With our 2800+ mile Atlantic long passage sailing expedition fresh in my mind, let me list the items that made a difference to the journey. Some items made life easier, others made the trip more comfortable and many helped make the 18-day adventure more fun. Spending days at sea can be an excellent experience but[Read More]
sailing
20 reasons why being a full time cruiser sucks
Before I get into my 20 reasons why being a full time cruiser sucks, let me first premise this article with the following… My life is more fulfilling now that it ever has been Every day I wake up with a sea view, my family and enjoy new adventures, foods and experiences and life seems[Read More]
Sailing with children – here’s what it’s like to be a 5-year-old living on a sailboat (VIDEO)
Here’s a mini-movie of what it’s like to be for a 5-year-old sailing around the world (sailing with children) – My daughter, Sienna, started sailing with us part time at the age of 9 months and then moved to full time at the age of 3 ½. Sienna just turned 5 years old in May. Watch[Read More]
Sailing through the night – is it scary, exhilarating or boring?
Many new cruisers are often scared of sailing through the night. They plan passages from one place to the next only sailing by day. Sailing at night is actually far easier and even more calming than it is during the day. Read on as I related an experience we had during a night sail. At[Read More]
Has sailing around the world turned my five year old into a brat?
Or…has our epic decision to sell up, escape the rat race and sail away provided opportunities for me to help my daughter develop strong character traits such as adaptability, Conscientiousness, cooperation, kindness and respectability? More on that to come, but first let me tell you about my weird morning… An engine started up but it[Read More]
Ten months of living on our sailboat full time – Do I have tears of joy or tears of sadness?
It feels like ages since I’ve written about my thoughts and feelings regarding our ‘new’ lifestyle of living on a boat rather than in a house. This time last year, my husband, Simon, and I were living in a temporary apartment taking courses on diesel engines, motors, water pumps, water makers, refrigeration, air conditioning/heating, First[Read More]
Sexy sailing t-shirts for women – Finally!
Over the past few years I’ve been wearing clothes from various sailing brands (I won’t name names!) and have been left feeling like a tom-boy. I have polo shirts with a little sailboat emblem, blue and white striped tshirts with the name of a sail company embossed over the top and several ’normal’ t-shirts with[Read More]
When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, they have – looks like we might have fried our propeller shaft
Right now I’m full of anger with myself. Looking back, I didn’t do enough. I didn’t pay enough attention during my Diesel Marine Engine Course and I didn’t research the most important things to know before taking over a second hand boat. Yes, we had a 35’ Moody sailboat for a couple years but the[Read More]
Our first fishing story – from the Ionian Sea to our dinner table
“What is that noise?” (make sure to scroll down to see our first fishing story video below) Everyone started to look around. We were quietly sailing along Lefkas Island in the Ionian Sea doing around 6 knots. The sun was hot, the air was salty and the humidity heavy. Our guest, Admiral Stefano, was helming.[Read More]
Comradeship amongst sailors – the day our 56’ yacht was almost smashed to pieces
Comradeship amongst smokers When I was younger, I was convinced that being a smoker had benefits aside from the well-known chemical high. I haven’t officially smoked for years and I think it’s been over 3 years now since I’ve had a social smoke but I miss a particular aspect of smoking. I miss the friendships there[Read More]