“It’s just different… you know?” A cackle from the wood stove intercepted my conversation. Cleo curled up at my feet as we absorbed the warmth from the flames while chatting with Ruth from SV Rediviva over the phone. It had been seven months since we last saw Avocet, which...
And Here is Why By: Marissa Neely “The boat will not tip over, the boat will not tip over, the boat will not tip over even if you try” The silly and whimsical song by Emily of S/V Temptress played on repeat in my head as my mantra while our boat, Avocet, bashed north in the Sea...
Stick around until the end for an important announcement... Winter '24 Ahoy readers! As 2024 comes to a close, I am feeling extra nostalgic lately as we reflect on our year and make plans for the next. We kicked off 2024 in Puerto Peñasco finishing up boat projects before...
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to spread holiday cheer than with gifts perfect for the salty sailors and minimalists in your life? After nearly six years aboard Avocet, we've learned that the most cherished gifts are often those that make life easier, spark...
Inside Chris's Tool Bag Hello, readers! Chris here. It’s a rare occasion for me to write (rest assured, Marissa did edit this), but she urged me to sit down and share some of my favorite tools we have aboard Avocet. I’ve taken the liberty of sorting them for you: I have a lot...
It can’t be this tough…I thought as I fiddled with the tray. Well, what would be a tray if I could figure out how to get it out of the arm rest. It was my first time in first class, and it was showing. We had spent the past week pregaming for this trip with our friends from SV...
“Marissa, please” Chris pleaded from the “arrivals” sidewalk. He had just flown home from a shoot where he filmed a TV show with Richard Branson in New York City. Despite his week-long absence, I was less than eager to leave our car unattended at the airport to help him schlep...
As the temperatures start to drop and summer fades into fall, a unique buzz fills the air for sailing enthusiasts—it's sailboat show season! From the East Coast to the West, and even beyond U.S. shores, these events draw boaters, dreamers, and adventurers from all walks of life...
I’ll never forget the feeling of sailing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, into San Francisco Bay. The sun was shining, and the famous fog stretched its fingers into our horizon that was a mix of city scape and islands. This was our first destination after casting off for...
We bought our boat in 2018 and spent four years preparing her for the adventures that awaited us beyond the horizon. Now, with many miles behind us, we are deeply grateful for the work we put into her before setting sail. While we undertook numerous cosmetic projects, like...
