UPDATE FOR 2003

Left Cape Cod on April 13th ~~ headed south. First stop Lewes, Deleware where we picked up additional crew. We also stopped in Beaufort, N.C. and Fort Lauderdale, FL. where we fueled up and then headed for Jamaica, passing through the Bahamas making one stop again for fuel in Great Inagua (a story in itself). Next stop, Port Antonio, Jamaica where we renewed some old friendships and made some new ones. Spent a week in Jamaica and worked on the ship, getting her ready for the Quincentennial celebration in Grand Cayman. We had another crew member join in Jamaica. Before we left Port Antonio, Capt. Mahan and his wife Marlene participated in a ceremony where Island officials loaded bananas onto the Larinda in a symbolic gesture, replicating the actions of another Cape Cod captain, Lorenzo Baker of Wellfleet, 130 years ago. Captain Baker imported the first Jamaican bananas to the United States on the schooner Telegraph. More to come on that story!

It was a 2 1/2 day sail from Jamaica to Grand Cayman. We spent from May 7 ~ May 12 and many visitors came aboard Larinda during the festival. It was a gala event and we all enjoyed the time there. Lots of food and entertainment for the crew!

We had another crew member, from Sweden, join us in Cayman Island for our sail back to the states. We left on May 12 and our next stop was Key West, a favorite stopover for us. We spent a couple of days there to rest and relax and enjoy our favorite oysters on the half shell !!! Yum! The crew enjoyed their time in this lively port. After leaving Key West, it was on up the coast stopping for a couple of overnights and enduring a harrowing trip in the Gulf Stream with 26' seas and a bit of wind. We arrived at MacDougalls' (our winter home) at 1 am on May 31st. after outrunning a nor' easter. Spent the week doing a lot of needed maintenance on Larinda and now she is off again, leaving Falmouth on Saturday, June 7, 2003 and heading for the Great Lakes for a summer of tall ships events and more adventures along the way.