Why sail around the world?

After getting married in the UK in July 2004, Claire and Pete flew back to their beach home and settled back to work in Grand Cayman knowing someday they would make their dream of sailing around the world come true.

After only 6 weeks of marriage, a Category 5 hurricane called Ivan hit the island causing billions of dollars worth of damage.

"We always needed a good reason to leave. I've been here almost 7 years and love everything about the Cayman Islands" says Pete

Claire adds "I was only planning to stay 6 months, then I met Peter and that all changed. The travel bug was always simmering away and now we have just brought our plans forward two or three years."

Their beach house was torn apart by the wind and waves and their truck got smashed when a lorry container landed on top of it.

house before and after

Claire and Pete's house before (left) and after (right) Ivan

Kilifi was miraculously ok. Pete tied her to two hurricane screws in the lawn, where she was able to pivot as the gusts of winds (highest reported being 205mph!) drove rain and debris all around her. She beached herself when the waters rose (to 8 feet in places) and then because she is steel, she broke through the dock and gnawed away on concrete until they could secure her again.

"The dream is intact" was Claire and Pete's response after Hurricane Ivan.

"We moved some personal items such as photos, my wedding dress and Pete's fishing rods onto Kilifi before the storm hit. We knew she was strong but so many other boats were damaged by other craft and had sunk at their moorings. We were overjoyed when we saw her. The jib was shredded and she looked like she'd been clawed. Amazingly her instrument covers remained on!"

kilifi after ivan

Kilifi after Ivan

Grand Cayman is on the road to recovery after more than 75% of all property was damaged and satellite pictures showed the island to be 90% under water.

Read Claire's account of the huricane here