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Overall sailing experience of 30+ years with 35k plus Blue Water Miles including 2 Ocean Crossings.
Degreed in Chemical Engineering and past business owner, I am now partially retired and living in the Washington, DC area.
Experienced in marketing, marketing management, business management, fiber reinforced plastics, computer and internet programing and Information Technology.
Owner of Gulfstar Classic 37(1977)
Email dbowen0849@gmail.com
Blue Water Experience
35k miles experience with 2 ocean crossings
Atlantic Crossing
In 2014, we took an Endeaver 37 from Tampa, Florida, through the Okeechobee Canal to Stuart, Fl and outward across the Atlantic with stops in Bermuda and the Azores before reaching the mainlandand at Sages, Portugal. We also toured the southern Spanish Costa del Sol, Gibraltar, Morocco, and the Balaeric Islands before returning. It lasted 4 months and 4k miles. Prior to the trip, we retrofitted the vessel with new autohelm, navigation, AIS, SSB, and Reverse Osmosis equipment.
Caribbean Windward and Leeward Islands
1500 mile trip from Trinidad to US Virgins and back during the winter of 2002. Two person 5 day passage returning from St. Johns to Trinidad. Visited 14 countries and many, many islands during this 3 month voyage. Vessel was the 41 foot cutter, The Mollymawk of Vancouver. Significant experience was weather to Force 6/7, numerous anchorages, and navigation using paper charts. More info here
Mexican Yucatan, Belize, Guatemala(Rio Dolce), Honduran Islands, and San Andres
3 month trip from Key West, Florida to San Andres, Columbia during 2004 on the 43 foot cutter Freya. Significant experience was weather to Force 7/8, difficult anchoring situations, freeing vessel in run aground situations, navigation using state of the art computer, GPS, and Autohelm interactive systems, weather downloads via satellite, and onboard email using Single Sideband Radio, Water makers, onboard power generation. More info here
Pacific
3 month sailing trip during 2006. We started in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines aboard the 120 foot sailing vessel "Infinity". Significant experience includes; gale conditions at night(Force 8), 12 day passage from Hermit Island into the Philippines, numerous night squalls, sail repair, Satellite telephone and email, food and general boat provisioning, catching rain water for use when the water maker wouldn't work, taking the water maker apart, onboard power generation, and cooking for a lot of people. More info here
Pacific Crossing
The 4 month Pacific crossing trip in 2012 starting in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We then passaged through the Canal, and on to the Galapagos and the Marquesas Islands in a 36 ft Southerly 115. The major leg was over 3k miles(28 days at sea) from the Galapagos to Nuku Hiva. More info here
South America East Coast
8 month trip in 2009 to Brazil, Uruguay, Surinam and Argentina aboard the 44 foot French built aluminum yacht "Saga", an Allures 44. With a centerboard keel, we were able to visit and anchor in unique places. About 5000 miles total, the trip included five 4-6 day passages. We toured Rio de Janeiro(and Carnival), spent a month in the jungle in Surinam, and visited Florianopolis, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Rio Grande, Punta del Este, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. Videos of the trip on YouTube. Photos on Flickr
Race to Mackinac
Participated in a 330 mile freshwater race from Chicago to Mackinac Island in 2009 aboard "After The Storm" a Cape Dory 30. Videos of the race on YouTube.
Great Barrier Reef in Australia
4 months sailing and diving on the Great Barrier Reef in 2010. Starting in Brisbane and ending in Cairns, we stopped at the Whitsundays, Percy Islands, Lady Musgrave, Northwest Island, and many others. Highlights were the cyclone that ran us off the reef, turtle hatchings, and the large amount of underwater sealife.
Atlantic ICW and Bahamas 2019-2020
Alicia and I spent 8 months living and sailing on my Gulfstar Classic 37 from Annapolis to Miami down the ICW first and then crossing into the Bahamas. Highlights included transiting the Great Dismal Swamp and visiting the sea ports of Norfolk, Morehead City, Southport, Georgetown, Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, and Jekyll Island along the way to Miami.
We then crossed into the Bahamas to Bimini, the Berry Islands, Nassau, and the Exumas to Georgetown. The trip was cut short by the arrival of the corona virus.
Other
I have no special dietary needs, and do enjoy an occasional bourbon or glass of wine. I am also a PADI Certified Advanced Scuba diver with additional certifications in Nitrox and Cavern diving. Being a long term sailboat owner, I am also quite familiar with repairing and maintaining diesel engines. I am an avid fisherman and bring gear to fish off the back of the boat. I love ceviche and sashimi from fresh fish.
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