15 Comments
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Michael's avatar

The trip sure sounds fun. Glad you are enjoying yourself.

Dave Ahl's avatar

Are you related to Rodger McGrath the author and historian who is on the history channel?

I am watching the documentary about the attempted assassination of Lincoln while reading your blog

This guy Roger he looks a lot like you

Bryan McGrath's avatar

I don't believe so.

Justin Cripps's avatar

I try never to be jealous of other people because it often leads to such ugly behaviour, but reading your travels lately does indeed make me jealous. It pleases me that you are taking to your new retired life with such gusto.

Bryan McGrath's avatar

Justin, thanks for the kind words. I'm a bit of an odd duck, and my women cannot figure me out. I have always lived my life as if what I was doing in any moment was what I was supposed to be doing. In other words, FOMO is not something I do, and envy (believe me, I have people in my life worthy of envying) really isn't tomething that pops up. That's why I am a little reticent about these travel essays--because I know most people are more well-balanced than I am and could be offput by what may project like boasting and showing off. It is more honestly, just a chance for me to think out loud. Thank you for reading.

Scott Waskey's avatar

I actually got married in Antigua, March 2004 - didn't last unfortunately. My ex's dad was a charter captain who berthed in Falmouth Harbour, and the villa where we stayed and were wed overlooked Nelson's Dockyard. I'm the proud owner of a couple of Antigua Race Week hats (sponsored by Mount Gay Rum).

I do hope you'll make it to Shirley Heights on Sunday evening. No better place to be!

Bryan McGrath's avatar

Wask--good to hear from you. I hope you are well. Are you aware of DeGarbage's Antigua connections?

John A. Meadows's avatar

Your description of a sail boat racing operation sounds a lot like a NASCAR racing operation only built around a sail boat verses a race car. I wonder how the budgets compare? My guess is that the sail boat operation cost more with fewer sponsors and less sports TV coverage.

Bryan McGrath's avatar

My insight here is one boat and one very rich lady!

Dave Ahl's avatar

Can’t write it like you do, but I have been around other high dollar sailboat guys in Saint Martin and Key West and you hit the nail on the head

Have you ever been to Sewanaka Yacht club in oyster Bay or the American yacht Club in Rye?

Or NYYC in Manhattan or Newport

I am a naval aviator and it amazed me that people would race 18th century technology

RickT's avatar

Could you compose your essays in Google Docs or another word processor with spell- and grammar-checking and then cut and paste the content into Substack?

Bryan McGrath's avatar

I could, but there are features in the native substack program that are desirable.

Mike Peoples's avatar

Hey bud, have you looked at Grammerly yet? There's a free version that works across devices and programs (can be downloaded for android as well)... the free version checks for grammar, punctuation and spelling. There's a premium version that supposedly helps with "clarity" too...

Lidia's avatar

Always fun and informative, but especially when it's snowmelt, rolling blackouts, and air raid sirens every day here. Sigh