but everyone took their turn at the helm and enjoyed it too :-)
What would have been the best route for you to have sailed from the UK to Beaufort, NC?
Why was the main boom tied out to the side with furled sail ?
If there was ever an advertisement to have a couple dive tanks on board this might be it. Sorry for your donation of new chain.
Welcome to boating. After selling my last boat I have not missed it for a minute.
What type of spinlock deckvast you use? 275 or 170? And you are lucky with this? I am just searching one for same use... THX!
Shame about the anchor chain. Were there any lessons to be learned from that, or was it just one of those things that occurs from time to time? Congrats on what certainly looked to be a fantastic passage.
Thanks Patrick!
I think if I had checked what was wrong when we first found the anchor was stuck it might have been easier to free it... in my past experiences it had been worth trying to turn and lift the anchor from a different direction, but in this case turning might have added to the tangle of chain under the two rocks :-( so I think its just one of those things...
@@DistantShoresTV Neptune's tribute is collected at irregular intervals.
Yeah, just one of those things. You handled as well as anyone could have - and you saved that expensive anchor! Looking forward to the next episode. :-)
Patrick Laine we missed your videos Patrick
Agreed, Patrick. When do you think you might be releasing another vid?
Paul, Wow new boat looks amazing and looks like its preforming the same, have a question though, you said your making 160 to 170 miles a day, how does that contrast with last years trip on the cat, how many miles a did it make when the wind was blowing, I recall a few windless days if I'm right...
We were much faster this year but it doesn't reflect on the Discovery 50 Cat. The cat is a great and swift boat but we had the lightest winds ever on that passage in 2017. Honestly we didn't have even one day with the proper winds to compare to this year's breezy crossing. Our fastest speeds were right at the start at Las Palmas when the winds on the beam and suddenly we were zipping along 11-14 knots! But then we didn't see such winds again :-(
What makes your new set up better than using main sail and one head sail.
With a swept spreader rig (as we have) the main doesn't go all the way forward so it needs careful tending to make sure it doesn't jibe. Also the twin jibs don't need to be tacked if the wind comes from the other side. With main and headsail we need to keep the wind on the correct side of the main. So we'd have a set-up for port tack or starboard tack 150-180 degrees. With twin jibs we kept the same setup even when the wind was one side or the other. Hope this helps :-)
Thanks
Just curious, how much would a boat like yours run?
What do you gain by using two headsails on poles, instead of just combining one head with a mainsail?
Stefan, it gives more sail area for downwind sailing. The poles prevent the sails from collapsing and make it very easy for a single crew member to furl in the sails if the wind gets up or a squall approaches.
@@DistantShoresTV Thanks for answering. Hope you make a video based on that subject.
Great video! You have to film a new intro while being in the Caribbean :)