PAGE 8 • AUTUMN 2005 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
LIVING THE DREAM
continued from page 4
we crossed to the Abacos. Of course, Mary
had a full two weeks to recover after
giving birth before setting sail again.
Finding paradise
The Abacos in the northern Bahamas was
the perfect place for our family adventure,
plenty of tropical islands to explore, but
never more than a day-sail away from a
store in which to replenish our Pampers
supply.
Upon reaching the Abacos, we dropped the
hook in Moraine Key, where there was
nothing but a barrier reef separating us
from the Atlantic Ocean. My oldest son, full
of wonder, asked in a hushed tone, “Dad,
is this paradise?” I replied in the deepest
voice I could muster, “Why yes son, yes it
Phinehas and Caleb rouse their friend Samuel aboard Kittyhawk early on a
rainy morning.
is.” The older boys dove in with their
spears to hunt dinner with me while the
Back on the Chesapeake Bay, with summer classes in
younger kids took the dinghy to the beach with mom to
full swing, we decided to move ashore for a while. Our
explore. Gathered back in the cockpit that evening, we
boat is being used in our sailing programs and for
feasted on fresh fish and conch chowder while telling of
instruction; yet, on every visit to Seven @ Sea, our hearts
our exciting adventures of the day.
are warmed with memories and our imaginations run wild
dreaming of future voyages. While assessing if we can
Cruising aboard a sailboat is a fantastic family
set off again to distant shores in the fall, my perspective
activity. Of course, challenges abound, such as the
is, “How can we afford not to?”
time the dinghy engine conked out, stranding my wife
ashore while I had a very hungry and upset nursing
Jeff Bowen manages a non-profit sailing school in the
infant aboard. But working through each situation
Washington DC area that teaches sailing to at-risk teens.
became something we overcame together. The kids
He is back at work but already dreaming of the next family
help maintain the boat, trim sails, plot courses,
adventure.
forecast the weather and each one takes his or her
turn on watch.
We were pleasantly surprised to find many cruising
families who taught us much about living aboard. Our
children have built in radar that senses kids on other
boats even before we anchor. They now have friends
WHO AM I?
from the Abacos, South America, Europe and Africa.
Funny, it has been months since our kids have watched
TV, played video games or seen most of their shore-side
toys, yet they have not asked for nor missed the stuff of
home. Although the confines of living aboard with five
children has its frustrations, cruising has allowed us to
savor every minute of their youth. I wish we could have
stayed in the Bahamas indefinitely!
With the exception of a few offshore jaunts, on the trip
south, our timid crew stuck to the protected bays and
rivers of the Intracoastal Waterway. On the way home
though, we made the trip in a series of three offshore
voyages, which really made us feel like a “seasoned
ANSWER ON THE ASA WEBSITE AT WWW.ASA.COM
cruising family.”
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