We lifted anchor on December 27th at around 21:30 in Canouan, setting course for Bonaire. After saying our goodbyes to friends and giving the boat one last once-over, it was time to begin a new chapter — life after the Windward Islands.

And just like that, we found ourselves back out at sea, with about 450 nautical miles ahead of us. If all goes well, we should arrive in Kralendijk on the afternoon of December 30th.

The start was gentle, with a rather conservative sail setup, but it didn’t take long before things came alive. We’re now flying full main and full Code 0 on a deep reach, gliding along happily at 8.5–9.5 knots.

The first night was, as always, a little exhausting. Finding our sea legs again and learning how to sleep on a moving bed takes some practice. But it was also the perfect time to look back — quite literally — at what we’ve left behind: the Windward Islands.

So what do I take with me from the past weeks? The magical arrival in Grenada, deep dark-green forests, the white sands of Sandy Island, and a wonderful Christmas in the Tobago Cays. Moments shared with friends who were complete strangers only at the beginning of November. And, perhaps, a gentle reminder of my own naivety.

I had read about Hurricane Beryl and knew it was terrible, but seeing the aftermath firsthand was something else entirely. Places like Union Island lost almost everything. Rebuilding is an enormous task when every brick has to be shipped in, and the tourism industry — one of the main sources of income — is still struggling. Life here is not easy.

And yet, the people are incredibly kind. They do their best, hoping to earn what they can from whatever they offer. When we didn’t have the 20 USD for a taxi ride the other day and there was no ATM around, the driver simply smiled and took us for 20 EC — less than half the price. You can’t blame anyone for trying, and you can’t help but admire their generosity.

It takes real endurance to rebuild while knowing that the next hurricane season is already on the horizon. You feel that strength in the people — and in the raw, beautiful resilience of the tropical vegetation itself.

This time, we traveled differently than before, staying longer in fewer places. And it turns out that, for us, it was exactly the right pace.

Now it’s time for something new. But first — passage time