Photo cred: Gemini Nano Banana Happy holidays from Kent and Becca! Wishing you peace, love, and joy this season and throughout the new year.
An Unbelievable Course Correction: New Boat, New Crew
Our plan looked tidy on paper. We picked a boat. We selected a destination. We sketched an itinerary. And, we imagined a Grenada trip like this would answer some big questions about how we are able to handle the cruising lifestyle. Well. The universe had other ideas. A week ago, the charter company called to …
Continue reading "An Unbelievable Course Correction: New Boat, New Crew"
Sailing Next: Our Grenada Adventure
It’s time for the next step in our journey, and we’re glad to have you along! After a successful BVI trip, and an amazing Lake Michigan season, we’re ready for our next challenge. We’re cruising the Grenadines in January! While we’ve loved having company on our trips, this one will be just for us: we’re …
Happy Thanksgiving!
Photo cred: Gemini Nano Banana As we sail into the holiday season, we’re choosing a slower tack. We're savoring the small moments and the people we love. Happy thanksgiving to you and yours.
Docking: The Rabbit Hole I Dove Into
It’s true that docking is just one skill among many in sailing, but it’s practically its own discipline. Sail trim, points of sail, tacking — those are glamorous parts of sailing. But docking is different. It’s gritty and humbling. Docking is where nerves meet nuance. And after my gawd-awful dock-job a couple of weeks ago, …
Recess on Lake Michigan
Some sailing days are packed with purpose and progress, and a lot of play. That was the vibe for us on Lake Michigan this weekend. Smooth Start, Sunny Skies The day started strong. We’d slept well, had a good breakfast, and arrived at Burnham Harbor by 11:30 AM. Despite a tiny case of stage fright …
Setting Sail Safely: A Float Plan is Non-Negotiable
We Plan to Float, and Float the Plan. I have to admit, for me, "floating" implies the least active of all water activities. It’s kind of the bare minimum, especially if you’re on a boat. Floating is job one for a boat, and it is a pass/fail exercise. But for purposes of this discussion, a …
Continue reading "Setting Sail Safely: A Float Plan is Non-Negotiable"
Crossings: Lakes and Thresholds
Winds up to 22 knots, a reef that wasn’t there, and the quiet thrill of doing something you once thought was too much — our second crossing of Lake Michigan was equal parts challenge and growth. This is the story of how our comfort zone expanded, one gust at a time.
Monohulls vs Catamarans: Which is Right for You?
Having viewed endless hours of YouTube videos on sailing monohulls and catamarans, we have often wondered how monohulls compare to catamarans. Now that we have spent time on both, we can answer that question for ourselves! Through our experiences, and a fair bit of research, we've come to appreciate the unique characteristics of each. There's …
Continue reading "Monohulls vs Catamarans: Which is Right for You?"
More Than Money: Why Our Liveaboard Dream Still Matters
These days, it's hard to ignore the news about the economy. When we hear about the stock market being unpredictable and the future of Social Security feeling uncertain, it can make anyone think twice about their long-term plans, especially big ones like our dream of retiring onto a sailboat. Living here in Iowa, Kent and I have been paying attention, knowing that our goal of trading our landlocked life for the freedom of the ocean has financial implications.
