Michael Cane brings Shellbacks his account, "My Odyssey from the Log of The Lady Asta: A Cruise from Florida to Belize via Cuba and Mexico" (May 11 to June 2, 1996). John had done some cruising in the Caribbean over the years, but his longest and most exciting cruise was in 1996 when he and others sailed from Ocean Reef, Florida to San Pedro in Belize. His friends, Asta and Fred Evans, owned a lovely yacht, a Bristol 41 called "The Lady Asta". John had sailed a couple of times before with Fred and Asta on their previous yacht, along with the late Bob Purcell. That experience included a trip from the BVIs to Antigua. Fred was getting on in years and he and Asta wanted to do a final long cruise before they sold the boat. They felt they needed a couple of strong, able seamen as crew. John Blackburn and Michael Cane volunteered! About Michael Cane
Michael’s introduction to sailing was when he was 8 years old on a family vacation on the Norfolk Broads in England. At the age of 17 his brother and he built a dinghy from a kit. It was called a "Graduate" and was 12’6” long. They raced it together. Subsequently Michael did some sailing on the Solent, a strait between the Isle of Wight and mainland Great Britain, and once took part in Cowes Week, on a 12 Meter. He started sailing at the RCYC soon after he came to Canada in 1970. The first boat he sailed there was a beautiful old R-Boat called "Highlander". He both raced and cruised on it. In the 80s Michael crewed on a Shark for a number of years before buying his own which he called "Sloane Ranger". That boat became the family cottage on the island. Additionally, Michael competed in various Shark regattas. They sold the Shark and after a brief hiatus, purchased another, "Cahoots". The family still has this boat which Michael races with his two sons, Simon and Stephen. They also have a Nonsuch which they cruise and also use as a family cottage. Michael has also participated in a number of cruises in the Caribbean with his RCYC Shark buddies. These cruises are usually a week long on a rental sloop or catamaran.
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