knowledge from the boating community, they’re also settling into a routine to make the best of their travels. “The groovewe’re getting into for the Bahamas cruising…” Helmly explains, “…you wake up and check the weather. You need to know what’s out there and what’s coming in from what direction and where you should anchor to be protected. Check your tides and winds and plan your next few days.” Caroline will build their route for the day with waypoints utilizing the Navionics app on her iPad. This route can also be joined with data from Active Captain to provide alerts and bulletins as reported by other boaters in the vast community. This detailed chart can then be easily uploaded into their Garmin multifunction display at the helm. When it comes to the boating community at large, the Helmlys also like to utilize online forums, as Jack says, “There’s a forum for every topic.” However, they learned of an issue they had not planned for: poor or non-existent Wi-Fi at marinas and other points of interest. “I had researched Starlink ahead of time but neglected to get it installed on our boat before this trip,” Helmly says. Thankfully, the Helmlys met a slip mate in Marsh Harbour who graciously shared his Starlink connectivity with them. “Starlink is amazing,” Helmly boasts. “When you’re off the grid, you cannot get up-to-the-minute weather reports and are only guessing, which could put you in harm’s way. Starlink can connect you in remote locations at amazing speeds.” They also met a woman who has nearly completed a solo circumnavigation of the globe while using the network. Helmly jokes, “Honestly, there’s even an online forum for boaters about Starlink.” APERFECTCRUISINGCOMPANION This Bahamas excursion included grilling on the boat under the Sureshade and plenty of meals from the galley that the Helmlys rave about. It is clear they love their boat! The performance, the ease of maneuverability, the layout and that Downeast charm. Meeting countless people at marinas and in remote areas was another big highlight of their trip. “We anchored near Nunjack Cay with a bunch of sailboats and went to shore by dinghy and met people on a remote beach. They told us about areas we would have never found on our own,” Helmly says. They also biked nearly 20 miles in a single day—the full length of Elbow Cay— and stopped at three different eateries along the way. Upon returning home to Herrington Harbor North along the western banks of Chesapeake Bay, the Helmlys are now planning several 2- and 3-day cruises around the Bay with friends. They also do an annual trip north to Nantucket and hope to go beyond that for the first time in 2024 to visit Cape Cod, Boston and into Maine—the birthplace of their 48 Sabre. The Helmlys enjoyed incredible adventure and relaxation while tapping a new element of the boating community during their Abacos trip. The experiences and knowledge they gathered along the way will aid them in future journeys and they certainly have some new friendships as well. Plus, by the time you’re reading this, Jack has already installed Starlink on Right Royal and is enjoying impressive and reliable internet speeds wherever their travels take them. 9 2023 SEASON
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