The Marquesas rise from the Pacific like a dream — rugged, ancient, and alive with spirit. From Hiva Oa’s artistry to Fatu Hiva’s heartfelt traditions, each island revealed lessons in simplicity, resilience, and grace. Here, true wealth is found not in comfort, but in connection.
Fixing Boats, Finding Friends Island Choices and Shifting Plans To recap, French Polynesia consists of five island groups, each with its own vibe. The Society Islands, arguably the most well known, with Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora. With volcanic peaks, turquoise lagoons, and resorts that scream luxury. Second might be the Marquesas, popularized by the…
Sometimes, there can be beauty in despair, silver linings in misfortunes, and blue skies in the future where there seems to be nothing but storms. A Confounding Time in Panama In our seven years of circumnavigating, I have to say that our time in Panama has been the most confounding. She beat us up, spit…
The Never-Ending Struggle for Boat Parts The last few days have been eventful here in Panama! We are facing dilemmas regarding boat parts as the nightmare of getting work done in foreign countries continues. We have parts that have been shipped and lost in transit, parts delayed due to a week of partying during the…
Bonaire After our long delay in Cape Verde waiting for our new autopilot, we finally got our weather window to make the 1,800-mile voyage across the Atlantic. We made landfall in Barbados and reacquainted ourselves with the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, the steady breezes, and the spectacular sunsets. We had previously sailed the…
“In the vastness of the sea, we find our strength not just in calm waters, but in the storms that test our resolve.” Alison Gieschen It has been a while since my last…
To make a recap my last blog post, Sailing to Cape Verde, the start of the voyage began with intentions of a direct crossing to the Caribbean. We were well provisioned, all systems functioning, and we were eager to get to the next phase of our circumnavigation. We had been forced to wait a month…
Every year, a flurry of excitement engulfs the Canary Islands as sailors from around the globe converge in this Atlantic archipelago, gearing up for the epic sailing rite of passage, crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean. The Canaries, famous for their expansive harbors and comprehensive marine facilities, serve as the perfect staging area for sailors…
“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” ― Roy T. Bennett Today, I chose happiness. I may rant about the trouble we’ve had leaving the country of Spain, and their…
“May the winds of adventure carry you to the Canary Islands, where each island is a chapter, and every wave whispers tales of timeless exploration.” Alison Gieschen We spent two seasons sailing Portugal, Spain, and the Mediterranean. When it came to time to take the pilgrimage to the Canary Islands to prep for crossing…