Tag: cruising

What is it Really Like Sailing With Kids for a Year?

Coming back to land after our year in the Caribbean has been strange for many reasons. One recurring theme has been the questions people ask. Almost everyone we meet always asks, “how was your year, was it great?” The answer, strangely enough, is difficult to articulate.

One person who has asked that same question is Jenn Simon from Sea to Summit, one of our sponsors. She contacted us to ask for an interview. I thought I would share my thoughts from the questions she asked to try and give an insight into what it’s like sailing with kids.

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Gear Review – Mantus Anchor

When most people think of important equipment for cruising sailors, they thinks of sails, hardware, or autopilots. But really, when one thinks of the proportion of time different activities occupy, the most important piece of equipment is the anchor. In fact, as I have said before, cruising should probably be called “anchoring” as most of your time, probably over 90% is spent at rest.

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Halfway to the Caribbean

After some nine weeks of travels and trials, we have made it to what I consider is our halfway point to the Caribbean, Portsmouth VA. This is the staging and departure point of the Caribbean 1500, our rally to the BVI. It’s been pretty crazy. I had this idea that I’d be able to blog about our travel south, but the long days have been filled with other more important stuff, like unclogging my kid’s poop from the head. So, apart from throwing some pictures and thoughts on Facebook, it’s been quiet. Here have been some highlights of the over 500 nautical miles from Lake Champlain to Portsmouth.

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Is a Safety at Sea Seminar Worth it?

A couple of weeks ago, Sarah and I attended a Safety at Sea Seminar. It’s a full day US Sailing Sanctioned Seminar and designed to meet the Safety at Sea requirements for the Newport to Bermuda Race, sponsored by the Storm Trysail Foundation. Coincidentally, the one we attended was also on the same day as our anniversary. So was the seminar worth it, and was it a suitable stand in for more traditional anniversary gifts?

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