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Sailing 2014 Daisy Mae Jerome and Smitty

Thought about how intrigued I am when I read a story and don't know what happened afterward.  As you all know, we lost our sailboat in the Archipelago of Los Roques Venezuela, but that didn't stop Jerome from sailing and following up with our plans.  On January 2014, Jerome joined Smitty in Trinidad and Tobago in order to sail sailing vessel Daisy Mae II to Puerto Rico.  They sailed for one month where they met with long time friends Jay and Tom.

Life is Good

Just a quick note to say that I broke 100, shot 98 yesterday at Pebble Creek Golf Club.  Daisy Mae II is getting ready to sail as we speak.

Teenager Completes Circumnavigation

http://www.lauradekker.nl/Gastenboek.html

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to All

It's been a while since we communicate in this blog.  I must say, we are doing fine, since we came back from our sailing trip.  Letting go has been quite an experience, frankly, looking at how things are faring in our country and around the world you should not fret about losing your sailboat.  I'm glad we have somewhere to turn to.  Good news is during our visit to Orlando for my birthday I we went out golfing and I still can hit the ball.  My son has been recuperating from his accident and overall everyone is healthy and well.  I miss adventure but we are planning some adventures at home and abroad already.  It was so nice to visit family and friends on our way back to to Tampa; we did make a stop in Puerto Rico and  I was able to see my son and mother, and of course re-unite with our partner Smitty.

Many blessings to all, may the new year bring peace, love and may this world co-exist with each other in a humane way.

We Lost our Yacht

We lost our sailing yacht, but we didn't lose our life, our hope, our principles, our love or our faith.  We are quite a match of tempered people.  You better be if you are embarking on this navigation undertaking.  We have been dealing with some cumbersome and sad acquiescence.  

La Tortuga and Los Roques Venezuela

A Lot to be Thankful For

It is a tradition to say thanks today in this part of the world.  There is a lot that we need to be thankful for.  We have had the privilege of having had a sailboat and of all the beautiful experiences we have had aboard Apuej Bien.  Most of our passages this year were pleasant albeit challenging.  Most of our journey through Venezuela was pleasurable; we met beautiful people who were surprised that we were Americans traveling in their country given the political dialogue of the day, but who never directed anti-american sentiment or negative comments.

Press Release Venezuelan Intervention with Apuejbien

  On Sunday, November 13, 2011, Tampa residents, Camille and Jerome Harris, along with their grandson, Terence Harris, were navigating their sailing vessel west along the north coast of Los Roques, Venezuela, approximately 2 miles north of “Los Canquises”, in route to Bonaire,  Netherlands Antilles. They had checked out of VZ Customs and Immigration at Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, two days earlier in order to continue their passage to Bonaire.  At approximately 2:30 PM they were hailed by Venezuelan Coast Guard Patrol vessel, Fumarel, captained by Armando Soriano Martinez in what appeared to be a routine check.

Accident in Los Roques

Just when we had departed to Bonaire, Sunday November 12, 2011 at approximately 1430, we were hailed by a Venezuelan Coast Gurard patrol boat named Fumarel whose captain asked to identify our vessel.  We were navigating west along the north coast of los Roques, approximately two miles north of "Los Canquises".

We never know why things happen, and many of us like to think that everything happens for a reason.   The series of events that followed resulted in our vessel running aground; me and my family's life were placed in critical danger as we had to abandon the vessel which was stuck in the reef.   Moving up and down in a 45 degree angle, Terence jumped down below deck to grab whatever he had a chance to salvage, and we maneuvered to jump into the dinghy at the time when the sun was about to set and it was getting dark.   We were rescued one hour later, or should I say we assisted in our own rescue, since the Coast Guard could not reach our location on the beach, hence we had to relaunch our dinghy a travel to their location across the reef and rocks.

I'm writing this as I prepare to board our flight out of Caracas.  When we get safe home, we will be publishing the detail story of this disaster, provoked by the ill judgement of a government official who decided to exercise abuse of power and hatred towards an american flag and Americans.  You will also learn about the incredible gentlemen who helped us after the accident.