MEET THE DAWGS:  Joe and Mary Balfour, Adiona

Boat Type and Length:  Passport 42

Any particular story behind the boat or its name?  Adiona is the Roman goddess of safe returns for travelers. She is also considered a protector of children. Since we have a passel of kids (now adults) and as cruisers have a lifestyle that can feel like a second childhood in a good way, we thought this is an additional way that the name fits.  In a practical sense, we wanted a short name in case we ever have to make an SOS call.  If I ever have the opportunity to name another boat, I would probably go for 2 syllables because the third syllable sometimes gets lost in radio transmissions.  Adiona also means “beautiful lady”.  Years ago, when we first watched our future boat glide into the harbor, we fell in love with her graceful lines, even before her seaworthiness.  

Home port:  The boat hails from Annapolis but we are from Ithaca, NY.  Now, her home port is wherever we take her or leave her for the hurricane season. 

Where are you now?  We just left the boat in Trinidad for the second season and we are briefly back at our place just south of Ithaca, New York.  We love that this lifestyle affords us an adventurous respite from winter, yet we have some time to enjoy the beautiful Finger Lakes.  When away from the boat, we spend a considerable amount of time catching up with family and friends.  That often involves travel which is okay with us!

When did you join the Salty Dawgs?  We found the Salty Dawgs in 2023 when we were on anchor in the Bahamas discussing summer plans.  We wanted to sail to Maine and Nova Scotia that summer.  It was our first year cruising and I was feeling a little isolated.  Cape Breton seemed very far away.  The idea of the rally really appealed to both of us. 

Which rallies or rendezvous have you joined?  We participated in the 2023 Maritime Rally from Rockland, Maine to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.  It was an amazing trip, full of good camaraderie and picturesque scenery.  We made friends on that trip who we continue to be close with today.  We also participated in a rendezvous in Bequia in 2024.

Most memorable Salty Dawgs moment: It is probably the heartwarming welcome we received from the people of Cape Breton, including a full-on kitchen party in Beddeck.  They trotted out accomplished musicians, sumptuous food which included homemade desserts so tempting that you needed to try a bite of each.  We danced our hearts out. 

What have you gained from being part of the Salty Dawgs?  As hinted at above, fellowship, friendship and certainly education.  On that Martime trip, for example, we had a guest speaker that shared details of many secluded and special cruising grounds and anchorages in Cape Breton.  Some of the online seminars have been instrumental in increasing our knowledge of off-shore safety.  A few seasons ago, there was a Salty Dawg WhatsApp book club that I loved.  This year in the Eastern Caribbean, we were part of some Salty Dawg music jams that were great fun. 

Any major boat projects currently underway?  Not this year and not for a bit, we hope!  Last year, we repowered, painted the hulls and deck, replaced the teak in our cockpit, upgraded to lithium batteries, beefed up our solar and oh- too many projects!

Sailing plans for the next year: You know the trope- sailing plans are written in sand at low tide.  That’s become a guiding principle for us.  We hope to cover some spots in the Eastern Caribbean that we’ve yet to see and then??  We are considering Bonaire and the Western Caribbean or a lap to the Azores and then?  Time will tell.  That used to bug me in particular, now it is part of the freedom and adventure.  The downside is that it makes it challenging to plan for visitors. 

Return to Newsletter Landing Page