Contemplating an Atlantic crossing

I met Justin sailing, and one of the first conversations we ever had had to do with sailing to remote places, over the big ocean.  Adventure appealed to both of us then, and it has kept us wandering in the 17 years since we met.

For the past few months, we’ve been focused on bluewater sailing – that is, taking our J/120 out into the big, blue ocean – and what we would have to do to feel comfortable making a trip like this on this boat.  Making endless lists; reading new approaches (many things have changed) to systems, sailing and life aboard; and discussing lessons we’ve learned previously in our own offshore adventures down the Pacific coast of the US and Mexico have become routine parts of our day.  I’m excited at the thought of seeing how the boat “voyages” and to get back to the simplicity of focusing on offshore sailing – daily routines become simplified, and there is a sense of quietude on an offshore boat that I have never experienced onshore.  I’m even more excited at the possibility of seeing more of Europe from the boat, with our dogs (we’ll figure that out, I’m sure!).  What I’m most nervous about: being away from our dogs for a lengthy time.  The other niggling thoughts of course have to do with risk calculation of what such an endeavor takes and hoping that our OCD planning and work will get everything done in time…but that’s dealt with by trying to take action on something on one of our lists.

It’s a big deal for me, the kind that gives you butterflies in the stomach when you allow yourself to think about it – the first real crossing, not just offshore sailing down a continent – wow!

We’re committing to moving forward on this plan with everything that we can control, and with luck, everything will fall into place so that we can take this adventure.  After all, by some calculations, I only have an estimated 16,095 days and some-odd hours left to live, so I’m going to try to make them count.