Life doesn’t always move in straight lines. Plans drift, markets stall, and sometimes the sea decides the timing. As I often tell the kids: “let life take you.” And this year, it seems, life is taking us back to JACE.

The market is slow, and JACE is a special boat built for a very particular sailor. Through the last few months of the season no serious buyer appeared, and even less so during hurricane season. So here we are: still proud owners of this wonderful bluewater cruiser. And after paying for maintenance, storage, and insurance, the decision became obvious — we might as well enjoy her for another season. Lucky us.

Thankfully, my new business gives me the luxury of choosing when, where, and how much I work. All I need is a good internet connection. So I can be away from Germany for two full months. Karin, a bit less flexible, will join for a month.

On Wednesday I fly into Grenada. On Thursday JACE goes back into the water. She spent the spring quietly on her mooring before we had her hauled out for hurricane season. Our good friend — and JACE’s guardian angel — Brad has kept an eye on her and arranged fresh bottom paint. Friday the engine and generator are being serviced, and Brad will help me tackle a few other jobs. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly and I can get underway sometime the following week.

The plan this year is a one-way run north, from Grenada up through the Antilles to St. Martin. Tony, our friend and broker, will keep an eye on her there and — hopefully — find the right new owner.

Along the way JACE will be well-crewed. First, my dear friend Greg flies in from California. If timing works, he’ll meet me in Carriacou and we’ll sail together up to St. Lucia. After he heads home, I’ll continue to Martinique to meet my nephew Johannes and his girlfriend Johanna for a week of island-hopping. Then a stretch of solo sailing up through Dominica and into Guadeloupe, where Karin joins me just after Christmas, together with my sister Bini and her daughter Amelie. The four of us will meander a bit up and down before my sister and niece fly back to Germany. The last three weeks are for Karin and me: Antigua, Barbuda, and finally into St. Martin, where JACE will rest on Tony’s mooring while we fly home.

So that’s the plan for the ’25–’26 season. I’m excited to escape the grey, damp German winter and even more excited to spend time with our lovely JACE again. I hope she’s in good shape and that the startup week is a little less exhausting than last year. Knock on wood — and wish me luck.