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!
65 Responses
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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
To Brian,
Hello! My wife and are closing in on retirement as well, and have really enjoyed prepping ourselves for long term sailing. To share some ideas with you as to how to not wait, but proactively get started early, (along with following these awesome folks who are doing it right now like Mike and Rebecca), so far we have been getting ourselves trained through the american sailing association currently to be coastal cruising certified. Training groups like that offer many types of wonderful classes, to the beginner level right on up. Even week long bareboat charter vacation classes where you go with them and learn to really do it before committing to it completely. We now have a 22′ motorsailer with a swing keel ( goes from 18″ to 4.5′- nearly seaworthy if it had a stronger motor). Sloop design, dc power, sink, head, and a pop top for even more room, it really is a great boat for transitioning to liveaboard. Good enough for a few days of camping and sailing on the big lakes to prep us for the ocean voyages, (we sticking with single hulls, and the next one will be a 35-38 footer once we trade up. We live in Northern New England, and will be using the great lakes, and Lake Champlain especially, to moor and travel down the Hudson to get prepared so that once we trade up, it will be just to continue down the hudson river all the way, and out to the seacoast to head south. I cannot recommend enough to take some of these courses offered by sailing schools. They really do a fine job, and the rates are reasonable, as you learn the progression in so little time with them. Just a few days and some practice and you will know how to sail, read charts, know the rules of the road, learn live aboard tips, etc. We look forward with great eagerness to meeting all of you out there someday soon, and harass a few dolphins, toast the past life with way too much rum, and chase the sun~ Namaste!~ -R-
Hi Robin
Thanks for the comment! Great advice for the most part. The only caveat I would add, and this comes from someone with decades of teaching experience, is that there are good instructors and bad instructors in every field. I doubt that just saying that someone is teaching an ASA course is enough. So, with this warning in mind, people should definitely seek out a GOOD instructor if they desire. We did, albeit short term, and it worked for us. Recognize though that, no matter how much instruction one receives before heading out cruising, the lion’s share of training will be of the “on the job” type, there is no way around that fact.
By the way, that comment is from 2009 and he said that he was 2 years from retirement. Perhaps he’s already out here?
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?
This looks like it http://svjustaminute.blogspot.com/
From that link:
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!
When do we get a profile on the new passenger (the cat)?
When she agrees to an interview.
I have been following your travels with great interest for some time now. Up until now I have not made any comments, but I do have a question. Will you be staying in the Caribean indefinitely or do you have any plans to move on to say….South America or the through the Panama Canal to the Pacific? Maybe travel the canals of Europe? I understand that a sailors life runs day to day and it may be hard to leave a place that can be considered paradise. Again I enjoy living vicariously through your posts. I hope to follow in your wake some day in the near future. Thanks, Keith
Hi Keith
Our plan is no plan (that’s very zen-like, isn’t it). Seriously, we have several irons in the fire which may direct where we go. For the coming season we will remain in the windward and leeward islands (I think).
Hello,
I love your site! I own http://www.beachbars.co The site is dedicated to Beach Bars in the Caribbean. I wanted to see if you have any experiences with Beach Bars that I could help promote through my site. If so, I link back and give credit to the original owners.
I’d love to hear if you know of any good Beach Bars I’ve missed!
Thanks for the consideration.
Bruce Inskeep (You can find me on Facebook under my name)
BeachBars.co
Hi Bruce
I see you have my friend Carlton Groom’s review of Roger’s Beach Bar (Grenada) on your site. Good job!
We are thinking of sailing the Eastern Caribbean this year and summering in Grenada. I have heard some people say that is too hot and unpleasant and all you do is find ways to escape the heat, others say it is a great place to summer. Looking for your opinions. Our friends Matt and
Renee on Outlandish suggested you would be a good source for actual facts about the summer in Grenada. We have a Manta 38, no A/C – see website for details. Thanks
A Manta is a nice cat! As long as you are at anchor and not in a marina or (gasp!) a boat yard, AC is not needed. There is almost always a nice breeze blowing and on the off times when it’s raining and you need to keep the hatches closed, a couple of fans will cool you off. Grenada rocks, I’m sure you’ll love it.
Hello from a fellow Canadian attempting the to sail south also. ( from Toronto )
Mike, how are you dealing with health care as I believe the Canadian Health Care benefit will stop if you are out of Canada for mote than 7 months?
Any advise would be great.
Thanks Steve
We are “self insured” which means that we stay healthy and pay cash when we’re not. Fortunately that has worked out for us so far.
What about the third member of the crew. As I recall, she recently spent an entire week on solo watch of the ZTC.
Perhaps this page needs updating.
Hi- my name is Philip.
I was wondring if you could give me some advice, id like to spend some time sailing. Im currently in honduras working for a NGO and I’m finishing at the start of June.
I have no experience but I used to be a chef at a large hotel in England. Could you tell me if you think there will be many people with boats in the carribean who might have a use for. Id also be willing to pay up to a certain amount but Id like to cruise around for a while and learn the ropes
Hi Philip. I’m pretty confident you could get a gig of some sort. If you want to work on a commercial yacht you will need to have your STCW 95 certification. Search for info on that here on this site and on Google.
Consider creating a crew profile on Desperate Sailors.
http://www.desperatesailors.com
Mike and Rebecca!
Wow, really cool what you are doing! Going from BJJ to Sailing! I remember meeting you guys at a seminar way back…I think it was Eddie Bravo!
Will keep following you for sure!
Hi Stephan
Thanks for the message. Are you still training? We still love Eddie’s jits.
Hi Mike,
Your story is not unlike that of my wife and I. In looking at several different life changing scenarios, buying a catamaran and running a live-aboard scuba dive business was near the top of the list. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it work financially. That and the fact that we’d need to spend a year learning to sail, becoming instructor qualified for diving and learning a whole series of locations and their dive sites gave us a few additional logistical and financial burdens!
So, what did we do? We compromised a little. We bought an existing scuba business in Cozumel, Mexico. We had, like you and Rebecca, enough of the ordinary. We were at the point in our lives that we could dare greatly for something better and unique. Our story is a short one so far. It began around the first of the year. We have been up to our eye brows ever since. It’s not always so nice being the gringo.
Our ownership transition has not been an easy one. The previous owner is not honoring her non-compete agreement and is in open competition with us over the client list that we paid for. As a result, we are rebuilding things from the ground up. That included the company FB page since she would not relinquish that to us.
In any case, I came across you guys through one of our friends on Facebook. Do you ever make your way to Cozumel? Park your boat, come ashore and sample some Mayan delights. I’d love to trade a night or two’s worth of stories with the two of you.
I’ve given you my personal email address. If any of this interests you, let me know. You can find us on FB at Liquid-Blue-Cozumel or at the web address listed above. I’m just about to pull the trigger on the BLOG…but I can’t get past the “who gives a shit about what I say anyway” feeling.
Whatever, get in touch if you’re interested.
Steve Michels
Liquid Blue Divers
Cozumel, Mexico
Hi Steve
Thanks for the nice note. Since it’ll likely be a while before we sail to Mexico, I’ll look you up on FB and on the web.
Sorry to hear about your troubles with the new business. I suspect litigation in Mexico has its own set of problems. Sad that people just can’t be honest. I hope it turns out for the best for you.
Yes, why can’t they be honest? Because she’s an American! Go figure, we travel 3,000 miles to get worked over by another American. Ah well, we are here, we are happy and making a go of it. Now, if we can get past the stupid immigration hurdle…
Safe and pleasant cruising to you and Rebecca.
Thanks, Steve!
Hi Mike and Rebecca!
My name is Becca Oken, and I’m a staff writer at SAIL Magazine. In September, we’re putting out the premier issue of an annual supplement to SAIL called Multihull Sailor, which will feature stories relevant to multihull owners. One story is about people who live on their cats and tris and what their lives are like. I posted on a discussion thread on multihulls4us.com, and someone replied suggesting I get in touch with you. I hope you’ll be able to help out!
Here are the questions that you can briefly answer:
Who are you and with whom do you live on your boat?
Where do you sail?
What kind of boat do you have?
How long have you been sailing on your boat?
Tell me a little bit about your experience living on your boat. Any fun stories and interesting tidbits?
Could you send along some high-resolution pictures that show what life aboard is like for you?
Also, if you know of other people who live on their cats with their families, pets, both, part-time, full-time, etc., please let me know. We’re hoping to get a wide range of people with interesting stories.
Hope to hear back soon!
Best,
Becca
Hi Becca
I saw the thread you’re speaking of. I’ll send you an email. Thanks.
Mike
Hello,
We are live aboards who are thinking of spending hurricane season in Grenada. We have a few questions if you have time and wouldn’t mind. We haven’t found anyone who has spent a lot of time in that area and found your blog through the Cruiser’s Forum.
1. Is the water clear? Can you compare it to another area: Bahamas, Puerto Rico, BVI’s?
2. Did you do any free diving for fish and lobster?
3. Are there daily activities to get involved in: volleyball, yoga, poker, etc?
4. How is the heat/humidity? Is there a daily breeze? We will be on anchor.
5. Where is the best place to anchor and be a part of the community?
6. We have a 13 year old son. Are there other kids and a community for him?
7. Anything else we should know that would help in making the decision of turning north to the US or south to Grenada?
Thanks for your time and hope you continue to have a blast doing what you’re doing. Safe sailing….
Ashlyne
s/v Good Trade
1. Is the water clear? Can you compare it to another area: Bahamas, Puerto Rico, BVI’s?
The water is clear enough on the leeward shore but some of the most protected bays along the southern coast are lined with mangroves which often makes the water silty.
2. Did you do any free diving for fish and lobster?
Some people do, we don’t. Officially visitors are not permitted to spearfish.
3. Are there daily activities to get involved in: volleyball, yoga, poker, etc?
As much or more than you can stand.
http://www.zerotocruising.com/the-days-of-the-week-in-grenada/
4. How is the heat/humidity? Is there a daily breeze? We will be on anchor.
Very comfortable. We do not have AC and are seldom uncomfortable at night.
5. Where is the best place to anchor and be a part of the community?
We prefer the Hog Island anchorage but there are many options along the south coast. You can try them all out and decide for yourselves quite easily.
6. We have a 13 year old son. Are there other kids and a community for him?
Each season we have been there there have been a few teens. They all tend to find one another and hang out, often becoming great buddies.
7. Anything else we should know that would help in making the decision of turning north to the US or south to Grenada?
US vs. Grenada? Seriously? No contest.
Thank you so much for that. It helps to have some local knowledge. Keep having fun and maybe we’ll see you there!
Ashlyne
I hope so!
For additional info check out the article that I had published about Grenada. It is linked here:
http://www.zerotocruising.com/paradise-found/
Awesome info…thanks!
Just finished the article and realized that you are on a 32′ PDQ. We’re on a 44′ PDQ! Loved the book Embarrassment of Mangoes, and like yourselves, it is what has peeked my interest!
The Antares 44 was our dream boat. We used to buy one lottery ticket each week (before we owned a boat) and we called them Antares Tickets.
As for the book Embarrassment of Mangoes, Anne (the author) and her husband Steve attended the same barbecue party in Dominica that we were at last night. They are good people.
Hey Guys
Are you using your Gopro camera for most pics you are taking or only for the action stuff?
No, Tom, almost everything is taken with the D20: http://amzn.to/RQ9UR1