I''m in the VI, my boat''s in Maine. Best case scenario shipping it to the islands approaches $15,000.00. Anyway, it''s a 1972 Bristol with original standing rigging, but spent many years on hard and maximum of 3 months a year in water with only weekend sailing. My experience is Gulf of Maine and frequent overnights between Portsmouth, NH and Penobscot Bay. Nasty weather, always the wrong wind direction, etc. Up to 12'' seas. Thinking hard on running SW Harbor to Bermuda to Virgin Gorda in May. Would acquire liferaft, rent epirb, replace furling gear and install a removable inner stay to masthead in order to fly a hank-on storm jib and a spitfire. Also pick up self-steering gear (I like Fleming). Install some deck boxes in the cockpit to eat up volume, jacklines and tie everything belowdecks down properly (cabin sole, batteries, etc.). I want the boat down here, but can''t see throwing over $10K into getting it here. Any opinions, bearing finances in mind, regarding sailing the old beastie down without rerigging, buying new sails, etc., etc. Sails are what I''d call "serviceable" for coastal, but of 1980''s vintage. I''m time-limited, so limping down the ICW to FL and then through the Bahamas is not a good plan. Totally insane? I''ve sailed the boat hard for days on end in the Gulf of Maine and never feared rigging, but am limited to < 100 miles offshore experience. No SSB planned - only a Grundig Yachtboy. GPS, sextant, VHF. Pilot charts favor May. Volvo MD2 Diesel has been rebuilt, and I trust it, but it''s an oldie. Bad idea? I''m thinking sail 2 days from Penobscot Bay, assess based on WX reports, bang a right or keep going. See, the thing that gets me, is there''s so many yahoos show up here in the Carib from all over the world in CRAP boats down to 22 footers. Scary what some cross the Atlantic in. I saw 2 guys in Grenada a few years ago that crossed in a SAD looking 26 footer. I know I SHOULD be able to do it without any trouble, but is it something that SOMEONE out there, similarly situated financially (po'') would be scared to death to do? BOATLESS VIEXILE