About

A timelime of how we got here:

Fall, 2003:  Met in the Theater Department at SUNY Albany.  Timing isn’t right, though the attraction is undeniable.

Fall, 2004:   Timing is right!  Girl asks boy to marry him on NYE 2004.  Some think we are crazy, we know we are, but we plan to be crazy together!

Fall, 2005:  A crazy Vizsla puppy named Riley joins the crew.

Fall, 2006:  We get hitched, and honeymoon in Negril, Jamaica.  We spent most of our time learning to sail a Hobie Cat, or at least sitting on one and drifting, we loved it .  Upon return home it’s decided – we need a boat.

Late summer, 2007:  First boat is an O’Day Daysailer II (17′).  After attempting to put to use the knowledge accrued from a year of reading “Sailing for Dummies”  it is agreed that a sailing class should be taken.

Spring-Summer, 2008:  Sailing classes on Lake George.  Sailing as much as possible on Saratoga Lake where the winds are fluky, but a lot is learned.

Summer 2010:  It is time for a change – an upending change, one to shake life up a bit.  NY winters are too cold, we were sick of working to pay for a house, and we need to buy a larger boat and sail away.  After a novice boat search we almost  bought a Down Easter 32, we decided to back away after the marine survey, which was a blessing in disguise.

Fall 2010:  We had to bust out of NY, boat or no boat, so we borrowed our parents RV and a course South was plotted.  You can read about that journey here:  Changing Course

Winter 2010-2013:  Our new home –  Key Largo, FL.  We found new friends,  kept the old (one is silver and …) and stumbled onto some amazing mentors.  We found jobs on the water: Bill – on tour boats,  Trisha – paddle boards.  An O’Day 22′ sailboat was our new ride and skills were honed.  Opportunities to crew on sailboat deliveries were found:  Key Largo – Panama, and through the canal; Miami to the BVI; USVI to Norfolk, VA.  Sea miles and knowledge of boats was amassed.  Bill went and got his Merchant Marine Masters license (100 ton boat captain’s license).

Summer – Fall 2013:  The “itch” to go cruising on our own boat reared it’s head again.  After a few months of searching and our bucket of knowledge a bit more full she came to us.  Wanderer  was waiting for us in our backyard, well pretty close: Coconut Grove, FL.  She was/is the nicest, best maintained boat, close to home in our price range.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Winter 2013 – 2014:  Projects, projects, projects!  Some sailing too.  All getting ready for the departure in April, 2014 (fingers crossed).

April 2014:  We leave for cruising but a week into the cruise we need to replace the transmission aboard Wanderer and shortly after the diesel tank.  Once that’s done we take off for real.

May – September 2014:  Our cruise takes us through the Florida Keys, across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas.  There we explore the islands of Bimini, The Berry’s, and the Abacos.  We come back to Florida and decide to head North for the remainder of Hurricane season and wind up in Charleston, SC.

October 2014:  Five great weeks spend in Charleston getting our “big city” fix after spending years in small town Key Largo, and months in remote island anchorages.  After a brief visit back to Key Largo via car we realize that is where we feel most at “home”.  Plans are made to head back South.

November 2014 – May 2015:  Living aboard Wanderer in Key Largo, FL.  Working on the “cruising kitty” and enjoying scuba diving, paddleboarding, and friends.

September 2015: The original Wanderer goes on to a new owner.

November 29, 2015: Baby Finley joins the crew!

April 2016 – present: Relocation to Florida’s Gulf Coast to pursue some new opportunities.  Planning to cruise again!