I've been wanting to write for awhile about the "yachties" we have been meeting. In general, they are families from all over the world who have sold everything, bought a boat, and left home together to sail the world. I thought the words of an actual sailing family do their life experience justice:
Sailing dream comes to an end
http://www.blogger.com/
To:
Nichols, Phillips L. II MD
Cc:
Attachments:
Hi Dawn and Lynn
Wonderful to meet and stay with you guys. Hope to see youal again soon
http://www.blogger.com/
To:
Nichols, Phillips L. II MD
Cc:
Attachments:
Hi Dawn and Lynn
Wonderful to meet and stay with you guys. Hope to see youal again soon
Please excuse the round robin, it´s an attempt to make up for my slack
communication skills. You can see the photos on www.oceanfamily.net
communication skills. You can see the photos on www.oceanfamily.net
Final blog, Tutukaka, New Zealand
Our sailing cruising dream is nearly over, all that remains is for us
to move on land after a little more exploring of New Zealand´s islands
and to get my yachtmasters ticket. Our three years living on Yamana has
been an amazing experience, we traveled over 17 000 nautical miles and
visited 21 countries. When I think back to how little I knew before we
set off it seems incredible how much I´ve learnt, from handling the
boat in tricky situations to maintaining every electrical and
mechanical system on board. At some stage I realized that in spite of
being only of average intelligence and dexterity everything I had to
learn or cope with I could, it just took perseverance and tenacity.
We´ve all learnt a tremendous amount, sailing in heavy weather, keeping
one´s cool in difficult situations, self entertaining over long
passages and perhaps most fundamentally embracing the unknown with a
sense of adventure. I shall never forget catching up with the kids in
a seacave to see Ruben dive 20 feet down then disappear into the
rocks, emerging through a 15 foot tunnel outside the cave. Or how
confidently Olive aged 10 steered Yamana between numerous ships in 40
knots of wind through a packed Panama harbour when we were short
handed.
to move on land after a little more exploring of New Zealand´s islands
and to get my yachtmasters ticket. Our three years living on Yamana has
been an amazing experience, we traveled over 17 000 nautical miles and
visited 21 countries. When I think back to how little I knew before we
set off it seems incredible how much I´ve learnt, from handling the
boat in tricky situations to maintaining every electrical and
mechanical system on board. At some stage I realized that in spite of
being only of average intelligence and dexterity everything I had to
learn or cope with I could, it just took perseverance and tenacity.
We´ve all learnt a tremendous amount, sailing in heavy weather, keeping
one´s cool in difficult situations, self entertaining over long
passages and perhaps most fundamentally embracing the unknown with a
sense of adventure. I shall never forget catching up with the kids in
a seacave to see Ruben dive 20 feet down then disappear into the
rocks, emerging through a 15 foot tunnel outside the cave. Or how
confidently Olive aged 10 steered Yamana between numerous ships in 40
knots of wind through a packed Panama harbour when we were short
handed.
Many people can't really imagine what it's like traveling by sailboat,
so here are some descriptions and answers to questions. For starters it's
not a holiday; for the skipper it's about half a day of work everyday
keeping up with the maintenance. All the regular tasks of living that
you take for granted in a house are so much harder in a small boat,
like cooking at anchor in tiny kitchen with so little bench space, when
heeling over on a passage even eating is tricky, let alone dealing with
meals trying to jump off the cooker. Washing clothes and getting on the
internet can be major time consuming hassles if not impossible in some
places It's very restrictive, you've always got to be mindful of how
much power or water is being used, often when someone walks by you have
to move your body for them to squeeze past, personal private space is
non-existent. As they say it's the most expensive way to travel third
class. Cruising can be very expensive and it can be very cheap, some
months we would spend less then $100, but if you have to replace sails
or engine parts then it adds up fast. The most expensive thing we did
was replace all the rigging, I did most of the work myself and it still
cost about US $5000. We seemed to have gone through a whole lot of
money but once the boat is sold it would average out round US $50K per
year, not bad for keeping a family of four and an old sailboat going.
One of the funniest questions people ask is "do you anchor at night on
an off shore passage?"; once you get going theres no stopping, we set
three hour watches through the night, every twenty minutes or less one
of us looks around for ships and squalls, checks the course and sails.
90% of the time we're at anchor using our dinghy as a car to go ashore,
visit our floating neighbors or go snorkeling.
so here are some descriptions and answers to questions. For starters it's
not a holiday; for the skipper it's about half a day of work everyday
keeping up with the maintenance. All the regular tasks of living that
you take for granted in a house are so much harder in a small boat,
like cooking at anchor in tiny kitchen with so little bench space, when
heeling over on a passage even eating is tricky, let alone dealing with
meals trying to jump off the cooker. Washing clothes and getting on the
internet can be major time consuming hassles if not impossible in some
places It's very restrictive, you've always got to be mindful of how
much power or water is being used, often when someone walks by you have
to move your body for them to squeeze past, personal private space is
non-existent. As they say it's the most expensive way to travel third
class. Cruising can be very expensive and it can be very cheap, some
months we would spend less then $100, but if you have to replace sails
or engine parts then it adds up fast. The most expensive thing we did
was replace all the rigging, I did most of the work myself and it still
cost about US $5000. We seemed to have gone through a whole lot of
money but once the boat is sold it would average out round US $50K per
year, not bad for keeping a family of four and an old sailboat going.
One of the funniest questions people ask is "do you anchor at night on
an off shore passage?"; once you get going theres no stopping, we set
three hour watches through the night, every twenty minutes or less one
of us looks around for ships and squalls, checks the course and sails.
90% of the time we're at anchor using our dinghy as a car to go ashore,
visit our floating neighbors or go snorkeling.
Our scariest moment was being violently shaken by a water spout
(tornado over water , Blog: 22 June 2007). Our most dangerous moment is
a toss up between being swept by the current under a low bridge in Fort
Lauderdale as we incompetently got off the dock, saved by the boat
getting stuck on post which gave me a chance to get back in control. Or
nearly entangling our masts with a steel boat in 8 foot of swell when
our rudder failed. Our close proximity was due to passing lines and
equipment between us, we could only watch in horror as the mast danced
within each others rigging. (the full story can be read on 16th March
blog)
(tornado over water , Blog: 22 June 2007). Our most dangerous moment is
a toss up between being swept by the current under a low bridge in Fort
Lauderdale as we incompetently got off the dock, saved by the boat
getting stuck on post which gave me a chance to get back in control. Or
nearly entangling our masts with a steel boat in 8 foot of swell when
our rudder failed. Our close proximity was due to passing lines and
equipment between us, we could only watch in horror as the mast danced
within each others rigging. (the full story can be read on 16th March
blog)
Many people have asked us about home schooling. Alice did three days
and I the other two days a week, two hours per day, we had books for
maths and english which we steadily worked our way through. We had
some science and reference books for other subjects, we followed their
interest a lot and from the lonely planet guide books presented them
the history, culture and topical issues of every country we visited. I
also taught them to be competent crew, navigating, sail trimming,
diesel engines and rules of the road. They have fitted easily back into
regular school, enjoying the social and sporting aspects and coming in
above average in most subjects. The worst thing about cruising is the
lack of space and the best thing is all the wonderful people we've
meet, both among locals and the cruising community.
and I the other two days a week, two hours per day, we had books for
maths and english which we steadily worked our way through. We had
some science and reference books for other subjects, we followed their
interest a lot and from the lonely planet guide books presented them
the history, culture and topical issues of every country we visited. I
also taught them to be competent crew, navigating, sail trimming,
diesel engines and rules of the road. They have fitted easily back into
regular school, enjoying the social and sporting aspects and coming in
above average in most subjects. The worst thing about cruising is the
lack of space and the best thing is all the wonderful people we've
meet, both among locals and the cruising community.
Sadly we're coming up to a round of goodbyes as our cruising mates
prepare to head into the Pacific. I'm glad not to have such a weighty
mission in front ofme Not that getting into land life is any
easier especially with our current economic downturn joining the rat
race and earning isn't going to be a cruise. We hope to take on a
franchise Test and Tag <http://www.testandtag.co.nz/>
which should bring us a steady income with minimal management that will
allow us to develop my photography and Alice's healing work. We'll rent
a house before the winter comes then hopefully buy some land and start
building a new dream next year.
prepare to head into the Pacific. I'm glad not to have such a weighty
mission in front ofme Not that getting into land life is any
easier especially with our current economic downturn joining the rat
race and earning isn't going to be a cruise. We hope to take on a
franchise Test and Tag <http://www.testandtag.co.nz/>
which should bring us a steady income with minimal management that will
allow us to develop my photography and Alice's healing work. We'll rent
a house before the winter comes then hopefully buy some land and start
building a new dream next year.
The sailing dream will never go away for me, besides buying a summer
sailing business in Russell I have a ten year goal of building or
buying a low maintenance, fast, spacious, sea worthy catamaran. That'
the only boat I'll have any chance of enticing Alice onto. Then
continuing our circumnavigation, there's so many more wonderful places
to visit and people to meet.
sailing business in Russell I have a ten year goal of building or
buying a low maintenance, fast, spacious, sea worthy catamaran. That'
the only boat I'll have any chance of enticing Alice onto. Then
continuing our circumnavigation, there's so many more wonderful places
to visit and people to meet.
We have met a lot of inspirational people out there, like the family
crew of Summerwine who left England in a £6000 coastal yacht with an
£600 overdraft, five years later they are still going strong. Something
I hope will arise from our sailing adventure and blog is that other
people will be inspired to step out of the main stream. If we can do it
anybody can, you don´t have to be gifted and wealthy, merely willing to
learn and step away from the safe secure path. Sailing is not for
everyone, there are many way to live out your dreams, to step out of
the box, perhaps now more than ever is a good time to set a new course.
Yamana is now for sale (click here to view <http://www.gulfgroup.co.nz/displayboat.php?Boatid=92621&id_broker=19>)
for a snip at NZ$168 000, if we are lucky enough to get a buyer it will
be sad to see her go but if not then I guess the dream will live on,
certainly the maintenance will.
crew of Summerwine who left England in a £6000 coastal yacht with an
£600 overdraft, five years later they are still going strong. Something
I hope will arise from our sailing adventure and blog is that other
people will be inspired to step out of the main stream. If we can do it
anybody can, you don´t have to be gifted and wealthy, merely willing to
learn and step away from the safe secure path. Sailing is not for
everyone, there are many way to live out your dreams, to step out of
the box, perhaps now more than ever is a good time to set a new course.
Yamana is now for sale (click here to view <http://www.gulfgroup.co.nz/displayboat.php?Boatid=92621&id_broker=19>)
for a snip at NZ$168 000, if we are lucky enough to get a buyer it will
be sad to see her go but if not then I guess the dream will live on,
certainly the maintenance will.
I will most likely keep the oceanfamily website going and do the
occasionalupload to show our progress on land. I have for one reason
or other been pretty hopeless about staying in touch with most of my
friends so please help me out and let me know how you´re getting on,
talk about your dreams or just wish me happy birthday for the 17/3 pg@pgpix.com
tel 64 21 686820 or S/V Yamana, Tutukaka Marina, R. D. 3 Whangarei
0173, NZ
occasionalupload to show our progress on land. I have for one reason
or other been pretty hopeless about staying in touch with most of my
friends so please help me out and let me know how you´re getting on,
talk about your dreams or just wish me happy birthday for the 17/3 pg@pgpix.com
tel 64 21 686820 or S/V Yamana, Tutukaka Marina, R. D. 3 Whangarei
0173, NZ
Live your dreams.
Pete
1 comment:
As the former owners of Yamana, who cruised the east coast and Bahamas for 2 years, we are thrilled that Yamana made it to New Zealand, and have total admiration for Pete, Alice and crew for their 3 years cruising.
We hope that Yamana finds another family to take safely out to sea and follow new dreams....she was so good to us!
As for Lynn, Dawn and crew, I see a catamaran someday in your future!
Enjoy New Zealand, it will be just a memory very soon.
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