I am thankful every day for my husband, my captain, and the man who makes this dream possible. He faces daunting tasks, setbacks, and seemingly impossible odds, yet he perseveres. Sometimes, frustration sets in, but I always hug him and remind him that the freedom we experience comes at a price—being in countries where getting what we need isn’t always easy.
We are not in this boat alone, both figuratively and metaphorically. We’ve met many sailing friends here who deal with the same challenges: unexpected breakages, difficulties sourcing parts, and the never-ending bureaucracy of visas and paperwork. But at the end of the day, if we can recite our three most important things—being alive, in love, and afloat—then it’s been a good day.
A Daunting Task: Replacing the Rigging
Our most monumental task to date has been replacing our rigging, both in terms of cost and difficulty. While professionals replaced our forestay, Dan took on the challenge of replacing all the standing rigging himself. These metal cables keep our mast in place, and their integrity is crucial. We’ve heard too many stories of sailors losing their masts during crossings—something we never want to experience.
Securing the necessary cables and fittings was an ordeal, costing a small fortune and requiring over a month of waiting. Once we had everything, the grueling replacement process began. It was exhausting for both of us. Dan had to go up the mast repeatedly, and I had to haul him up every time. The sweltering 90-degree heat and the rocking boat made every step dangerous.
A Mysterious Gift Saves the Day
Then, just as we neared the finish line, we hit a major setback. One of the fittings we planned to reuse had stripped threads. Our work ground to a halt. We had no idea where to find a replacement without waiting weeks for shipping. We reached out to the company that replaced our forestay and sent messages to fellow sailors in the marina. Silence. No one had what we needed.
The next morning, Dan was cleaning up the cockpit when he spotted something—a brand-new fitting, the exact one we needed, sitting on the edge of our boat. It was a $170 part, and yet, there it was. No one admitted to leaving it. It was a true mystery, a guardian angel moment. Thanks to that act of kindness, we could finish the rigging job and move forward.
Mailing Mayhem in Panama
Meanwhile, on the lighter side of life, I needed to mail two sailbags back to the U.S.—one to my mom and the other to a close family friend. Expecting a reasonable cost, I went to the Mailboxes Etc. store, where we’d been receiving packages. The woman behind the counter quoted me $99 and $120 for shipping. My jaw dropped. Surely, there had to be another way.
A quick Google search led us to a place called Oficina de Correos. We found the tiny post office tucked away in San Carlos. The clerk, who spoke no English, glanced at my envelopes and said, “Come back Monday.”
Not feeling confident in that option, we searched for another post office and found one about eight miles away. This one was much bigger, with three women sitting at empty desks, scrolling on their phones. They barely acknowledged us until one sighed, put her phone down, and approached the counter.
She took one look at my carefully addressed envelopes and launched into an animated Spanish tirade. I had already said, “No hablo español,” but that didn’t stop her. Eventually, she grabbed a notepad and scribbled down what we assumed were the missing details we needed. We left, slightly defeated but determined to try again.
The next morning, I had a plan. I baked a fresh batch of snickerdoodles—a proven strategy for winning over the marina staff. With cookies in hand, I approached the bilingual woman who had helped us before. She took the note, filled out my envelopes with everything required, and even gave me her business card in case we needed further assistance.
Returning to the post office, we were once again met with indifference. After a long wait, the same woman from before began another rant, this time pointing aggressively at the mailing address. The word “Passaporte” kept coming up. She wanted a passport number on the recipient’s address.
“This is going to my mother!” I exclaimed. “She is 94 years old! She doesn’t even HAVE a passaporte!”
Dan calmly added, “You don’t need a passport in the U.S. to get mail.”
She wasn’t convinced. “Teléfono!” she insisted.
“Fine,” Dan sighed. “Give her your mother’s phone number.”
With that compromise reached, the process moved forward—but not without further absurdities. The envelopes were nearly opened before we shouted, “NO!” to prevent them from tearing into them. They used a rusted scale, likely from the early 1900s, to weigh the packages. They searched through tattered books for shipping information. Triple carbon-copy forms were filled out. And then came the labels—without adhesive. The first two bottles of glue were dried out. The third had to be scooped out with their fingers to stick the labels on.
At last, we paid our total: $6.30 for both envelopes. Exact change only.
As we walked out, I turned to Dan. “Do you think those packages have the slimmest chance of arriving in the U.S.?”
“Not a snowball’s chance in hell,” he laughed.
Setting Sail for the Pacific
With our rigging nearly complete, our new solar panel arches ready, and upgraded dinghy davits installed, we are finally preparing to set sail across the Pacific. Our departure is set for April 8th.
For the first time, I’m genuinely looking forward to an ocean crossing. The last three months have been exhausting—physically, mentally, and emotionally. The idea of 30 days at sea, with nothing but the wind, waves, and the hum of solitude, feels like the perfect remedy. There is nothing quite like the sensation of being a tiny speck on the ocean’s surface, with an entire kingdom of life thriving beneath us.
This journey continues to shape us, challenge us, and fuel our passion for completing our circumnavigation. Thank you for being part of it. Your support means the world to us.
Fair Winds,
Captain Dan and Alison
S/V Equus
P.S. If you haven’t ordered my newest novel, The Seven, I truly believe you’ll love it. Everyone who has read it says it’s totally unique—perhaps even a future classic! While at sea, we’ll be working on the sequel to Riding the Waves of Reality and finalizing my children’s book, Seanna, a mermaid tale illustrated by an award-winning artist from England. Stay tuned for more adventures!
If you have read it – please leave a review on Amazon! It really helps us out. You can read the Story Behind the Story of each character and learn about the breeds of the horses on my author website!
If