106th Chicago to Mackinac Race

Today marks the start of the 106th annual Chicago to Mackinac race.  Well, for the cruising division anyway.  Race boats start tomorrow.  It's a little bitter-sweet for me since I will not be partaking as I have in years past.  This race is always a highlight of summer for us "pond sailors" and it was during contemplative night watches of previous Mac's where I began to dream and scheme in earnest about a life afloat, not to mention it was during the '07 race when Scott and I first met.  Alas, breast pumps have no place on race boats so I'll be sitting this one out.  Scott, lucky fellow, gets a well deserved break from this estrogen-rich household and is very much looking forward to being surrounded by only men for a few days.  Can't say I blame him although I shudder to think what that head (aka. toilet) will look like after three or four days of ten men aboard.  Blech.  No thank you.

The "plan" was for me and the girls to drive up to the island to meet them on Sunday at which point Scott and I would take the helm and cruise for a week or so in Northern Michigan.  However, after pouring over the logistics of getting three babies up to the island and where we would end up with the boat and how we would return from the trip were mind boggling, and - let's be honest - driving in an SUV with three children under three for eight-plus hours has got to be a legitimate form of torture.  So, instead, my mom and dad will sail their boat back to Chicago (or thereabouts) and Scott, the girls and I will hop aboard for a week long cruise down in the lower latitudes of the lake.  Less driving, fewer logistical hiccups. Win/win.

Anyway...

Today also marks my handsome hubby's 38th birthday and there is nothing that he deserves more than to enjoy a weekend of straight-up sailing (pretty much his favorite thing) sans babies.  We'll miss him so much but he has earned a break from the mayhem of twinfants and the tall task of being super dad! Scott will be racing on my father's boat with my brothers and eight others.  If you are interested in tracking their progress, feel free to do so here.  The boat's name is "Lancashire Lass".

Fair winds and following seas guys! Sail fast and have fun!

My handsome hubby in his element.

*Above photos taken by Andy Jury

A Family Sail

Not going to lie, three kids under three kind of puts a damper on spontaneity.  It's not that easy to go anywhere or do anything on a whim these days.  There are nap times to consider, diapers to change, feedings to be had, bedtimes to honor and about a million other things thrown into the mix.  So when Scott suddenly said, "Let's go sailing" this last Sunday morning after no forethought or planning on our part, my knee jerk reaction was to reply with a, "you're joking, right?"  But he wasn't and I didn't and we learned the important lesson that we've still got some "get up and go" left in us.

It was a gorgeous day, the wind was steady out of the west, the seas were flat and the sun was warm and high.  We travel pretty light for a family of five (at least we strive to) so we packed up some lunch, my new favorite light weight baby carriers, a diaper bag of reinforcements and off we went.  No toys, no bells, no whistles.  Just us and the kids.  It was an awesome day on the water and it completely made it clear that we can absolutely sail as a family of five and still enjoy it.  Our good friend AJ came with (you might remember him from the delivery from Georgetown to Tortola) and the six of us delighted in the kind of Chicago day that makes living here during this past winter totally worth it.

Isla was completely content and busied herself happily with the boat while she sang her impressive repertoire of songs.  She is a self-entertaining champion and an awesome little sailing companion.  The twins napped in the slings and when they weren't sleeping they were giggling and cooing in the pilot berth.  They have salt in their veins and, being Pisces, love the water and outdoors.  It was a dream come true and the kind of day you store in your memory bank under "extra special" to recall on the days that don't go so well so that you can maintain perspective and sanity.  It was fantastic.  I am seriously more excited than ever to get back down island aboard Asante.  More on this in a later post (spoiler alert: plane tickets have been purchased).  For now, here are some pics of the beautiful day aboard my dad's boat*.

*After my last post about sailing on my dad's boat, several of you inquired as to what sort of boat it was.  It is a custom built Kanter 47.  As my dad always says, "Britt, there is no such thing as the perfect boat....except the one you build for yourself". She's a beaut.

Thoughts on Land-Life, "Re-Entry" and Adaptability

We have been landlubbers now for eight months.  Eight months.  Two hundred and forty-four days ago we packed up our boat and moved back stateside to await the birth of our twins. Time flies when you're havin' babies (yes, plural).  I realize I am pointing out the blatantly obvious when I say that the cruising community is pretty impermanent.  Most people do not cruise indefinitely and many have very distinct dates for their sailing sabbaticals, be it a year or more.  The point is:  the life aquatic, for the vast majority, comes to an end for one reason or another and people move back to (dun-dun-dun): land.  This is often referred to as "re-entry".  For some, this is an incredibly difficult time fraught with feelings of displacement, sadness and confusion, for others - it's time to...well... yuck it up, refill the kitty and enjoy the many perks that land affords.

So...how have we 'adjusted' to life as landlubbers?

Pretty seamlessly, thankyouverymuch.  I mean, this is land we're talking about, not prison.  There are as many benefits/advantages/plusses to a life ashore as there are a life afloat - they are just different.  It's all about perspective and how well you adapt to the situation at hand.  It doesn't hurt that we have some pretty incredible friends and family around us as well...

Scott and I have both been fairly transient in our lives from relatively young ages.  We are pretty adaptable.  I'm not sure if this attribute is the result of or the reason for our wayward tendencies - but I have learned that adaptability might be the single-most important trait for the gypsy soul, and maybe even life in general.  After all, it was Charles Darwin, the foremost authority on adaptability, who declared: "It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change".  He was right.  The ability to become accustomed to new conditions is not only helpful when traveling, but also when coming home....and, come to think of it, when getting married, starting a new job, moving house, and - er - having twins, to name a few.

I must admit, by no means has this transition to "landlubber" (and, more specifically) "mom of three" been effortless and smooth.  There is a very, very large part of me that longs for the cruising life again and when I scroll through my photos of the last few years (man did I take some awesome pictures!) I am overcome with nostalgia.  On the "mom" front, I have had my fair share of mini meltdowns (and one big one that might possibly have shared a spot with "mental breakdown" in the ven diagram of emotional health) as the result of going from one child to three over night.  But I also strive to enjoy the here and now.  And the here and now is pretty dang good.  We are surrounded by family and friends, it's summertime, and we're taking advantage and enjoying all the "perks" (of which there are many) that land life affords.  We've enjoyed going out to eat with friends and spent quality time with loved ones. We've basked in modern conveniences like refrigeration, an endless supply of running water, stand up showers, well-appointed grocery stores, take-out food, comfy beds and the luxury of having a vehicle at our disposal.  We've gone to concerts, gotten good and quaffed at tailgates and barbecues, and lounged pool side.  All of these things have made life pretty grand for the time being, and having lived without many of these conveniences, we have a marked appreciation for them.  (Particularly the DVR and ability to catch up on our favorite show Modern Family.)

More than anything, however, being home has been a necessity thanks to operation "family supersize", and big changes are sometimes more palatable when you don't really have much of a choice.

The past four months since the twins' birth, while wonderful, have not been without difficulty.  The sleepless nights, the frustration, the exhaustion, the non-stop "I-don't-sit-down-all-day-and-don't-brush-my-teeth-until-evening" reality that is three children under the age of three have been... rough.  I cannot even IMAGINE how we would have survived the "twin trenches" on a boat without any help.  I'm sure it would have been possible, but not pleasant.  Nope.  Being home has been fantastic in this regard, and I for one greatly appreciate this time immensely (namely: my mother, have I mentioned she is a saint?)

This hiatus has also afforded Scott the time to indulge in his passion of real estate, and in a matter of weeks after returning home he got his license and was up and running like a regular Phil Dunphy.  He's got several active listings, a property that he is going to "flip" and we even have a rental on our radar so (fingers crossed) we'll be heading back to the boat with a little cash in the kitty.  And Isla?  Little Miss Isla is thriving.  She loves her friends, the parks, the museums, the play dates, exploring in the backyard, walks with grandma, mornings with grandpa...She hasn't missed a beat.  Kids wrote the book on adaptability and she is no exception.

Of course I miss the boat.  Of course I miss cruising.  But I know that living in the past prohibits us from moving toward a future.  When I look at pictures of our friends who are still "out there", I don't feel the least bit jealous or envious (well, okay, these guys make me a *little* jealous) because having lived the life of a cruiser,  I also know that there is a flip side to those images and it's not all palm trees and beautiful beaches out there.  Not to mention the thought of sailing through a squall/doing boat work/provisioning ashore/fixing broken stuff/sweating in the hot summer sun without AC...etc. with three babies right now does NOT sound appealing.

So, while we haven't put down any roots, we'll enjoy the view from our happy little nook in suburbia for a while longer.  Now that we have re-entered and adapted (and summer has arrived), it's not so bad.  In fact, it's downright enjoyable.  Change is good, for now.

The sea can wait, at least until winter returns ;).

Throw-Back Thursday: Boat Baby

Can you guess who this boat baby is?

Yep, this is lil' ol' me circa 1979.  Isn't my mom a beaut and don't you just love her frosted tips?  Believe it or not, she rocked leg warmers and sweat bands back in those days too.  Jane Fonda had nothing on her.  The woman could aerobisize like no other. 

Anywho...

My sister was in town this past weekend and we had a fun trip down memory lane sitting in the back yard, sifting through the piles and piles of photo albums that my family keeps in the basement.  We had lots of laughs looking at hilarious outfits and hairdos, remembering characters past and present and re-living memories that had been collecting dust in the corners of our minds for the past thirty years or so. The pictorial journey produced some classic photo-gems like this one.  

While chuckling at our 1980's childhoods (hello neon! whaddup mullet!), we also noticed that the vast majority of our photos were taken outside with a significant amount of those taking place on the water and around boats.  

And I thought, "No wonder."

While they weren't full time live-aboards, my parents always had a sailboat (started with a Pearson 25, followed by a Pretorian 35, then a Frers 44 and finally a custom Kanter 47) and each summer they'd load up that boat with provisions, books and bathing suits and we'd cruise the coast of Lake Michigan for weeks at a time.  Some of my fondest childhood memories are from the jaunts along that shore; the small harbor towns, ice cream shops, white sand beaches, rolling sand dunes and, of course, the general adventures that life on a boat provides (sailboats are bonafide playgrounds for little ones).  

Those summers had a profound effect on our lives and family; fostering a very close familial bond, an affinity for the water and a deep love of reading to name a few.  Not to mention the desire to raise my own family this way.

The pictures told a story and while it's easy to romanticize the past, there is no mistaking we shared a wonderful childhood full of love, fun and togetherness - both on shore and at sea.

I wonder what gems the photo books of the future will provide for our girls?

First Sail for the Twinfants

It's official, the twins had their first sail in their twelfth week of life.  Not too shabby for a couple of (temporary) landlubbers during the most stubborn "summer" to ever finally show it's face (I'm still not totally convinced, to be honest).

My dad keeps his beautiful boat downtown Chicago which means we have a boat on which to get our sailing fix during this stateside hiatus, and for that we are beyond grateful.  It was a beautiful day on the lake with family; my mom, dad, sister in law and little niece joined our clan of five(!?!) for the shenanigans. It felt awesome to be floating again.  Even if it was a bit of a Chinese fire drill with all the kids all over the place, and even if the twins did have tandem meltdowns during the car rides there and back (traveling in an SUV for fifteen minutes or more with two infants and one toddler in the back seat is about as fun as pulling out your fingernails, one by one, fyi)...all of that was totally worth it for a few hours of bliss on the water. (Isla's first sail can be seen here).

It's amazing how different day-sailing is from live-aboard sailing or cruising. First of all, it's a ginormous production to pack the whole family in the car these days, complete with clothes, diapers, snacks and gear.  When you live on your boat, all that stuff is right at your fingertips - all you need to do is stow and go.  Then there's the whole "out and back" thing.  We hardly ever did that on our cruising boat and I think we went sailing for the sake of just sailing maybe once, if that.  Almost always we sailed to a destination, dropped the hook and hung out.  Both forms, of course, are great - but completely different and it was interesting to note.  

What was particularly cool to observe was how Isla took to the boat like a duck to water.  These six months on land haven't weakened her sea legs in the slightest and the incredible spacial awareness and balance that comes from a babyhood on a boat is still very much alive in her.  She instinctively knows to step over lines, avoid the cleats and go down the companionway stairs backward.  We don't need to hover over her for fear she'll fall or misstep.  She's got it down pat. When we first got on the boat she exclaimed she was going to "Isla's room" and made her way to the v-berth.  Needless to say, she has clearly not forgotten her former life.  It's etched in her incredible soul and I love that.

We snapped some pictures of the day but unfortunately there aren't many of the twins on their maiden sail because they were "worn" the entire time by my mom and me and were sleeping soundly inside the cocoons created by the Moby wraps (man do I love baby wearing, more on this to come).  Both girls were lulled to an almost coma-like slumber on our chests by the rocking motion of the boat and we were able to enjoy the afternoon without a single peep from either of them.  Until we got ashore, of course.  Then all hell broke loose. They are babies, after all.  And there are two of them. And, no, I still can't believe it.

We have some fun things in store for us aboard my dad's boat this summer... Scott, along with my dad and brothers will be doing the Chicago to "Mac" race  in July and the plan is for my sister and I to drive up and meet them.  From there, Scott and I will take a couple weeks and do our first "test sail" as a family of five (with my sister in tow) up in the Northern waters of Lake Michigan and then hand it back over to my mom and dad for their sailcation.  We're excited.  There are a ton of logistics to figure out, lifeline netting to install and the mere thought of a seven hour car ride with three under three makes me want to run straight to the looney bin and jump into a padded cell, but - hey - we'll figure it out.  These days, we're taking one day at time and just putting one foot in front of the other.  Baby steps.  It's all about baby steps.

Summer is here.  Thank God.  And we're going sailing.

Family photo, minus Mira who was on my mom.

Isla and Grandpa.

This looks like foreshadowing :)  Isla and her cousin and bestie, Bryn.

Isla calling wave sets.

This pic was taken by my SIL of Brighteye Photography

I always wanted my very own laughing Buddah.  The Universe gave me one.

She represents the Lollipop Guild.  Very well, I might add.

Chilling in the pilot berth. 

Living Legends: 10 Questions for Former US Sailing President Gary Jobson

There are few things more impressive to me than humility. In the rockstar world of top-level sailboat racing, it's easy to get caught up in the dangerous habit of self importance. So when Scott and I were strolling around Strictly Sail and one of our friends (who also happens to be a professional racer and sailmaker) called us over to his booth and introduced us to the man pictured above, it was easy to mistake him for your run of the mill sailing enthusiast. A nice guy who was just enjoying talking to friends at a sailboat show.

But he is so much more.

Most cruising sailors probably don't know who this is - but anyone who loves the sport of sailboat racing does. This is Gary Jobson, the former president of US Sailing, the voice of sailboat racing for ESPN, editor at large for both Cruising World and Sailing World Magazines, accomplished author, public speaker and, quite possibly, the biggest advocate for sailing out there today. He was Ted Turners tactician for the victorious 1977 America's cup, has raced the Fastnet, and taken all sorts of titles in various sailboat races around the world. He has been inducted into the America's Cup hall of fame and even has a couple Emmy's on his mantel for his work in television production. As if that is not enough, he also happens to be a cancer survivor and the creator of the Leukemia Cup.  The man is unstoppable.

So, yeah, he's kind of a big deal. But meeting him you would NEVER know it which makes him even more awesome in my book.  He's your every day, super exceptional, guy next door.

We got to chat with him casually for a while at the show and, despite being tremendously busy with speaking engagements and writing his umpteenth book, he graciously agreed to a short online interview for our site. Here it is:

1) Your illustrious sailing career spans generations and you are, quite possibly, the most decorated and celebrated American sailor of this day and age. How did you get bitten by the sailing bug? Did you always have big sailing dreams and aspirations from a young age?

I first started sailing at the age of 6 in Toms River, NJ. For me it was just a summer activity until I turned 12. That was the defining time. I started sailing 12 months a year. I kept track of all my races. When I was 17, I became a sailing instructor. I’ve been promoting sailing ever since.

2) What is your greatest "take away" from sailing as a lifestyle and sport?

The great thing about sailing is you get to do it your entire life. The great rewards are all the places you visit and the people you get to know. Thanks to racing with highly accomplished people like Ted Turner, Walter Cronkite, Herbert Von Karajan and Sam Merrick, I’ve learned many life lessons that have been beneficial in my sailing career, business career and my family life.

3) You have had a tremendous amount of success in this sport and many opportunities have come your way; from racing with Ted Turner on Courageous for the 1977 America's Cup to winning an Emmy for your coverage of the 1988 Olympics... from becoming the "voice" of sailing with ESPN to getting inducted into the sailing hall of fame...the list goes on. Were you always ambitious about pursing these things (i.e. it has been said you have an entrepreneurial spirit), or did you sort of fall into one thing after another?

Today, looking back on my long career, I have to smile because one opportunity seemed to lead to the next opportunity but I did set goals and worked to achieve them.

4) Speaking of accomplishments - you are also a cancer survivor. What was the overwhelming driving force that lead you to fight and, once again, emerge victorious in the most significant "battle" in your life? Has surviving cancer changed your outlook on sailing and racing at all?

10 years have gone by since my cancer disappeared. It’s hard to believe I actually went through two years of treatment. At the time, I felt I had far more things to accomplish in life and did not want to give up. There are many ups and downs when you go through aggressive treatments but the most important message I can give to people is to keep fighting.

5) Of all the things you have done and accomplished - and the list is LONG - what are you most proud of?

My wife of 40 years, Janice, and I have three grown daughters all with Master degrees, each with a husband and two with their own children. Very cool!

6) To become as famous and successful as you have in this industry is not easy, was there a single moment in your career when you had to "pinch" yourself and thought "I have arrived!"? 

I think an important moment was being with Ted Turner on Courageous winning the America’s Cup. I realized that I would have many opportunities to pursue.

7) You are both a racing sailor and a cruising sailor - two VERY different things. Which do you prefer? Or does each fill it's own niche in your life?

Fundamentally I’m a racing sailing and I enjoyed racing at all levels. I didn’t start cruising until I was in my 40s. The interesting thing about cruising is that I still enjoy lots of hours sailing on the way to new destinations.

8) If you didn't have a career in sailing, what would you be doing?

Interesting question. I’m sure I would have been involved in some form of sports. I enjoy producing television programs and films because you start from scratch and try to make a topic interesting to viewers. Having said that, I really enjoy speaking to groups to try and get people interested in sailing. It’s very rewarding.

9) You have touched SO many lives and inspired SO many people, sailors and landlubbers alike. What inspires you?

Many people are passionate about sailing. Really it is the icing on the cake of life. I hope I have helped people to understand and appreciate the sport. I find it immensely gratifying when people say thank you. It inspires me to continue.

10) You are the father of three girls, two of whom are a set of twins - what one piece of advice can you give to Scott about becoming completely and hopelessly outnumbered by women?

The funny thing is we now have three son-in-laws and two grandsons so the ratio has gone from 4 to 1 to 6 to 4 in favor of the males.

Thank you Gary for your time, contributions to our sport and for your inspiration and kindness!! The world needs more folks like you!

For more Gary Jobson, check out his website and these books and DVD's:

• Gary Jobson: An American Sailing Story
• Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobson
• Gary Jobson's Championship Sailing : The Definitive Guide for Skippers, Tacticians, and Crew
• Racing To Win with Gary Jobson
• Championship Tactics: How Anyone Can Sail Faster, Smarter, and Win Races
• Bennett DVD - Racing To Win with Gary Jobson

Babies, Boat Shows and Sailing Idols

The boat show was a blast.  We got to catch up with some old sailing friends, meet up with a bunch of our great sponsors, and shake hands (and even exchange some hugs) with a few of you great folks.

Isla had a blast running around the aisles pointing out all the boats and, in general, just being her adorable little self.  Despite being at the show for over four hours, she was well behaved and happy - and even sat through an hour long seminar without making hardly a peep.  The "Earning While Cruising" talk put on by our friends Paul and Sheryl Shard was very well attended and Scott and I had fun getting our feet wet with presenting.  There were so many great questions raised and, in retrospect, I realized there was so much more we could have added so stay tuned for a more in-depth blog post from me on making a living while cruising because it's a very meaty subject that requires more discussion.

Another highlight was meeting some great sailing idols.  While I didn't get to attend their seminar, the intrepid John and Amanda Neal of Mahina Expeditions were there and we got to chatting about a possible collaboration in the future.  For those of you cruising sailors who don't know who they are, you should check them out now.  They were a HUGE inspiration to us and their website became (and still is) a go-to reference for us when boat shopping.

We also had the honor to be introduced to the esteemed Gary Jobson, editor at large of both Sailing World and Cruising World Magazines, sailing commentator for ESPN, former America's cup racer and president of US Sailing (among many other things).  Aside from all that, he just so happens to be a father of three girls, with one set of twins in that mix so it was fun to have that in common.  When he heard we were following in his footsteps he gave me a big hug with a knowing twinkle in his eye, which I wasn't sure to take as a warning or a blessing (haha).  We had a wonderful time talking casually with him and you'll see more of him on the blog soon.

While we weren't really at the show to shop, there was one product that caught our eye as something we would like to get for our boat.  The owner of ATN (you might remember we had their gale sail on Rasmus) was there demonstrating a single-handed mast climbing tool called the Mastclimber.  Both Scott and I were very impressed.  We have no affiliation with the product or company, but we plan on adding this piece of gear to our sailing kit when we head back out.  Hoisting Scott up the mast is hard enough as it is, doing it with three toddlers running around would be a veritable Chinese fire drill.

Another thing I learned at the show was that I am now at the stage of my pregnancy where I don't think I can be on my feet for five hour stretches anymore - at nearly 34 weeks, I am really feeling it if I over exert myself and so these next few weeks will be spent laying low and working on a few writing projects I have lined up.  Luckily for us, Scott's lovely mother has been in town this past week and has been a huge help in playing with Isla and helping me out so I can lay low and, quite literally, take a load off.  I'll gladly take the rest while I can because our lives are about to get (the very best kind of) crazy in the next few weeks!

Will We Be Seeing you at the Boat Show?

For land-locked boating enthusiasts who are kept from the water for one reason or another (in our case, arctic cold and operation "supersize our family"), there are few things more exciting than ogling new boat designs, perusing useful boat products, and - in general - wading through a virtual sea of what many of us like to call "boat porn".  Yes, people, I am talking about attending boat shows...and this weekend our home port of Chicago just so happens to host one of the very best.

Strictly Sail takes place every winter here in Chi-town and before we became cruisers, Scott and I spent many, many hours navigating the aisles of this stellar show as we fed our dreams and plotted our course to the future.  Anyone who loves sailing can enjoy walking around to see what it has to offer and if you are an actual boat owner, well, be prepared to drop some coin as there are often great deals on awesome products from ground tackle to galley equipment and everything in between.  It's all here and racers, day sailers, bare-boaters and cruisers will run around like kids in a candy store trying to see the myriad of booths and vendors that cater to each of them.

Before we set out cruising, Scott and I were particularly fond of the free seminars that would be offered.  They cover a whole host of topics on all things boating and cruising and there is definitely something to tickle the interest of every caliber of sailor from the newbie to the old salt.  One look at this year's seminar list and you'll see it's a virtual who's who of the nautical world with presenters like Nigel Calder, Lin and Larry Pardey, John and Amanda Neal, and John Kretchmer to name a few.  Pretty awesome if you ask me.  It's not every day you get to rub shoulders with the likes of those folks!

This year we are particularly thrilled because, as luck and fate would have it, we have been invited by our wonderful friends, Paul and Sheryl Shard of Distant Shores, to be guest speakers during their Friday seminar "Earning While Cruising" (ironically, the four of us also contributed to a recent blog post on the same subject).  While the presentation is all Paul and Sheryl (two of the nicest cruisers you can ever hope to meet, by the way) - they will be giving us the floor for a bit to talk about our experiences funding our dream as well as being a part of their Q&A session with audience members at the end.  So. very. cool!  

We are totally flattered and honored to be a part of this and we're looking forward to meeting a few of you wonderful folks as well!  If you plan to be at the show tomorrow, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for us and - if you have the time - stop by room 313 at 3:30 and have a listen (yep, Isla will be there too!).

OH! And in case you don't recognize us without out swimsuits and lovely tans, I'll be the one sporting the giant Buddah belly! (33 weeks pregnant today!!)

Living Legends: Ten Questions for Cap'n Fatty Goodlander

If you are a sailor and are not familiar with the name "Cap'n Fatty Goodlander," then you have clearly not picked up a single cruising/sailing/boating publication in the past twenty years.  Aside from being a stellar shoestring circumnavigator who has lived almost exclusively on boats since childhood, he might just be the most prolific sailing writer the world has ever seen with a slew of excellent books and hundreds upon hundreds (maybe thousands?) of articles in his wake.

While I have never met him personally, we share roots in Chicago and a background in theater, and I have read and enjoyed many of his touching/funny/witty stories.  He is humble, funny, kind and clearly loves the heck out of life (and his beautiful wife, Carolyn).  His smile is genuine.  His stories are colorful and entertaining.  His travels impressive.  It is truly my honor to share with you our online interview so that you can get to know this incredible man, this living cruising legend (and one of my idols), a little bit better.  I hope you find it as inspiring and enjoyable as I did!

1) First things first - how'd you get the name "Fatty"?

I was an actor as a teenager, and the guys on the corner in Chicago used to joke that 'I was FAT,' as in lucky. (If you rob a bank and don't get caught, you are even Fat City! ) This isn't new... Think of the Fat Buddha that the starving Chinese adored. But at 15 I purchased my own sailboat, Corina, and the guys were blown away. "He's Capt Fat now!" said one as I walked by. This rapidly turned into Cap'n Fatty, which everyone calls me - wife, mother, and child included. For years, I wrote for SAIL mag under my real name of Gary. But I wanted to write some funnier, truer, grittier stuff, and used Cap'n Fatty. Honesty always resonates with the reader. At SAIL, I started out pretending to be something I am not. I learned an important lesson. You can be okay pretending, but only great being honest.

2)  You are a living legend and an inspiration to so many boaters all over the world.  How does this pseudo celebrity status make you feel?   

Mostly great! I'm honored to earn my living with my pen. The readers are the people that ultimately sign my paycheck. I am grateful. And I feel each of the fans I meet deserve a moment of civility. I try to make each one feel special for a moment or two. 

3)  Born to "penniless sea gypsies" you say you were "blessed" to have grown up almost exclusively on sailboats.  Did you always feel this way or was there a time you felt like you were missing out on land life and longed for normalcy?  Or were you always aware that your lifestyle was a gift? 

I was born an outsider. We were misfits. We were broke. My father wore a skirt (pareo). We bowed to no god. The dreaded do-gooders even got court orders a few times to take me away from my loving family... It was a GREAT way to grow up. 

The only thing better than being a boat kid was raising [daughter] Roma Orion aboard! (Yes, we've already sailed many a mile with Sokù Orion, our wonderful granddaughter.)

4)  If you had to pick one place you've been to stop cruising and settle down, where would that be and why?  

If I had to settle in an English-speaking place, that would be New Zealand. Luckily, I don't! When our health fails, we will retire to SE Asia. Or St. John, USVI, the nicest place under the American flag.

5)  You are a prolific writer (at one point sold over 200 articles a year for 10 years!) and seem to have articles in a sailing publication (sometimes more than one) every single month.  How much time do you spend writing and how do you maintain a work/life balance?  Does Carolyn ever begrudge all the time you spend in front of a computer?  

No, Carolyn never does, as she likes to eat as much as I do. Basically, I write four hours a day, from 8 to 12, minimum... and have done so for over 30 years. Each day, I am VERY excited to get to work. I do not really care about educating my readers; I want to emotionally touch them, make 'em laugh or cry. I believe I have written between 18 to 50 good pages in my life. I hope to write a few more before I die. 

6)  Speaking of Carolyn, behind every great man is a great woman and it is no secret how much you love and adore each other.  You met and fell in love so young and seem to have a charmed relationship, what is the secret to your obvious happiness?  

I do not know. She is very passionate, very smart, and very hardworking. We occasionally argue, etc, but we have always been there for each other since the age of 16. I can be a selfish little prick at times and we've been dead-broke for years at a stretch... chalking it all up to penis size seems simplistic. (Poor Carolyn has a permanent dent on her forehead from slapping herself and moaning, "I can't believe you said that!")

7)  Full-time live aboard cruising can be very challenging, and you are no stranger to the sometimes frustrating combination of project boat and low funds.  How, after over 50 years of living aboard, do you keep it fresh and not get "burned out?"  

I really like to sail, and Carolyn really likes to travel. We sail really hard for a couple of years (last year we sailed 10,000 miles and repowered) and then 'chill' with some coastal gunkholing for awhile. My boat is my everything: job, sport, love, passion, home, office, profession... I am still very turned on to living aboard, and feel that after 54 years... I am starting to get the hang of it! 

8) You've owned a bunch of boats and sailed a lot of miles on all of them.  When outfitting a boat for a voyage what are your top five pieces of equipment that you wouldn't head offshore without (aside from obvious things like sails, water and, of course, Carolyn)?  

I have a well deserved reputation for being cheap—but it is really VALUE which I seek, not price. The piece of gear I love most is my Monitor windvane. It is just about the only 'must have' piece of metal aboard. The AIS is a wonderful advance. I believe in Max props. Harken makes a wonderful roller furler. I prefer a tiller. Solar cells sure are swell. I grew up on a wooden boat with cotton sails and hemp anchor rodes and a sextant and a coal shuttle and kerosene running lights... so, yeah, I have seen a lot of changes. 

9)  I have a feeling you are not a 'regret' guy, but what is the biggest mistake you have ever made at sea or while cruising?  

I dunno. I've swam away from two vessels, so you'd think I'd have some! But most of my major mistakes are shoreside. (Pauses. Thinks) Mostly, I regret not doing stuff.  Sitting on your butt is boring. Fortune favors the brave.

10)  Are you shocked by how your life has turned out, or has the Universe conspired exactly how you thought it would?  Are you ever surprised or impressed by all your accomplishments?  

I'm happy. My boat is my magic carpet, my freedom machine. So I knew I'd sail. But I only went to school for five years.... 3 grammar, 2 high... and thus was worried I could not be writer. Luckily, I rapidly learned that good writing has little to do with intelligence and almost nothing to do [with] modern education. It's just transparency of personality on the printed page, that's all. It just takes a little grit. And I've got plenty of that. 

Want more FAT?  

First, Check out Cap'n Fatty's Facebook Page and Website and then buy his books, they are sure to give you a good laugh, a healthy dose of gypsy-tinged inspiration and maybe even tug at your heartstrings a little.  He is an expert story teller and his passion for life and living it to the fullest is infectious...

Books by Fatty:

• Chasing The Horizon: The Life And Times Of A Modern Sea Gypsy
• Buy, Outfit, Sail: How To Inexpensively and Safely Buy, Outfit, and Sail a Small Vessel Around the World
• Collected Fat
• Red Sea Run: Two Sailors in a Sea of Trouble
• Cruising World Yarns
• All At Sea Yarns: The All At Sea Stories
• Somali Pirates and Cruising Sailors
• Seadogs, Clowns, and Gypsies