It's been barely a month since we left everything behind and went on an adventure aboard our sailboat. The last few weeks have been rich in learning and we can say that our ability to adapt has been put to the test! Between the itinerary to prepare, a direction to hold, the sails to adjust, the tacking, the gybes, the horizon to watch, the meals to prepare ... a whole day-to-day routine takes place and often keeps us busy from sunrise to sunset. Over the weeks, we learned 6 lessons that will be useful throughout our adventure.
#1 : Minimalist you will be
The first thing you notice when you move on a sailboat is the limited space. 3 adults, a dog and all their life in 11m long and 4m wide. Really ?! Yes! On board, every corner counts and is used to its full potential. Rice and sweet potatoes stored under the sofa cushions, fruits swinging in a net on the ceiling, our sails under the bed in the front cabin, the bare necessities in a few closets. Our living space can quickly become a real mess if we don't tidy up as we go along. Less stuff on board means more time to explore the surroundings rather than spending the day cleaning!
#2: For the crew you will cook
The day is punctuated on one side by the wind and on the other side ... by meals! We can sometimes be absorbed by what we do, but our stomachs inevitably remind us to eat. A good meal makes our more monotonous days during the crossing more enjoyable and comforts us after a big gust of wind. We chose to take turns being the chef. In order to impress our teammates and especially to enjoy ourselves without spending all day in the kitchen, we prioritize simple dishes made with fresh ingredients, such as a good lentil soup or freshly caught mackerel and a salad.
#3: Your trash you will reduce
For food, we have chosen to prioritize buying in bulk with the goal of reducing waste. We are slowly learning to make things ourselves; bread, sprouts, yogurt, kombucha, etc. The grocery store is not just around the corner, but nature can be an incredible source of food! Rather than using new water bottles every time, we fill up large cans of water whenever we have the chance, in marinas or directly from a fresh water source when possible.
#4 : The cold you will like
We have a small bathroom on board, with toilet and shower in the same place. So if we want to wash ourselves, it is all the bathroom which is soaked! We prefer to take our shower outside on the deck, in the fresh air. We must admit that cold days on the North Shore have dissuaded us from doing so a few times. But with a little courage, we stay clean and we take full advantage of the therapeutic benefits of cold water every day.
#5 : Electrician you will become (as well as mechanician, handyman, metalworker...)
Let's be honest, the ideal sailboat owner is essentially a handyman. We no longer wonder if something will break, but what and when the next repair will be! Especially on a boat like ours, which is almost our age. A few days after our departure, our engine would not start. And we realized that our batteries were not charging anymore. Batteries are almost indispensable on board, since they are the reason why we have a functional fridge, light to illuminate us and the navigation instruments that prevent us from running aground. Not to mention our cell phones, computers and all the electronic equipment we need to recharge! Finally, we had to install ourselves a lot of equipment essential to our project; antifouling paint, radar, solar panels, wind turbines. So many opportunities to find hidden talents!
#6: Your fellow man you will help
Traveling by sail gives us access to a large community of sailing enthusiasts. The people we meet understand the ups and downs we go through and are often incredibly generous, whether it's to give us a hand or to give us valuable advice. It is because of some of them that we are still on our way today! We have promised ourselves to give back to the next person and to make mutual aid our mission along the way.
Nevertheless, the comfort we gave up turns into a huge reward every time we witness a breathtaking spectacle. The whales show us the way to the ocean. After dinner, when the water is calm, we have a quiet nap on the deck, under the sun. Our almost complete autonomy allows us to drop anchor in magnificent sites which would have been inaccessible to us on foot or by car.
We quickly got used to the daily life on the boat, but the adaptation has only just begun! We will soon have to prepare ourselves for longer crossings. At the end of July, we will be crossing the Atlantic!
Good wind!
L'Appel de l'Océan, three adventurers who realize their dream of crossing an ocean by sailing.
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