Sailors We Love | Florence Arthaud

The Comeback Kid.

At 17, she was left paralyzed and in a coma by a car accident. At 32, she won the Rhoute du Rhum single-handed transatlantic race, and at 39 she won Transpac with Bruno Peyron. At 54, she fell overboard while sailing alone and was rescued after 2 hours in frigid waters, unfazed and undaunted.

Here, a photo from a few years back, enjoying a bit of well-deserved down time before getting busy. Our kind of sailor – we can’t wait to see what she’ll do next.

Sailing - Florence Arthaud

Exploring | Spanish Virgin Islands

On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty. Today is such a day.

– Rumi

Indeed it is. With my family joining me on Silver Lining to sail into the New Year, it’s not just the wind that is perfect. We’re off to an early start on our crossing to the Spanish Virgin Islands, also known as the Puerto Rican Virgin Islands.  We motored into the channel, then sailed dead down wind for a good part of the way and made it to Playa del Rey in Puerto Rico in 5.5 hours; averaging 7 knots.

We will be exploring the area and will let you know what we find. One advantage: you don’t need a US passport, as we won’t leave US territories for the whole week. Also, Puerto Ricans know how to have fun in and near the water.

Here’s wishing you many rainbow-framed adventures in 2014.

Puerto Rico 1_Dec 2013

Puerto Rico 2_Dec 2013