The crew
Three of us, two hulls, and one very clear chain of command.
Maile
Our hostess and the reason anyone watches. Usually on the bow, always in the sun, never in a hurry.
Wes
Plans the route, trims the sails, fixes the engine and stays out of the shot.
Leo
At the wheel, on the lines and on the lookout for the next anchorage.
The boat
A 42-foot sailing catamaran: two hulls, a shallow draft for the islands, and a big trampoline up front that makes the best sunbathing deck in the anchorage.
42′ LOATwin hulls~4′ draftHome port: TBDWhy "Gentle Sun"?
It's a play on all of us: Gentle from Gentilini, which comes from the Italian gentile; Sun from the Wilsons, and from Leo, the sign the sun rules. Add Maile's Hawaiian side (Kulua) and you get a boat that's warm, easy-going and never in a rush.
The route
Rough plan, subject to weather, rum and good anchorages.
- Florida — provision, shake down and wait for a weather window
- The Bahamas — Exumas, swimming pigs, impossible blues
- Turks & Caicos
- British Virgin Islands — Jost Van Dyke, the Baths
- St. Martin & Antigua
- The Grenadines — Bequia and the Tobago Cays