Two sailboats arrive after a 34-day voyage from Hawaii

Two motor sailboats left CNMI waters yesterday after docking for a couple of days at the Smiling Cove Marina for a breather after a 34-day voyage from Hawaii.

Husband and wife Bill and Charlie McMillan, who are repeat visitors in the Commonwealth, arrived on Rendezvous, a Cal 2-46 which the former described as a great boat for the islands. First-timers Allen Creighton and Ryan Grady turned up aboard Windsong, a 51-ft ketch built in Taiwan in 1977.

The four, who met in Hawaii over a month ago, traveled and arrived on Monday around noon from Hawaii after 34 days of sea voyage. They left for Guam yesterday morning.

The McMillans, fondly known by many as Mac and Charlie, first visited Saipan in 1996. “We always enjoy coming to Saipan. It’s just great,” said Mac, a retired National Weather Survey employee.

Visits to the CNMI, Mac said, would involve going to Pagan. He added that they plan to visit again in June, during which they plan to stay in the northern island for a week.

Having visited several Pacific islands such as Yap and Palau, Mac noted that they enjoy Saipan the best. “There’s just something about Saipan that’s so nice,” he said, adding that Smiling Cove Marina is simply “fantastic.”

Throughout their stay on island, Mac said they would wake up and find various offerings like a woven hat or local fruits outside their boat. A few hours after docking and Charlie said they already got invited to different island-style gatherings. “It’s just super and we really enjoy it,” said Mac, who was disappointed to find out that his favorite restaurant, Oleai Beach Bar & Grill, closed down.

Still, the beauty of the island never fails to captivate Mac and Charlie, who both agreed that the warmth and hospitality of the residents add more charm to Saipan. Mac recognized Customs director Jesus Muna who was accommodating to them during clearance.

Charlie, for her part, revealed that Saipan is also special for two other reasons. First, she and Mac got engaged at the Hyatt in 1997. Also, her father was among those who landed during the Guam invasion, making the historical features of Saipan “very fond” to them.

The couple, who have sailed halfway around the world, plans to be back on island in June.

Seeing Saipan for the first time, the Australia native Creighton described it as a “beautiful” and “magical place.”

It was also Creighton’s maiden voyage on Windsong. After leaving his career developing and managing companies, Creighton purchased his “girlfriend” and worked on it for eight months.

“I always had this thing for the ocean,” said Creighton. He plans to stay in Guam for about a month of repairs before sailing his way to Southeast Asia.

During their visit to Saipan, the sailing aficionados met with some members of the Marianas Sailing Club.