DrakeParagon

Welcome to the beginning of Season 4! The end of last season saw us pulling into St. John's, Newfoundland (after almost a week at sea!) to whales, sunny skies, and friendly faces. Now it's time to explore our last port of call in North America as we also prepare to push off for Greenland.

We're reminded of the ticking clock of our timeline as another boat departs for distant shores. Still groggy from our voyage, we set out to explore more of St. John's which feels very familiar for one crew member (cue a bit of Irish music!), and then answer the burning question...How do YOU like your poutine?

We take a step back in time and also find out what's for dinner in Newfoundland. (Moose sausage?!?) While some locals soak up the sidewalk others shoot for the stars, and we take some time with The Duke of Duckworth to discuss life aboard Paragon.

It's busy days aboard Paragon as we check out the night life, get some much needed help from a local, and figure out the fuel situation. (Now what about the water?) Our thoughts also turn to the sea of icebergs, just beyond the harbour, and slowly drifting south. How will we deal with these mammoths while at sea? Stay with us

Paragon is bustling with activity. Drake has another go with the SSB with the hope of downloading a weather fax while the question of fresh water continues to loom large. We can't push off until the tanks are filled and just when we think we've solved the problem, disaster strikes. All work and no play is no fun, so the crew splits up and it's date night aboard Paragon! The sun is out until the wee hours, so join us as we blow off a bit of steam in St. John's!

The water tanks aboard Paragon must be filled, come rain or some shine. Of course, as we fix one problem another pops up in the engine room. Good thing we've got full bellies from our world breakfast tour! What will happen next? Stay with us!

A slice of life aboard Paragon. So much of every day life on the boat is interacting...with each other and those around us. We talk and laugh and learn and have a lot of fun as well. A large part of our time is also spent cooking and, whether at sea or on shore, Drake keeps us in good eats. Want to recreate the food in this episode? Check out our Facebook page where I'll post the recipe for Pineapple Orange Ginger Turkey! Bon Appétit!

What to do when a brass band shows up on your doorstep? Why join them, of course! The crew of Paragon is honoured to witness the remembrance speeches and parades on Canada Day in St. John’s. We also get a little help from fellow cruisers who shed light on our upcoming voyages and perhaps even change our plans a bit. What is our iceberg sailing threshold? Stay tuned!

Staying at a public dock can be quite social and a great way to meet people. Craig, a local, stopped by to say hello and invited the crew of Paragon on a whirlwind tour of some of the local sights. From the top of signal hill to a beer that includes a 25,000 year old ingredient...stay with us!

We've explored St. John's so now we're hittin' the road to check out some of what the Avalon Peninsula has to offer. The Pope, wild strawberries, and a sunken whaling ship are just some of the things we encounter while motoring along this stunning coast and the scenic Marine Drive. Join us as our fighter pilot turned tour guide shows us some of the best that Newfoundland has to offer!

Could Paragon take on an extra crew member? She could if Mo had her way. It's a day of visitors for Paragon as Craig stops by with some Bon Voyage gifts and we get some important information on Greenland from a fellow sailor. The weather looks good as we prepare to push off...stay with us!

Sailing offshore to Greenland. Just saying the words make us giddy on this day of lasts...last laundry, last provisioning trip, last weather reports, and last meeting of friends, both new and old. Join us on this last day in Canada (in fact, the whole of North America!) as we prepare to push off for destinations unknown!

We have spent years preparing for this moment...PUSHING OFF FOR GREENLAND! The boat is in better shape than she's ever been and the crew is as prepared as they can be. We begin this offshore sail to one of the harshest places in the world with good spirits. Now if only those weather charts were accurate. Join us as we say goodbye to North America and hello to...fancy porpoises??? Stay tuned!

It's the first day on the water in our journey to Greenland and Paragon has lost sight of shore. The first night is a bit rough as everyone gets used to being on the water with rolling seas. Will the wind pick up? Will we be able to turn off the engine? Will Drake jinx us? Stay tuned!

The best preparation cannot prevent things from breaking at sea. The question is, are you prepared to perform a repair on a boat offshore when help is nowhere near? The crew of Paragon attempts to jury-rig a broken whisker pole and finds the task to be a bit of a puzzle. Every hour brings us closer to iceberg territory...can we get the boat sorted before darkness falls? Stay with us!

Drake is cooking up a great chicken caesar wrap for lunch. Now should he use romaine or...ICEBERG! Our entire sail to Greenland we have been anticipating seeing our first iceberg. Well captain, iceberg dead ahead! Is this the first of many? Stay with us!

Can you do an oil change on your boat? How about an oil change underway, offshore with the possibility of a storm looming? A line of foreboding clouds spurs us to perform some preventative maintenance aboard Paragon as Drake reminisces about previous mishaps at sea. The crew begins showing signs of fatigue...perhaps an unexpected guest can give us a buzz. Stay with us!

Sailing offshore is a mixed bag...crazy activity followed by extreme calm and everything in-between. A Canadian fisheries plane buzzes by to check us out as we battle with light and varied winds. Perhaps a look at the weather fax will show wind in our future. Until then, Drake jumps in the galley to create a favourite of the crew. What's for dinner? Stay with us!

Day five of sailing offshore to Greenland and everyone has settled into a rhythm. Like a pendulum, Paragon rolls from side to side as she moves forward in variable wind and we struggle to find a balance with our sails. The droning of the engine wears on the crew at the best of times...can a burst of wind save us from the constant noise? Stay with us!

What happens when the navigational maps and charts and cruising guides do not match? Which one is right? Which one is wrong? And, most importantly, which one do you follow? Paragon sails through rolling seas while the crew has just a few days to make some important decisions. Stay with us!

When is the right time to reef a sail offshore? Some say once you realise it's time to reef, it's already too late. The winds are increasing and the waves are building as heavy weather approaches. Can our cautious captain keep us comfortable and on course? Stay with us!

The winds are increasing, the waves are building, and the gusts are getting stronger. What do you do? Do you run with it? Do you heave to? A lot of decisions are going to be made as we continue our sail to Greenland in the North Atlantic. Stay with us!

What to do, what to do. The winds are increasing and we weigh our options. Stay the course? Tack or Gybe? Should we avoid the stormy waters south of Greenland or oncoming winds.

With just 2 to 3 days until we make landfall, the winds increase in speed and intensity. To ease pressure on the boat and, more importantly, the crew, a decision is made to heave to. How long will we drift off the coast of Greenland? Stay with us!

8 days at sea in the North Atlantic and now, after weathering high winds, no wind, equipment failures, and fatigue, we are so close to arriving at our destination on the west coast of Greenland. The crew is positively giddy with excitement as we begin the final approach.

This is it! After years of preparation, thousands of miles sailed, stormy weather, breakdowns, spectacular sights, brilliant weather, and old and new friends we are about to set foot upon the land we yearned to explore...Greenland! Of course, even in these final moments of our epic sail, landfall does not come easy as we dodge and weave through perilous bergy bits and icebergs. A land and sea that is both beautiful and treacherous has lured us with its call, and we have answered.