Crew
Newbies? Yes, but we’re fast learners!
We know you didn’t come here to read about how tall we are, where we went to high school and what our favorite flavor of Campbell’s soup is! It’s infinitely more likely that you’re interested in knowing how two seemingly sane people could muster up the courage(?) to throw caution to the wind (what a great metaphor), sell just about everything that they own and take off cruising to parts unknown. Yes, that’s a way better use for this webspace. Unfortunately, at the moment I can’t seem to put the above into words, so let’s start with some pics. Here is the Crew… Mike and Rebecca Sweeney:
PS: In case you do really care our favorite flavor of soup is Tomato!
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Hi My name is Brian I live in Winnipeg . My wife and I are two years from retirement. WE seem to have a lot in common,that is to sell the house, buy a catamaran learn to sail. I have thought about doing this my whole life and with sites like guide to sailing stories I have spent a couple of thousand hours reading sites like slapdash bumfuzzel blowmeaway and many more. I like your first choice a 38 lagoon I have never been on one but they sound great ,Indigo moon is a great site they have a38 lagoon but I guess it:s all about money I think we might find one for around $200000. It is good to hear about how a person gets started learning to sail, buying a boat insuring it taxes changing the flag. Please keep writing we have a lot to learn P S Are you sure every thing is alright with slapdash haven’t read a thing since Feb 11
Hi Brian
Thanks for the post on our blog.
Considering we know next to nothing we find it a tiny bit scary that you say you are learning from us:) We do plan to keep the blog updated for our friends, family and people like you who hope to sail away like us. Hopefully we will be able to add good information as we acquire it.
We received an email from Jamie and Seth on slapdash on March 22nd. They told me they had a friend coming to spend some time with them so I bet they are doing some inland traveling. I do check their site every day and curse at them that it is not updated!
Good luck with YOUR plans. Please feel free to add comments to our blog or email us directly with any questions that you have.
Mike and Rebecca
Hi Mike and Rebecca,
We don’t know each other but we have a lot in common.
My husband, Matt, and I are in full preparations for throwing off the bowlines in pursuit of our own dream of cruising about the world within the next year.
While we are certainly a few steps behind you guys, it’s encouraging to see other young, successful cruisers out there who are getting prepared to live a similar dream! We admire your drive, tenacity, and resourcefulness along this journey and are learning from your experiences. Thank you for sharing them here.
Would you mind if we listed your site as “other cruisers we follow” on our site?
Fair winds,
Christie and Matt Butcher of s/v Kaleo
Hi guys
Thanks for the comment and the kind words. You are most definitely welcome to link to our Blog, and I’d be happy to do the same for you. I really enjoy reading how others are taking similar steps so look forward to following along on your site. We are fortunate to have quite a few people with much greater experience than ourselves who are commenting here on this Blog. Please feel free to add your 2 cents whenever the mood strikes you.
Mike
Just stumbled upon your blog, so this may be a bit late. You might also be interested in looking at the blog that follows Just A Minute, a Lagoon 38 cruising the Sea of Cortez and the west coast of Mexico. They’ve been out for going on two years, Patrick, Laura, their son, Jack and their crazy golden lab, Rudy. Good luck to the two of you and enjoy every minute of your adventure, as we’re sure you will!
Hi Pete and Kathie
Thanks for the post. I did some searches but couldn’t find that blog. Do you have a link for it?
Just wanted to comment that you both are the most amazing people in the world! so much ambition and drive to do what you dream of! You are an inspiration to me and to everyone out there who doesn’t believe in their wildest dreams. Many more fun times to come on the boat and in the sun. Love you Mom and Dad! xoxoxox
Thanks so much, Cass. We know that you’ll achieve all of your dreams too!
Thanks for all of your support. We love you!!!
Mom and Dad
xoxoxox
TOMATO???? Oy!
Well… that is (one of) MY favorite CANNED soups.
Love your blog! Hope to convince my husband we can follow in your footsteps some day! We live in St. Croix so hope you two end up this way eventually so that we can meet you!
Hi Bry
Thank you!
We’d definitely like to visit St. Croix. Please keep in touch.
I just found this web site and have started reading it. I saw that you are in St Croix. There is a strong possibilty my husband and I will be offerred a job in St Croix. We finished our first 6 mth trial run to the Bahamas in July, came back, sold the “big house” and are probably going to leave again in early December. I would love to communicate with you about St Croix. It could weigh heavily in our decision.
Thanks,
Linda
Hi Linda
What led you to think that we are in St. Croix?
We are not. You can see our location in the right hand side bar of the blog, “Where is zero to cruising now.” Just copy and paste those coordinates into google maps.
Will we get to St. Croix? I sure hope so!
You folks may enjoy our website “The Frugal Mariner.com” We’ve been living aboard and cruising since 1997 and our website is sort of a “how-to” with lots of information. We are currently out of ‘cruise’ mode for the moment and are preparing a major update to our site.
We are not selling ads on our site, but see that you do. We’d love to tap your brain regarding that – we need a little ‘how-to’ ourselves.
We also sell funny nautical t-shirts at cafepress – http://www.cafepress.com/boat_t_shirts
Check us out. and enjoy.
Thanks Larry. I’ll check it out! As for the ads thing, we’re not likely ones to be giving too much advice as we barely make enough for a Starbucks coffee once a month (click those ads people!).
I’m happy to share what we know though. Just shoot us an email.
Looks like absolutely fantawesomest adventure!!
Just happened across this site cause researching pole fitness market in midwest US.
Really the unserved demand and potential for development as a serious form of exercise and quasi-meditative self-aware mind-body expression; err sumthin like that:) Out of the strip club and into average everyday homes without the old stigma, etc. anyway.
Haven’t explored too extensively, primarily just Mpls/St.Paul area and a bit online. Though I am damn good at business and before going too much farther realize a name can be vital to protecting copyrights, images, productions, etc. not to mention hires, promotions, events, purchases..etc…etc..
Probably the last thing y’all care about right now…clearly having way more fun not thinking about the soon to be arctic tundra that is MN/CAN but wanted to run it by you as I was thinking of doing business as North Pole Enterprises, a Minnesota corporation providing not only lessons but in home installation of equipment and similar related products and services with the goal/objective of being a premier provider in the industry within the midwest regioun. (Hadn’t thought much about Canada, and wouldn’t be a Canadian company so probally no legal issues if no int’l business ventures. Just rather work together if you’re interested.
No hurry get back to me in a month or whenever convienent…I got a gazillion other things I’m doing too…Peace and fair winds -J.
Hi Guys!
You guys are so awesome. I always enjoyed sailing (and kitesurfing), and used to live on a Tri in Santa Barbara many moons ago. It is an unusual and exciting lifestyle. It’s exciting to see you two follow your dreams, as we all should. I’ve been doing TRX and totally get how you do that on your Cat, but how do you do Jiu Jits?
Anyway, long time since we’ve seen each other, living in Syracuse with my wonderful love, Donna. Livin’ the Life.
Best,
Kevin
Hi Kevin
Great to hear from you and I’m happy to read that things are going well for you. We are having a blast on the boat and yes, the TRX does work perfectly for us and our lifestyle. The Jiu-jitsu thing is a little harder to manage. We’re still trying to figure that one out.
Hi Mike
We have nearly completed our Wharram Tiki38 and will be jumping in the deep-end in the next year.your site is really nice and gives me a lot of hope that we may be able to do this.
I have a facebook page .Chris Bretter with a few pictures of the building of the Tiki.
Regards and have a wonderful new year.
Chris
Hi Chris. I’ll look for you on FB. Thanks for the comment.
Hi My name is Brian I live in Winnipeg . My wife and I are two years from retirement. WE seem to have a lot in common,that is to sell the house, buy a catamaran learn to sail. I have thought about doing this my whole life and with sites like guide to sailing stories I have spent a couple of thousand hours reading sites like slapdash bumfuzzel blowmeaway and many more. I like your first choice a 38 lagoon I have never been on one but they sound great ,Indigo moon is a great site they have a38 lagoon but I guess it:s all about money I think we might find one for around $200000. It is good to hear about how a person gets started learning to sail, buying a boat insuring it taxes changing the flag. Please keep writing we have a lot to learn P S Are you sure every thing is alright with slapdash haven’t read a thing since Feb 11
+1
Hi Brian
Thanks for following along. I think Slapdash is fine… they have been posting on their facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/theslapdash
Good luck with getting out there cruising! I look forward to reading “your” blog about that!
Love your site!!! My husband and I are starting to live the dream….house is getting ready to be put on the market…taking sailing classes all summer…was on a sailboat for the first time yesterday taking ASA 101 class…..LOVE IT!! Already passed 105…boy that was tough but fun! I really enjoy the info you put on here…found you through slapdash site..been following them for a few months since we like gemini’s but it’s good to get other info on different cats. Just found your site tonight so I can’t wait to dig in and read & follow & possibly meet up one day…Eric and I met at the gym..so nice to get excercise updates!!! Love it!!! Have fun!!!
Hi Amy
Thanks for the kind comments. I’m glad you’re enjoying reading.
Congrats on the sailing instruction. That will definitely help you down the road.
Good luck in your search for a cat!
Mike
Just found your site. Amazing I have one question how did you or did you get insurance on your boat without any experience sailing.
thanks
Jim
Hi Jim. Good question. When we applied for the insurance we listed the certifications we received from our Offshore Sailing School course. Apparently they thought that was sufficient.
Hi guys
We have been following you ever since we got home from the Bahamas in June. Great Pics with the Love Boat crew.
PS- we always enjoy our film of the variety show – you both have great legs!!
That show was a hoot, especially once I got off stage.
Take care guys and enjoy the Ontario summer!