We’ve never flown one of these giant Parasailor sails before, but with light winds forecast to continue it seemed like a good time to figure it out. I watched a video on how to rig the thing up, took my time laying out lines, double and triple checked everything, then we hauled it up.
Already at this point experienced sailors will know what I did wrong.
The big red stripe is the giveaway.
Whoops. Port is red, starboard is green. Clipped the port rigging to the starboard side of the sail, and the starboard rigging to port. Fortunately, the sail was very forgiving and we were able to snuff it quickly. By now about two hours had elapsed and the wind had shifted too far forward to use the sail anyway, so we stowed it back in the hatch. We left the rigging out, so next time it should be a breeze.
Days three and four we continued to have light winds of 7-12 knots on our beam. Very quiet 100+ mile days, which all of us were happy to have to start out the passage. Much easier to get settled into a long passage routine this way.
Day four. That’s how long it took for the kids to start daydreaming about food. It happens to everyone who has been at sea a few days. We don’t have any shortage of food, but we still start to imagine all the things we’d like to be eating.
Mind you, these are two kids who absolutely do not care one bit about food. What do you want for dinner? I don’t care. Do you want this? Sure, whatever.
Now, they are like, oooh McDonald’s ice cream. Even though they’d been regularly eating good gelato at the marina mall, they have a hankering for McDonalds ice cream instead. Lowe suddenly pipes up with, “Oh, man, a huge plate of Waffle House hash browns would be soooo good.”
Later, “Oh, mama, these are the best scrambled eggs ever! What did you do different? Amazing.” “These mashed potatoes are the best!”
Ali and I haven’t reached this point yet. But we will. We always do. This time, however, I know that landfall in the Marquesas will do nothing to help. Baguettes and fresh fruit will be nice, but there won’t be any pizza craving cures to be found, that’s for sure.
Not sure I even want to know what this thing is doing out here.
Only real issues we’ve had so far are the ripped sail and now we discovered that we overpacked the freezer and that without air circulation, the stuff on the bottom never froze. Had to throw out a bunch of ground beef. Just gonna need to catch some fish now.
Down with the sun, up with the sun, is the routine for the kids right now. Sunrise, and some offline video games to start the morning.
For those wondering how we are posting this from way out at sea, we are using Starlink. It’s a bit of a power hog, and nobody needs to be online that long out here, but it allows me to keep working for an hour or two each day while underway. Not to mention we can refresh the weather forecast as often as we’d like. It’s definitely a different world from twenty years ago.
32 Comments on “Still Learning How To Sail”
This is the best post you’ve ever written. Great to see the kids experiencing it.
Ha. There’s probably a Pizza Hut on Hiva Oa by now.
Taco Bell, wasn’t that the heresy the first time around*? Also, I doubt it, but too afraid to verify.
(*) long time lurker, since halfway around in the wildcat, first time poster
Travel safe! Great boat and you guys seem well prepared for another adventure. We were an early adopter of Starlink over 2 years ago living in the boonies and its a game changer for sure! Must be amazing to have it in the middle of the ocean!
Awesome! Looks like y’all are settling in. Ice cream is one of those things I always want too. šFair winds my friends. ā¤ļø
Living my dreams though your dreams . Your family is awesome.
You said it perfectly. So happy they are still traveling and living a quality life with great adventures.
Iād be very interested to know your watch schedule
Just Ali and I on night watches. Roughly: 9-12 Pat on watch, 12-3 Ali, 3-5:30 Pat, 5:30-whenever Ali. Daytime there is no schedule, everyone is just looking around.
That boat looks so comfortable ! I think I would not make it that long in a traditional keel boat, but this looks so roomy. Really enjoying your travelogue !
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo of you looking this insanely happy! And is the water really this blue? Loving every post – as well as the frequency. Ali needs to do a post on how to plan and execute meals with whatever it is you’ve stocked. Having to cook every single day would drive me around the bend–and I know she’s no fan herownself. It’s good that you’re all so unpicky. What??? No take out?????
The kids seem the perfect age for this. Able to articulate their needs/ wants but not super needy. Able to amuse themselves. . Iāve seen some try to cross with very young children who could only dream of kids relaxing by themselves. Having to keep watch every minute on very young kids plus keep watch on the ocean. That way madness lies.
I agree the kids are at a great age, though I think this can be done at any age, and that EVERY AGE is a good age to take your kids out into the world on adventures. This age is definitely easier on us parents, but I do sometimes wish we’d pushed through and taken them on Bumfuzzle 2 as well.
I will say, there appears to be a ton more kids out here these days. Average age of cruisers seems to be dropping quickly (or maybe I’m just getting older and see it that way). Cruising, in general, is certainly getting easier and easier with all the advancement in systems and the boats themselves.
Agree that itās great to get the kids out at any age though a full ocean crossing with very young but mobile kids really seems incredibly wearing (on the parentsā¦.the kids wonāt mind at all) because having to keeping ,the every minute watch required for the youngest toddlers is beyond most peopleās capabilities while crossing. Some people seem to have infinite energy though and more power to em! You guys certainly gave the kids incredible adventures at every age.
You will find plenty of boats with kids, they were all over the place last year, and pizza, at least at Nuku Hiva, the only Marquesas island I managed to visit. ENJOY
A wonderful start to your journey.
Thanks for the detailed update.
So glad it’s calm for a smooth adjustment to along journey. As always, safe travels.
I agree with Annie, above, that the little Mexicans are the perfect age for this adventure. They’re able to not only appreciate how momentous a circumnavigation is, they’re going to learn sailing in the best possible way – by doing it. I’m sure they’re going to quickly become very valuable crew!
Awesome Bums! Iāve followed you since your first blog posts so many years ago. Look forward to all you get to experience this time around. Thank you for sharing these pieces of your lives.
Just Perfect — Safe and on course.
So fun to watch you and your family on these adventures!
I have been following you guys for years!
Safe travels š
Thanks for taking us along with youā¤ļø
Well, I’ve been experimenting with powdered full cream bought online, but here’s a recipe using full-cream-powdered-milk. Needs no cooking with eggs, but does need freezing. Next shopping trip for you guys I guess.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/Powdered-Milk-Ice-Cream-Recipes.html
Just noticed your website. Congratulations guys! This is Ed and Annette from S/V Doodlebug. We sold our third Doodlebug 12 months ago and at age 75, have probably and reluctantly retired from the sea. We have been living in Puerto Rico and will fly to our latest roosting spot in Colorado Springs on Monday.
So great to see the evolution of your family and to discover that you are slightly more mechanically ept than you were two decades ago!
Fair Winds amigos!
Love that you are still able to post. At some point can you give us a map to show your progress across the sea? Can Ouest or Ali repair the torn sail with the new sewing machine?
Yea, what happened to the sail sewing machine you bought? Or am I thinking of another blog I use to read?
Wishing you fair winds and hoping that if you bought any fire extinguishers for this trip you got silver ones. But if not you can aways paint a red one gray. š
Not a sail sewing machine for us. Ouest got a little Singer for her birthday, but don’t think that’s going to do the trick here.
Fire extinguishers? We’re surrounded by water. The fire will go out eventually. š
Here’s a map from today, 4/21.
Sewing machine won’t do the trick here.
I caught your latest post with the Facebook link. Appreciate the maps. Thanks.
Are you using a standard starlink dishy or the maritime specific HP one? Just curious as I set out from NZ to Fiji in a month and have to make a choice soon.
Standard. Everyone I know is using standard and nobody is having any problems… for now, anyway.
Hey, love watching the adventures. Iām going to be shoving off again to head to the Bahamas by boat, much shorter travel then yours, but was wondering if the standard starlink is still working for you or if youāve been forced to upgrade to the marine satellite now? I received the āyouāre behaving badlyā email from starlink for using it on the open ocean this past spring. Just curious what your experience is now. Thanks!