FAQs
1. Where are you heading?
South. How far south? Well, our current plan has us heading down towards Grenada but we’ll be making plenty of stops before we get there!
Well, the above was our plan, and we certainly did it, but now everyone wants to know “what’s next?” Our current “plan,” circa 2011, is to head north again following hurricane season, possibly as far as St. Martin. Our intention is to fill in some of the gaps that we left during our fast track south. Next hurricane season will probably find us back in Grenada again, but after that, who knows!
2. When did you set off cruising?
We left Kingston, Ontario on July 30, 2010.
3. How long are you going to do this for?
How does one really answer a question like that? Forever is what I usually say, knowing of course that it won’t really be the case. Unlike many others Rebecca and I have no 4-year plan to circumnavigate the globe and then move on the the next big thing (we think such a plan is very cool, it’s just not what we’re up for).
I remember reading a thread on Sailnet, an internet forum catering to sailers and cruisers, that asked the question “Would you get bored of cruising?” One of the replies stuck out in my mind. The poster said “I got bored…but it took six years. Best six years of my life! Nothing has to be forever to be worth doing!” In my mind that is perfect!
4. Soooo, you are retiring?
Um, sorry, but no. Retiring by my definition implies that we would have enough money to live on without working. Quite the contrary I am afraid.
5. Where will we get money to live?
If we had all the answers today it wouldn’t be such an adventure, would it? It will all work out… we just need to believe 
Check out the Dinero! page.
6. Why a Catamaran (as opposed to a monohull)?
There are plenty of links out there which tackle the Cat vs. Monohull debate. A simple Google search will pull up plenty! Shallow draft, no healing and plenty of space are just a few of the Cat’s many advantages. It is almost easier to list the downsides to purchasing a Cat as the list is much shorter. Higher cost and lower availability of good, used cruising Cats seem to be the two biggies.
Good luck guys! We left Bath in June, should be in the Bahamas for X’mas. If you have any questions just drop us a line or check-out our Blog.
We’ll watch for you as we head back North next summer.
Later,
Mark
Hi Mark. Thanks for the comment. We’ll definitely be checking out your blog to read about your fun and adventure!
Good luck.
Mike
You don’t have to do either the Bahamas OR Cuba, you can do both. That’s what we did. Cross from Ragged Islaned to Cuba’s north coast or from Great Inagua (I think) to the south coast.
I will look that up Cindy. Thank you.
WOW! Ya’ll seem like you’re in for a GREAT adventure. Too bad you won’t be sailing through North Carolina (mountains). I use to live on the island of Antigua, West Indies. They are in the Leeward Islands south of Puerto Rico. You should visit. Although, that would be quite a trip. Have fun!!
-Brian Mumper
Hey Brian
Nice to hear from you. I’m sure we will find our way to Antigua some day, although not likely up in the NC mountains.
Just came across your link & will be following it as we are hoping to start our sailing trip next year. At the moment so far this year we are 3/4 of the way to the funds we need just to get the Catamaran. Now after reading your blog we want it even more . Thanks for all the info.
Hi Andy and Sonja
Thanks for the comment. I look forward to hearing about your progress with this!
Hi,
We also have a PDQ 32 (hull 51). Pics at
****nelie.hocking.edu/~geckler_e/ADVENTURE.html***
Click on VAREKAI
I had the same Dingy & Motor concerns as you.
My solution was a small crane on the stern works Great.
If you would Like I can send Pic
BeD
Brenda -N- eD
Hi guys
I remember seeing some pics of Varekai back when she was for sale. I couldn’t get your link to work though and I would love to see a pic of that! Thanks.
Hey guys really I enjoy the site…if you get a chance an over night sail to Tobago off of Trinidad, would be worth the trip.. I have sailed Grenada and Tobago and really like the small island with big hills..Keep up the good work..be safe.
Bob
Hi Robert
Thanks. I’m sure we’ll get to Tobago at some point. I’ve heard it’s beautiful.
Hey Mike, Love your blog everyday and just wondered if you have ever watched these Hobo traveler videos of this guy on his sailboat in Rio Dulce Guatemala? Just felt compelled to pass it to you…..Looks like a cool place to be, albeit a bit far from where you are now…..
http://www.hobotraveler.com/travel-journal/interview-of-liveaboard-sailor-at-rio-dulce-guatemala.html
I have not but I will watch them now.
The Rio Dulce is supposed to be quite protected, a good hurricane haven in that part of the world.
Nice interview. I watched the 3 clips while having dinner this evening.
Just found your blog and will be reading. My husband and I are planning to do the same in about 5 and half years when my daughter has completed college. We have 3 or 4 different financial plans to get there. We are spending some time sailing on Lake Dillon here in the mountains of Colorado. We have been told if you can sail Lake Dillon you can sail anywhere because the winds and weather can change instantly.
Are there some things you would recommend as we prepare? There is so much information out there and we subscribe to several magazines (Cruising World, Lattitudes and Attitudes, Practical Sailor) and we have a couple books (The cruising Life, the Essentials of Living Aboard a boat), but I am sure there are some other things we could be doing. We too are new to sailing, although I grew up on cabin cruisers in Lake Erie.
We will be reading your blog, but would really appreciate any kind of suggestions you can give! So excited for you guys!! I’m trying to patient, and it’s not too hard while my daughter is a junior in high school, but when she heads to college it may be harder to wait!!
Hi Cookie
Sounds like you’re on the right path by doing your reading and research. That’s pretty much what Rebecca and I did. A lot! If you read through our blog you’ll find a lot of the mistakes we made. You’ll then be able to avoid doing the same ones yourself.
If you have any questions as you read through our blog, just post them in a comment. I’ll be sure to answer as best I can.
Mike
Is there a quick way to get to the beginning of your blog? I don’t think I have found it yet and blogs are a new thing for me!
I haven’t even figured out how to do that!!! I tried one day to create a link to it but was unsuccessful. Perhaps someone else can share the secret.
I found it. Use this link to read from the very beginning:
http://www.zerotocruising.com/?order=ASC
I was wondering do you use a wi fi antenna to get your signal.
Yes Tara. Here are the details of how we currently access the net:
http://www.zerotocruising.com/how-do-you-get-internet-access/