This is a preliminary announcement: Whoever can spare one year, has a solid boat, loves offshore and islands, and prefers not to tack upwind, make sure to take a sabbatical around the Atlantic to Africa, from Europe or USAC and back, via West Africa, Atlantic Islands (Azores, Canaries, Cape Verde) and Caribbean (down to Grenada, Trinidad or the Spanish Main), and back up through Virgin Islands, Bahamas and as much or as little of the Intracoastal Waterway as you like. I have done it on my small 32' ketch, an Allied Seawind II, admittedly the best value in blue water minicruisers according to several surveyors. This gives you most of the joys of a circumnavigation, with much less hassles and angst for your shore crew (you can join them within days from just about anywhere on your cruise), only one year window (although you may be tempted to go right out and do it again...). A bientot