Boat Karma and the Cruiser's Code: Helping out a Vessel in Trouble

The other night as we were coming back in the dinghy from our provisioning run, Scott and Luuck noticed a boat was dragging, with a lone sailor at the helm.  We all were in one dinghy (women and kids included), so they dropped Darcy and I off on our respective boats with the kiddos and immediately went to the boat in trouble to assist.  It was dangerously close to dragging into the unattended boat behind it (and, beyond that, was a reef; Clifton Harbor is not an anchorage to drag in) and time was of the essence.  The boys sprung right into action; Scott getting behind the helm and Luuck and the owner heading to the bow to raise the anchor and re-set it.  The whole ordeal lasted about an hour from start to finish and the owner (who was alone) was very, very grateful for the help of Scott and Luuck.  Our guys even got a couple cold ones out of the deal.

While the story isn't exactly gripping, what it illustrates is one of the cardinal rules of cruising:  when you see another boat in trouble, you help because one day, it will be you on the other side of the coin.  While those of us lucky enough to live this lifestyle enjoy the ability to reside "off the grid" and outside mainstream society, what this also means is we don't get to enjoy some of the conveniences a developed society affords.  We rely on ourselves, and each other, when things go wrong.  There's no AAA, no water-based fire department, and no 911 on the water to come to our rescue so when bad things happen - you must rely on yourself and, if you are lucky, the kindness of strangers to get you out of a jam.

Which brings me back to another story.  You might recall my post from last week about how some fellow cruisers were brutally attacked in the anchorage next to us.  Not 24 hours after that post went "live", I received an email from a close friend of the woman attacked.  Apparently Tina (the victim) was curious about the boat I mentioned in that post that had come into our anchorage during dark.  Tina had recalled a boat being in their anchorage, but never heard them on the radio (to be fair, it turns out they were on different channels) and saw them shine a light on their boat only to watch them leave immediately after hearing their cries.  From Mark and Tina's vantage point, these mystery cruisers had done a "runner" and abandoned them in their moment of need.  Reading her email confirmed my initial suspicion, which was a hard pill to swallow.  How could someone just leave another person in trouble like that? In landlubber life, this happens all the time.  We all pass stranded motorists on the highway and turn a blind eye to the homeless in our cities.  But on the water this sort of behavior is taboo.

When we went back to Chatham Bay the next day that boat was still there and Luuck went over to tell them the unfortunate fate of s/v Rainbow, the boat they left after hearing screaming.  While they were very upset to hear that there was indeed serious trouble (and not, as they otherwise thought, a domestic dispute), the response of the male was incredibly disturbing.  He mentioned that he knew deep down something terrible was happening and he just wanted to "get out of there."  Apparently when he was in Brazil, a cruiser on a boat next to him was murdered and, after bearing witness to that, he now believes it's best not to get involved.   He made zero apologies for this logic (the woman, on the other hand, was emphatic that they should have done something and was very distraught over the news).  To be fair, this man broke no law and was in no legal way obligated to help out, but what he did do is break a deep seated cruiser moral code.

I am not here to incriminate anyone or create a mob against this boat (and it shall remain nameless because I intentionally did not get the name to avoid such a thing), but rather to start a discussion on the subject and get people thinking.  What would you do?  While we never know exactly what our reactions will be if faced with a similar situation, we can speculate.  We all agreed that simply abandoning fellow boaters in peril would not be an option.  We went around and around discussing this issue from every angle and we all came to the final conclusion that if the tables were turned, we'd hope that someone would help us.  If there was ever a case of "treat others the way you want to be treated", this was the holy grail.  We would have assisted in any way we could and certainly wouldn't have left in the midst of screaming.

It should be noted that the cruising community as a whole did come out in droves for Mark and Tina.  While no one was physically there to assist them during this tragedy, over the magic of the radio and the substantial Grenada cruisers net, Tina was given immediate medical advice over the radio for her wounds and when they got their boat to safety a few hours later in the neighboring island of Carriacou, medical services were waiting to take them to the hospital.  The cruising community has continued to come to their aid in just about every way, shape and form imaginable.  Most of us understand that this could have happened to any of us and empathy runs deep amongst cruisers.

So how can we move forward from this?  How do we ensure anchorages remain safe for cruisers?  How can you help if faced with a similar scenario?  Here are a few things we came up with:

1. Always, ALWAYS keep your radio on: Especially at night.  Monitor channel 16 and possibly scan other channels if there are popular cruisers' stations in your area.  Mark and Tina were hugely assisted by channel 66 which is the Grenada Cruisers channel that many people monitor.  Luckily, due to it's popularity, a repeater was added which meant they could reach people all the way in St. Georges from here in the Grenadines (without the repeater this would not have been possible).
2. If you hear trouble, call on the radio first:  If there are signs of distress and trouble, try hailing the boat in question on the radio over and over.  Try several stations as not everyone only monitors 16.  
3. If you don't get the boat in question on the radio, try other boats in the area: Other boats might be aware of the situation as well and able to help.  The more boats that can get involved in one way or another - the better.  There is safety in numbers.
4. If you know for certain there is trouble, alert every station on the radio:  Make a "Pan Pan" (or a "Mayday" if imminent danger is certain) announcement on every major station in your area (starting with 16).  The boat in trouble might have their radio on (but not be able to get to it) and a thief or attacker might be scared away by hearing alerts over the airwaves. To do this, follow this radio protocol:
1. "Pan pan, Pan pan, Pan pan ALL STATIONS"
2. "This is sailing vessel 'x' (repeat three times slowly and clearly)"
3.  Report position, urgency message, type of assistance required.
4.  Listen for acknowledgment.  Repeat if necessary.*
5. Have your air horn, spotlight and/or pepper spray handy:  We now have all three in our cockpit when we are up there in the evenings and by our bedsides.  Criminals do not like loud noises and bright lights.  (Please, let's NOT turn this into a gun debate, we do not have guns on board and do not ever plan on having guns on board.  Period.)
6. Have flares handy and be sure they are not expired:  The boat in trouble might not be able to help themselves if there is a struggle, so setting off a flare for them can be a big help.  As an aside, some flare guns can also house shotgun shells and flares themselves can be considered pretty devastating weapons.  Our flare gun is stainless steel and can, quite literally, pack a punch - though I am not suggesting that shooting anyone is the answer as sometimes that can just exacerbate a situation.  This is a tirelessly debated subject and one I don't care to get into at this juncture.
7. If you are of able body, go assist:  It has been decided that if we are ever faced with a situation like this, the men of our boat would assess the situation and assist if possible while the women would stay back with the kids.  This option might not be for everyone, and that is okay, but know that there are many ways to help aside from physical intervention. (Tina mentioned that the boat that left their anchorage could have really helped them get their anchor up and get out of there as she was very seriously injured and severely bleeding.)
8. Do what you can in the aftermath:  Offer a medical kit, medical advice, make calls on the radio to line up further help and do what you can to soften the blow, so to speak.

What else can be done?  Any veteran cruisers' have protocol you would suggest or follow?  Please share in the comments so we can all learn some safety standards of procedure (again, let's stay above the "shoot 'em up" debate).  The more prepared we are as a whole community, the better equipped we will be to help each other out if and when the time comes.

If you want to read some of the scuttlebutt around this recent attack, you can read this thread on Cruisers Forum.  You can also hear more about the attack first hand from Tina through this blog post by her good friend, Lynne.

* Many thanks to our friends from Kaleo for sharing this procedure with us. We have a laminated sheet with all call protocol; securite, pan pan, and mayday laminated and taped in our navigation station.

When Bad Things Happen in Paradise: Cruisers Attacked

Last night, while we were enjoying post dinner laughs and conversation with our friends in our cockpit, two fellow cruisers were being brutally attacked in the anchorage next to us.  According to reports, the boat s/v Rainbow was boarded by two men wielding machetes around 8:40pm.  Both crew members, a husband and wife, were badly injured and received lacerations during the skirmish and, after fighting off the thieves, both are now safe and the woman is receiving medical care in Grenada.

While "pirate" attacks have certainly been occurring in this area of the world for quite some time, this particular assault was a little closer than we have ever been to something like this.  In fact, around 9:15 pm a boat ghosted into our anchorage.  They called on the radio, asking for "the American boat anchored in Ashton harbor at Frigate Island".  Scott answered their call, thinking that maybe they were referring to us and were just confused as to what anchorage they were in.  They replied that they left Frigate Island after hearing screams.  Before leaving, they tried calling the neighboring boat several times on the radio to see if they needed help and after getting no reply, they figured it was a domestic dispute that had gone awry and decided to leave the anchorage to avoid listening to fighting all night.  It is horrible to think that what was happening was far from a domestic dispute.  It's even more horrible to think that as we were laughing and talking in our cockpit with our friends, there were two fellow cruisers fighting for their lives three miles away.

While there are many arguments that state how this sort of thing happens anywhere (and it does) and that we shouldn't let "fear" rule our lives (and we shouldn't), the fact remains that this particular cluster of Islands - St. Vincent and the Grenadines - has, in recent history, been on many cruiser's radars as being a place where crime against boaters is undeniably on the rise.  Because of this, these islands have very quickly gotten a reputation as being a place to avoid all together which is a definite lose/lose situation for all involved - yet another example of how a few bad apples can spoil the bunch.   Unfortunately, the "bunch" we're talking about is the tourism industry that so many of these islanders rely on for their livelihoods and cruisers who will chose to skip this lovely island chain,  a true gem of the southern Caribbean, because of these "bad apples".  While we have no plans to leave here based on this incident alone, it certainly has us thinking.  Yes, we are traveling with a buddy boat, and yes, there is some safety in numbers - but we also have babies on board which makes us even more protective and safety conscious.  I cannot even begin to imagine what we would do if faced with a similar situation, and I hope and pray we never have to.  The sad truth is that no one is immune - not us, not anyone - and all we can do is make our own judgement calls based on the information we have and weigh the risks involved.

We - along with our friends - will be considering our options closely in regards to our next steps and we will most certainly be coming up with a plan of action should this sort of event happen to either of our boats.  It is entirely possible that we will leave these beautiful islands much faster than we would have otherwise to sail for a place where violent crime is less of a threat.  Crimes like these won't stop sailors from sailing to far off lands - we're a pretty tough bunch and we love our lifestyle - but what it will do is make us think twice and possibly avoid some of those beautiful lands all together.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark and Christina of s/v Rainbow.

Update:  Not 24 hours after the incident, it has been reported that there are three suspects in custody.  Major props to the Saint Vincent and Grenadine officials for acting incredibly fast and taking this incident very seriously.

Bear Spray. Or is it Pirate Spray?

Funny story for you...
The other night, as I was sleeping in the boat alone - I got to thinking; "Jeeze, what if someone comes aboard and tries to rob me, or worse, while Scott is gone?"  I know, pretty morbid and not the most comforting of thoughts for a 6 month pregnant lady who's husband is away for a week at a time.

But then I remembered the bear spray right by the bed.  That's right.  Bear spray.

Or should I call it Pirate Spray?

If you are anything like me (someone who grew up near a city completely devoid of bears and who's idea of camping is packing a cooler full of booze and going to a clearing near a concert venue) you probably don't know what "bear spray" is.  I didn't.  Well, you remember that little thing of mace that your dad gave you before you left for college that hung on your key chain?  It's kind of like that - only it's about as big as an air-horn.  Because it's meant for, you know, 500-pound bears.

Anywho...back to the story of how this "Pirate Spray" came to be...

Back when we left Chicago - "pirates" were all the rage.  I don't mean to be flippant, because it's a very serious subject, but there had been some recent high profile attacks and everyone and his brother wanted to know how we were going to deal with them since, according to landlubbers who didn't know any better, the world was being overtaken by pirates much in the same way Michigan is being overtaken by deer.  I was even contacted by the Wall Street Journal to give a sound byte for an article they were writing on the subject (I was not quoted).  Scott and I just sort of laughed off the thought of "piracy" knowing that Somali-style attacks are not happening in the Bahamas or anywhere we were headed in the next year or so.  (Not yet, anyway).  We had, however, heard of minor incidents in places like Puerto Rico and the Caribbean (again, not approach-your-boat-in-high-speed-vessels-with-uzi's-while-high-on-qat-style, but boardings and robberies; petty theft mostly).  Scott, ever the pro-active hubby, decided to take matters into his own hands and get prepared for combat, should the need arise.

Have you ever been to Charleston, SC?  It's a lovely, idyllic place.  I actually think I could live there, but that is besides the point.  It's got cobblestone streets, fine dining, chic boutiques, a distinctly European feel, a nice little college campus nuzzled right smack in the middle and it's the kind of place you might call "precious".  It reminded me of my favorite neighborhoods in Chicago all rolled into one minus the stab-your-eye-out winter.  It is NOT the sort of place where people talk much about, or know anything about, pirates.  Unless, of course, you are referring to the Johnny Depp variety. This is an important factoid...

So...Scott and I go into a yuppy-style "outdoor outfitting" store (because we love those types of stores) just to peruse cool things like designer Nalgene bottles, fluffy Patagonia zip-ups and any other neat trinket we might find.  We both find ourselves upstairs.  I, of course, am eyeballing some cute "convertible and practical" skirt that costs $100, and Scott - I note - is eyeing the camping section, rather intently, I might add.  I go back to contemplating my skirt (did not buy it) when I hear this little gem of conversation happen, pretty much verbatim:

[Enter preppy, good looking nineteen year old shop clerk who is wearing "outdoorsy" clothes, but with the collar popped and way too much hair product to be taken seriously as an "outdoorsman"].

Preppy college clerk: Hey man, can I help you find anything?
Scott:  [now holding something and studying it, again, rather intently] Um...yeah. Sure.[pause as he reads the label on whatever it is he is holding]. Actually, do you know if this stuff works?
PCC: [leans in inquisitively to see what Scott is holding, cocks his head slightly to the side as if to ponder if he's ever used it or known anyone who has, the answers to both, of course, are a resounding 'no'] Uhhhhh...bear spray?
Scott:[looking up, hopeful] Yeah.
PCC: Uhhhh...[he grabs another can off the dusty shelf and examines the label also]I think so...[he continues to study the canister, like a good PCC shop clerk does].
Scott: [sensing this kid isn't entirely sure what he's talking about and wanting to clarify a few things for him, he lets out a small 'knowing' chuckle] I don't mean on bears...I mean, do you think this would work on people?

(At this point I now know where this is going, and instead of swooping in to save ourselves from looking like complete arse-holes, I stand there, much like one of those Michigan deer in headlights, holding the skirt limply while silently mouthing the word 'no'...)

PCC: [kid reacts by pulling his head back quickly, his face contorts in confusion] People??? [Now totally aware that he is in over his head] Uhhhh...[he looks again at the label, unsure if he should check with a manager]...well, it is meant for bears so...[he shrugs and trails off].
Scott: [letting out another chuckle because he realizes how this sounds]  I don't mean regular people, I'm talking about pirates.  Do you think this would work on pirates? [NOT realizing how this sounds].
PCC: [backing away a tad - now a look of total, utter confusion washes over his already perplexed face.  He wonders for a second; "Am I being Punk'd"].  Ummmmm...wow...uhhhhh...I guess so?
Scott: Great, I'll take it.

And it is this precise moment when I burst out laughing.  Right then and there in the store.  Like, the kind of laughter where you crouch over yourself and almost have to fall to your knees because you think you might wet your pants.  Scott looks at me like I am crazy.  Like that conversation he had was totally normal.  Oh, how I love that man.

Pirates.

So...yeah.  There it is.  Some college kid in Charleston out there is probably recounting this exact same story during kegger parties about the two crazy people who came into his store last year looking for "pirate spray".  God love it. "I mean, dude...the guy actually said 'Will it work on pirates' and I was all, 'I dunno, I guess so!'" (boisterous, drunken laughter).

For the record, I am glad we have it and it actually is a good thing to have aboard if you don't "carry" (a gun) which we do not and will not (Scott read about pirate bear spray on several forums apparently).

For the record, I also sleep with a machete under the pillow while Scott is gone and I have been known crack open a coconut like a ninja with the thing in two fell swoops.
Truth.

Imagine...

Scott actually took this photo through our binoculars!

We saw this beautiful boat sailing along towards us yesterday and she captured our imaginations.

She looked incredibly majestic - almost ghostlike with her eighteen sails flying - a relic of days gone by.  It was impossible not to think back to the reign of pirates and buccaneers in these waters.

"Can you imagine being a boat like that two hundred years ago?" I wondered aloud.

In so many ways, we have come a long way since then.  It's incredible to think of what those sailors accomplished with so little.  They had rudimentary charts, navigated only by the sun and the stars, pioneered foreign territories and - to make matters worse - at any given time there might be a pirate ship lurking around the corner in some hidden bay with cannons locked and loaded and full of gnarly, greedy pirates chomping at the bit to pillage and plunder...the mind boggles.

And yet, there we were - two passing ships from two very different eras - both propelled by only the wind.  Some things never change, and for that we are grateful.

While she is truly a looker and a breathtaking sight to behold - we are certainly thankful that we don't have to raise and lower all those sails!

Love,
Brittany & Scott

Lions and tigers and PIRATES, oh my!

We're off to see the Wizard!

Pirates.  This subject comes up a LOT.  It seems to be what everyone wants to know about and I don't think we have met a single non-cruiser* who has not broached this topic.  The question that follows is inevitably, "do you carry a gun?!" after which they launch into a monologue of how they would carry a gun and how foolish it is for us not too.  Although we appreciate people's concern and their healthy "shoot 'em up" attitudes - we find that more often than not, these folks are a little ignorant on the subject.

Scott and I have actually sat up nights trying to figure out ways to nip this conversation in the bud the moment it comes up.  We're thinking saying something like, "Sure, we'll talk about guns and pirates - just after we discuss politics, religion, and gays in the military!**"  We think that might drive the point home.

Yes, there are pirates.  Yes, they take boats.  Yes, they take some sail boats.  Yes, they have held cruisers captive for ransom.  But do you know the odds of this happening?  I'm no accountant, but I have to guess that getting struck by lightning is more likely***.  In addition, the term "pirate" is giving these people way too much credit.  They are petty thieves.  They are low-lives.  They are robbers.  Jack Sparrow, they are not.  More often than not - they're looking for the container ships and mega-yachts who actually have some substantial coinage behind them.****  Cruisers (like us) aren't usually famed for their riches.  We live in a floating RV for god's sake.

Let me paint you another picture...It's June and your are looking to go on vacation.  You want to experience the thrills of a big city.  Chicago, naturally, tops your list.  A beautiful place, full of great restaurants, fabulous museums, a gorgeous waterfront and all sorts of other activities and amenities attractive to vacationers.  It's clean, it's fun, and it's one of the best places on earth in the summertime.

BUT...

It also boasts a murder rate of 29 per 100,000 people and theft?  Don't even get me started. Are you not going to vacation in Chicago because there is a slim chance you might get "offed" or robbed?  I sincerely hope not.  Furthermore, do you go out and buy a gun to protect yourself just in case*****?  No, you do not.  You stay in safe areas and travel wisely.  Just like Scott and I.  We are not going to scrap our trip and this opportunity to visit all the magical places we can in this world because of 'pirate' threats.

I don't mean to sound cavalier, because I am not.  We've read, and continue to read, quite a bit on the subject and try our best to remain informed.  Piracy is a real threat and one we will take seriously.  We will avoid places that are 'hot spots' and will proceed with caution wherever we are.  Will our dinghy and/or dinghy motor get stolen?  Perhaps.  Might we be pick-pocketed while shopping a local market? Maybe.  Will we be held ransom by Somalians yielding semi-automatic weapons?  Not likely.

Imagine if Dorothy had let her fears of lions and tigers and bears hold her back on her journey to Oz - she would have never met the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Lion and she would never have had the adventure of a lifetime.

That said, we're off to see the Wizard!

Love,
Brittany & Scott

* I specify 'non-cruiser' because I don't think this subject has ever come up with another cruiser.
** For the record, we are 100% for equal HUMAN rights.
*** If you want to learn more about piracy in today's world or actually crunch numbers and come up with the odds, I suggest you go to this site.
**** Did you know that even container ships don't do too much to thwart pirates?  It's actually cheaper to pay the ransom in most cases!
***** Lots of cruisers do carry guns, and we have no problem with their guns.  We just don't want them on our boat. I don't want this to turn into an NRA debate. We do however, have some nasty bear spray.

Answers to common questions we get

1) Are you guys crazy?
Yes and no. Is living on a 35 ft. boat for a few years crazy to some? Yes. Does the idea of crossing a great big ocean on a tiny boat seem insane to others? Yes. Are we certifiable and taking medication? No. So you see, it's all relative really. We *love* the idea of all of it so while it might not appeal to you, it sure as hell does to us!

2) Can a little boat like that actually handle the ocean!?!
Yes people. Sailboats are designed to go to sea! Most can handle just about any weather thrown at them from squalls to hurricanes if the captain and the crew are competent. We are simply going to take our boat where she wants to go! Just because a boat is bigger absolutely does not make it better or more "seaworthy", in fact - often it is the exact opposite.

3) What if there is a storm in the ocean and you can't get to shore?

This might be surprising to some - but usually the last place you want to be during a 'gale force' storm is anywhere near shore. It's usually safer to be out at sea where you can batten down the hatches and ride out the storm with various storm tactics. It might be uncomfortable, wet and miserable, but it's much better than getting pinned to a lee shore and having your boat smashed to bits by waves and rocks.

4) What will you do all day?
When you are living on a sailboat there is plenty to do to fill the time. From what I've read, a minimal time cruising is actually spent sailing - all the other time is devoted to upkeep, maintenance, and fixing whatever is broken (they say if 80% of your systems are working at any given time - you are in GOOD shape...meaning, at any given time - one can expect 20% of their systems to be in some form of disrepair). Not to mention the time that will be spend provisioning, hauling diesel and water aboard, exploring the local culture, reading, writing, figuring out boat exercises, etc. etc. You pretty much have to be a numb skull to get bored. We also plan on doing service work as part of our journey - so that will keep us busy as well! (Stay tuned for what that will be - we haven't figured that out yet!)

5) What is going to be the biggest challenge?

Hmmm. Good question. Probably just getting used to living in such a small environment with the bare essentials - but this is what we are most excited about! Getting back to basics! Making our money last as long as possible will also be a challenge. Learning how to properly provision a boat is something that seems very daunting to me as well. I'm not too good in a kitchen, or a galley for that matter. Even though Scott tells me I am :)

6) Are you scared?

No! We are SOOOO excited!! Will there be "come to Jesus" moments?? Sure. But we have faith in each other and won't be making any rash or silly decisions. Plus, of all the cruisers we have met, heard, read and talked to - life at sea is "scary" maybe 5% of the time. If that. We're way more scared at the prospect of not doing this so it seems a fair trade to us!

7) What about Pirates?

Yes, there has been a lot of talk about pirates these days hasn't there? Well - typically these pirates do not target cruising boats like ours. They are going for the oil tankers - the big bucks. I say typically because at this point in 2009, there have been only 4 known pirate attacks on sailboats. 4 boats out of the hundreds of thousands that are floating the world's oceans. So is it a risk? Yes. But there is probably a greater risk of getting getting attacked by a rabid squirrel here in Chicago. It's no different from visiting another city or country - know where you are going, know the risks and act accordingly. Despite the fact that the odds are in our favor, we won't be hitting any beaches off the coast of Somalia for sundowners...that would just be stupid.

8) How much is it going to cost?

That's a very good question and one that we're constantly pondering, considering we have limited fundage. From my research it seems it will cost "whatever you have and more". Yikes. But here's the thing - so what? I have learned from my travels that once you are "out there" things have a way of just working out. I realize that might sound a bit cavalier and naive, but it's worked thus far! I went to Africa with $3,000.00 and a hope and a prayer. What did I do when I ran out of money? I got a job. Where there is a will, there is a way - and if we are resourceful I think there will be plenty of ways for Scott and I to "stay afloat" as it were. We'll probably be living hand to mouth a lot, but perhaps I'll finally learn the importance of budgeting - that all too important skill that my dad has been trying to drill into my head for the better half of my life. I find that when you don't have a choice, things really start to happen. It's good for the soul. But - to actually answer the question - we are trying to budget for about $1,000 -$1,500 per month, give or take a couple hundred here and there. That's what most people spend on rent here in Chicago. This is also why we are going with a smaller boat - the adage goes: "The bigger the boat, the bigger the bucks". Makes sense to me.

9) Will you get sick of each other?
What!?! Does the flower get sick of the sun?? Does the desert get sick of the rain? Does the skier get sick of the fresh pow-pow?? (I kid people)... OF COURSE we're going to get sick of each other! I mean, come ON. But, we'll also learn a lot about ourselves and one another. Thankfully, Scott and I are both social mavens (okay, that's a stretch) and we are hoping to make lots of friends along the way. In all seriousness though, spending that much time with anyone on a tiny boat for days on end in all sorts of crazy situations is sure to breed some interesting dynamics. We're realistic. But we also love each other a LOT, and gosh darnit, we like each other too so we are going to sail around the world together, for better or worse! :) At least we're not as nuts as this couple!

10) How long will it take?

I have just realized that I have provided a bunch of vague answers to some legitimate questions, and I am sorry to say that I am going to spoon feed you yet another ambiguous answer. We have no idea how long it will take. Some people do it in 1 year some people have taken 10 years. Some people turn cruising into their lifestyle and live as aqua gypsies for the rest of their lives! It's the same as traveling abroad - I met people who did "around the world" trips in 5 weeks (I hardly feel that is a legitimate journey - this is what travelers call "passport stamp collecting") I have also met people who have spent 2 years or more just exploring South East Asia. We are in no hurry. We're not trying to set any records. We just want to see the world as much as we can! I feel that we will end up somewhere in the middle. To be specific, I think both of us would like to see our stint last 2 years or longer, but only time will tell (sorry mom and Lisa).

Do you have more questions for us? Feel free to ask them in our comments page!

Cheers!

Brittany (and Scott)