Captain Pete spent several years based in the Caribbean, primarily using St. Croix, USVI as his home port while exploring the surrounding islands and territories between 1998 and 2010. His time there was marked by recreational sailing, competitive yacht racing, boat maintenance, and frequent preparations for hurricane seasons.
U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)
St. Croix, USVI
French Kiss was based at the St. Croix January 1998 – June 2009. Captain Pete spent considerable time performing boat upgrades, repairs, and preparing for storms, often moving French Kiss into the Salt River Lagoon or mangroves for safety during hurricane threats.
Buck Island, USVI
There were many escapes to Buck Island Reef National Monument with French Kiss, located approximately 6 nautical miles off the coast of St. Croix. Captain Pete shared several specific details and personal memories regarding Buck Island. He described Buck Island as a “different world” compared to the main island and particularly valued it for its peacefulness, clear water, and diving opportunities, noting that it featured “nice coral heads”.
While staying on isolated moorings 5 to 6 miles west of the main villages in Majuro, Marshall Islands, he compared this experience to his Buck Island to escapes from noise, bright lights, and the “mess” of busier port areas. Buck Island was the site of his 50th birthday party, where described the event as a “crazy” celebration, which would be “hard to top”.
St. John, USVI
Captain Pete enjoyed visiting St. John with French Kiss as a peaceful getaway from their home base in St. Croix, USVI, ~35-45 nautical miles – describing it as a place to “change out one island for another”. He viewed St. John as a scenic and quiet destination for short-term breaks from his boat projects, enjoying brief getaways to the South Shore Getaway of St. John, which he described as a peaceful federal park where he could snorkel, kayak, and hike – specifically away from crowds.
St Thomas, USVI
Race in 2004 – more info soon. Sailing from St. Croix to St. Thomas is a ~35–40 nautical mile, open-ocean crossing (5–7 hours) across the Puerto Rico Trench. Departing early (Christiansted/Salt River) is advised to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, with best conditions in April or during calmer winter weather.
British Virgin Islands (BVI)
Captain Pete noted that British Virgin Islands (BVI) offered great sailing and French Kiss frequently visited while based at the St. Croix, USVI. Trips to the BVI with French Kiss were primarily centered around competitive racing, long-term storage, maintenance, and hardware procurement.
Jost Van Dyke, BVI (October 2007)
One of Captain Pete’s most notable BVI experiences with French Kiss was participating in Foxy’s Halloween Cat Fight on Jost Van Dyke, BVI in October 2007. The approximately 45-50 nautical miles crossing from St. Croix was “tough” and “interesting,” involving several squall lines where French Kiss moved at 8–11 knots while totally reefed down. The main race route went around Sandy Key to Big Thatch and back. Captain Pete ran French Kiss with a reef in the main sail for most of the race due to a broken portside chain plate that he was afraid to stress.
Despite the damaged hardware and a 10-year-old main sail, finishing second overall out of six boats, losing only to a 44-foot catamaran called Dream Weaver by roughly three minutes. French Kiss took first place in her class (40 feet and under). They earned a write-up in the December issue of All at Sea magazine. Captain Pete’s winnings included a dinner for two at Foxy’s barbecue and a $50 gift certificate for the Jolly Roger at Soaper’s Hole.
Virgin Gorda, BVI (2007–2009)
December 26, 2007 – November 17, 2008 Captain Pete utilized the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour (VGYH), approximately 50-55 nautical miles, for “on the hard” storage while in working at the South Pole in Antarctica “on the ice”. As a side note, this was Pete’s second trip to Antarctica; his first trip was to Palmer Station in 2005. In mid-October 2008, French Kiss “dodged the bullet” when Hurricane Omar hit St. Croix hard, sinking 47 boats. French Kiss was safely stored on the hard in Virgin Gorda 40 miles away. After spending a month in New Zealand, on December 2008 Captain Pete returned to VGYH and started bottom job on French Kiss.
Tortola, BVI (March 2009)
Captain Pete’s visit to Road Town, Tortola, in BVI, approximately 40-45 nautical mile, was primarily focused on French Kiss maintenance and performance upgrades, most notably the acquisition of a new main sail. After waiting several weeks for the strong northeast winds to subside and shift back to their normal direction, French Kiss made the crossing from St. Croix, USVI. Captain Pete described the journey as, “What a great fast crossing. Being single handed I had one reef in to make it handle better and still averaged 7.5-8 knots. Everything worked so well, I just kicked back and read a book.” While the 10-year-old main sail was still functional, it was time for an upgrade to the Doyle sail would make French Kiss look “pretty fine”.
Dominica (2004)
2004 – more info soon… Sailing from St. Croix, USVI, to Dominica is a roughly 300-350 nautical mile passage typically requiring 2–3 days, heading southeast against prevailing trade winds and currents.
Anguilla (March 2007)
In March 22, 2007 French Kiss made a demanding “26-hour beat” to Anguilla to attend a Jimmy Buffett concert, approximately 122-125 nautical miles. Captain Pete describe the sail as “not for the faint of heart! French Kiss did very well, nothing broke, but had to reef-dereef several times because of squalls. I loved it, but came in very tired. Resting up for Jimmy Buffett concert.” They return to their home mooring in St. Croix, USVI on March 26. “Great time & concert. Anguilla is a fun place. Trip back was very uneventful, flew the spinnaker all the way back for 16 hours through the night. My kind of trip….. Time for a nap!”
Side note: Jimmy Buffett performed two historic concerts at Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve on Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla, on March 23–24, 2007.
Permanently Departed St. Croix, USVI (June 24, 2009)
On June 24, 2009 French Kiss and Captain Pete permanently departed from home-port St. Croix, USVI. The journey continues to Colón, Panama and preparing for a Pacific crossing.
Life in the Tropics
Captain Pete frequently commented on the challenges of Caribbean living, particularly the relentless heat, high humidity, and mold. Despite these hardships, he noted that the “Cruising life agrees with me. I have a lot of books and movies and there is always boat work. Trying to live off the land a bit more, not much of a fisherman. Pineapples and coconuts are cheap as well as other local veggies. [… Learning Spanish …] I know how to ask for a cold beer and where the head is, so I have most of it covered. I feel good and Miss Kiss is doing well.” Captain Pete Allen – September 4, 2009 Subject: Boca again [Boca De Tora island of Colon]
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