Aruba on Merrimac

To Cartagena with Jesse and Sander

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:48:26 +0100

It’s exactly noon local time, and we’ve been under way since 06:00 yesterday morning, having left Aruba bound for Cartagena in Colombia. But first, a quick step back in time. After spending two weeks on the hard in the end, the boat was finally ready – I’m not complaining, since I only asked at short notice whether it could be done, and it was carnival as well! Still, it was nice to be back in the water. Straight back to the spot officially called Paardenbaai but known to everyone as Surfside Beach. There I was immediately welcomed again by Stefan of the Intrepid Bear, whose son was now visiting too. A great lad who is training to be a dentist in Germany, and was doing a few weeks’ internship here with Enrita’s daughter-in-law. In the end I ate with them every day until the new crew arrived from the Netherlands.

On the Hard in Aruba

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:09:27 +0100

Well, another two weeks gone already. Time flies! Let’s have a look at what’s been quietly going on.

As promised, I treated Brigitte and Abbie to a lovely brunch at the ‘Elements Restaurant at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort - Adults Only’, which, just like six years ago with SY Pitou and SY Fidelis, was absolutely delicious. For Brigitte the portions were on the large side; even the men couldn’t manage all of Brigitte’s leftovers. You sit outside in the shade looking out over a truly stunning beach. American and (mostly) European hotel guests spend all day lounging under a palapa (one of those giant palm-thatched parasols) working their way through the cocktails. And then, if they feel like it, they shuffle over to the restaurant for lunch. So if you’re ever here, that brunch is highly recommended: for the “modest” sum of US$ 80 per person we got all the courses plus half a bottle of bubbly each, which for the three of us meant two bottles, so that was a nice little bonus.

Bonaire and Aruba

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 14:02:43 +0100

Oops, I meant to post something every week, but I now see I’ve skipped one. That’s partly because I’m sailing familiar waters – after the first Covid lockdown I spent 3 months in Aruba and 3 months in Bonaire – but also because things got pretty busy with “landlubbers” on board.