He HATES it, She LOVES It – Moody Days Sailing Across The Pacific
It’s day five, the seas are turning moody and so are we. Jason is stuck in Groundhog Day while I buzz around in a world of amazement.
We knew crossing the Pacific Ocean would test both our sea legs, and especially Jason’s one-rollercoaster-limit stomach. He’s not sick to the point of blowing chunks off the stern but the washing machine state wears on his equilibrium. Leaving him foggy headed and lethargic.
Meanwhile, the late-night watches have me wandering around crevasses of my mind I don’t normally have the time to explore. I start a new video series, Deep-Water Thoughts, starring yours truly, that leads to long conversations even the camera can’t handle.
I have been abruptly cut off before but this one takes the cake. Best part is…I had no idea the camera died! Pha, ha ha!
For the rare few of you wondering what point I was working towards, here it is:
Respect the sea is a phrase we were often told by fellow mariners when we started sailing. I understood what the phrase meant but only from a landlocked distance. Respect, from my experience, is earned. With each voyage our respect for the sea and all its power grows. There is no substitute for experience.
He Really Doesn’t Hate It
He really doesn’t hate it. There are many aspects of boat life and sailing that Jason loves. Feeling stuck in fog and lethargic isn’t one of them. So the moody days at sea will never rank high on his list of fond memories. I think the worst part is seeing me run around the boat like a maniac, uninhibited by the conditions. It makes him feel like he’s not holding up his part of the job, which isn’t the case at all. Even in a fog Jason still functions at a high level (even if he doesn’t realize it).
Coffee Cake Recipe: gonewiththewynns.com/blueberry-coffee-cake
Gear Used
- Kitchen/Galley – You’ll find my knives, pots and more all in our gear store: gonewiththewynns.com/store
- Entertainment at Sea – Kindle: http://amzn.to/2mpGQ9K Audiobooks and podcasts are The Best on passage. Right now I am listening to Bossypants by Tina Fey and highly recommend it: https://amzn.to/2KKUtsC
- Camera Gear – All Our Camera/Computer Gear is Listed Here: gonewiththewynns.com/camera-gear-review-2017
- Sailing Specific Gear
- Quatix 5 Watches: gonewiththewynns.com/product/quatix-5-marine-watch
- Chartplotter: Garmin 7612xsv Multi-touch
- Garmin InReach: gonewiththewynns.com/product/inreach-satellite-communication-and-tracking
- iPad Mount at Helm: http://amzn.to/2fT84PG Using iPad Pro: http://amzn.to/2d9Oopf
- With These Sailing/Navigation/Weather Apps:
- iNavx: http://bit.ly/2vGgC51
- Active Captain: http://bit.ly/active_captain
- Iridium Go and Predict Wind for weather and communications: bit.ly/PredictWindIridium
- With These Sailing/Navigation/Weather Apps:
Sailing Report
We use Garmin InReach to track our sail and send updates to family & Patreons. We take a screen capture every day at 5:30pm, because that marks another 24hrs logged for our sail across the Pacific. It’s a fun way to follow along in real time and hear what’s happening on board. This video covered April 29 – May 2, 2018. Here is the screen capture from May 2. The little dots share real-time trip info and the little message pop-up is us writing to the people following along from Patreon.
Side Note!!! We did not reach a Max Speed of 20.4, that is a glitch. The fastest we’ve clocked is 16.1 and that was during a 40 knot squall.
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norman
watched again 11/5/19. Interesting that only on day 7, it’s groundhog day….. there are many more days at sea to come!
George Mueller
You may have gotten this comment before, but you are maintaining a very complex boat with a lot of systems. This ends up being a lot of work. Have you considered going smaller and simpler a la the Pardeys? It seems like sailors that do a lot of blue water sailing gravitate to smaller, simpler boats that are more bulletproof (another example, more extreme, is Webb Chiles).
Kari
I could never do this, which is why I watch you. Water terrifies me because I can’t see what’s underneath. In the dark, I don’t even like getting near water because I really can’t see! I would agree that spending time together would be awesome, but the fear – and likely sickness as well – wouldn’t be worth it for me. 🙁
Amanda
I love deep thoughts with niki. It reminds me of the episode Sunken ships & friendships when you talk about being closer to the food we eat. I think these are the thoughts we all have deep inside the mind but never let it surface because we’re always go go go. Sometimes it’s nice to go slow. Like you said sometimes it’s about the journey not the destination. Thanks for always inspiring me to live my own dream and for making bad ass videos. Cheers y’all!
Patrick Burneson
I really enjoy your videos although I am not a water person. Stay safe and happy sailing.
Anita
Finally had a chance to watch this! I was a little queasy just looking at the water. I would definitely be Jason. Although you’ve given me such a different perspective towards travel. I normally hate any flights over 8 hours but am going to Italy next year, which will be 14 hours in the air for me. I will have to remind myself at least I wasn’t in a boat in the middle of the ocean getting knocked around for days just to get there. Thank you for these great videos and hopefully you two are having a blast in FP.
V Marquart
Hi, Where can I find your blueberry coffee cake recipe? Thank you.
Curious Minion
On the main sailing page of the blog there is a tab called “recipes” with coffee cake and more! https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/sailing
TANYA ROBINSON
You two are so good together. You counter each other with strong qualities! I so enjoy and look forward to your videos!
Dave and Doris McKnight
I have followed your adventures from the start and as always love your videos. When I was younger (30’s) it was a dream to retire at 60 and sell everything and buy a sail boat and sail the south pacific. My wife was not as enthusiastic about the whole idea as I was. I was pretty naive about what was involved with the whole sea faring life scenario. I am so glad that we did not follow my dream,(I will be 60 in a month) as I see from your adventures that there is a lot of hard work and some very demanding chores that require a younger or more agile person than I am to perform. My wife and I have been snow birds for the past 5 years (we are from Saskatchewan) and had been following your RV adventures, which we both loved and could relate very much to. Since you switched to sailing I have been more interested in your travels than my wife,(she would love you two to get back on land and start RVing again). I can not tell you how much I love living the sailing life thru you two as I now know this is the only way I will get to do it. Wishing we could meet you 2 in person, lots of luck and good sailing, I will be watching for your next video with much anticipation.
Marquart Vicki
Dave, Don’t give up your dream. I am 65 and my Hubble is 72. We just bought our 1st sailboat and our enjoying part time sailing ⛵️!!
Alan Solomon
I like how you video the wild ocean waves and the sea and then the very next scene you are angling the broccoli, onions and garlic on your cutting board into a steaming pot of water in the kitchen. Two extremes showing the comfort of home with the unknown a few feet away. It confirms what you said that it is about the journey rather than the destination. I like it.
Safe travels. Thanks.
Deborah Kerr
I love the sound of the sea splashing and the moon and stars in your video – can you show a night-time sky full of stars?? I’ve heard it’s an awesome sight when you are away from “people lights” . This “passage time” is like when you’re on vacation from your normal sailing life!! lol Keep smiling!! 🙂 Oh btw, I cant see your google map of “where we are right now” thing normally at the bottom of this, last time I saw you were near Tahiti???
Curious Minion
The website is having map issues at the moment and the website guru is working on it. Nikki & Jason are currently anchored along the NW shore of Tahiti.
William L Stitt
Other than the piece of rug you attached to the hole, Isn’t there anything aft to control a following sea?
Warren
Hehe, darn that bat-tree! Not to pile on but I was thinking the same thing about a pdf/line tether as I watched. I’m unfamiliar with cat boats, prolly less of an concern, but I see I’m not alone.
Judy
I never see you wear life vests. Why don’t you need them?
Roger B
Another great informational video. Communicating your thoughts and feelings adds to the overall level of bringing your life to the screen for all to learn and enjoy. Thank you.
Richard Whitney
You may have covered it but why didnt you stop off at the Galapagos Islands? Thought that would make a good break time wise and a very interesting place.
Curious Minion
The Galapagos is such a sensitive and unique ecosystem that it would have required hauling Curiosity out in Ecuador to have the hull cleaned. With all the other issues of waiting for visas and Jason flying to Texas, there just wasn’t time and energy to deal with a haul out.
Lisa Cantrell
I love watching you guys on this journey but sometimes even watching the video I get seasick. I grew up sailing and living on a Caribbean island but each trip involved Dramamine, Saltines and Ginger Ale and me sitting quietly (or pouting) quietly feeling yucky so I completely understand Jason’s feelings. Then I discovered the seasick wrist bands. Jason, have you tried them. They work with acupressure and if you are a contortionist you can do it with your fingers (about an inch below your wrist) but I highly recommend them. I ended up getting them when I was getting certified as a diver and we’d go out on boats that sat and lurched about. I wore them the day of my test, absolutely positive I’d be puking in my regulator but lo and behold, despite really rough seas and 2 hours I was fine.
Also, been meaning to tell you that my brother’s old friend Kevin Heminway lives in Tahiti and owns KH Surfboards Designs which includes SUPs. I figure you’ll be getting over there but if you want to contact him his info is
m.me/311121369654606
[email protected]
http://www.kevinheminwaytahitiansurfboarddesigns.com
Call +689 87 72 51 56
Elaine L
You and Jason have truly inspired us. We just finished binge-watching all of your sailing videos from the beginning and can say that doing so convinced me at long last that we can do the same! So we had our first yard sale this last weekend in the first step on our journey to becoming world sailors!
Fair winds and soothing seas to you both! Thank you!!
Misha
Proberly it was good the batt was failing just then, My own thoughts it was a long passage for just the two of you , maybe three or four of you would make the lack of sleep counter the problems of extra crew. But Nikki was more upbeat all the way so Jasons lack of sleep effects him more in real terms, tiredness effects in different ways for each person , its a note for the future referance long journeys means more crew basic less workload for everyone. Whilst we no you made the whole trip in one , the frame of mind for the next big trip needs to be analized and planned more to suit the charactor , Food for thought !
Sandra & the 2 Spaniels
You are truly awesome, Nikki! All of that wash machine action, and you are cooking, cleaning, smiling……I’d be hanging on & whining. Get going on that cookbook-fans are waiting! And what is with the spotted kitty? That Singa just rolls with the rolls, sailing, surfing, fishing, fixing stuff! He is a one of a kind.
Garry Rodriguez
Love you both.your free. Free to wear a vest or not. Your free. Love the kitties too.
Eldon Arkinstall
I love thinking that right now, RIGHT NOW, you guys are out there sailing, and isn’t that nice. Right now, I’m here and isn’t that nice too. Oh, I was thinking about doing videos too, and wanted to call it the Sailing Philosopher, but you beat me to it! Too funny.
Paul Davis
Not finding a link to that oven-baking thingy that you made the coffee cake in. Can you enlighten?
Curious Minion
All their faves are in the Gear Store section of the blog. https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/product/grill-griddler
Paul Davis
Actually, the oven isn’t there. But there’s a reason for that … it’s discontinued (for some time). It is mentioned on the blueberry coffee cake recipe. (Cuisinart Central Tabletop Oven). Annoying that it has been discontinued – I’ve been looking for something like that. But it was also a 1700W device, so too big for the context I wanted it for. Oh well 🙂
Curious Minion
It is there, with an explanation that it’s been discontinued and a suggested replacement oven: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/product/cuisinart-countertop-oven
Vicki
Did you find the coffe cake recipe? I have been looking for it?
Curious Minion
On the main sailing page of the blog there is a tab called “recipes” with coffee cake and more! https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/sailing
mary vancompernolle
Jason, genetics? Look closely at your genetics. You are not missing anything there!! They are as strong like Nikki’s, she just has a LOT of determination ( I would use another 5 letter word here that starts with a “b”) for a woman!! This is why we all love her so much!!!
Butch Misskelley
I enjoy your videos and adventures. You’re living a dream that many have thought of but never can do. I look forward to your next video smooth sailing and stay safe.
Susan
Have you two had enough of looking at water all day and all night yet? Ready to go back to RVing? Loved your RV adventures! You two seemed to have more fun RVing. Thinking of you both every day hoping you and your kitties are ok. Stay safe!
Mike
The Max speed of 20.4… Do you suppose it might be ground speed (including surfing) added to lift speed (wave, causing you to rise)? I can remember days at sea, where on a 50 foot power boat, the sensation of lift and acceration and surfing (due to following seas) was awesome. Cheers!
Bob Sprengel
“Respect the ocean,” you say. I have to second the concern of James Dillon on your lack of wearing a pfd while on deck. A calm sea can claim a soul as quickly as a raging one. It only takes seconds to put on and take off. Your laissez faire attitude may one day haunt you, but I hope not.
Don Lyons
Nikki, have you thought of putting together a Cook Book? Your meals look very appealing and healthful. I’d buy a copy, and bet a lot of other followers would , too.
James Dillon
Safe passage to you both> I am concerned we seldom see you on singular watch with an inflatable life vest and a line tether/ even when in the cockpit? Rogue waves have claimed many sailors. Curious on your thought process? Take care. Jamie – your greatest Canadian fan !
Mike M
Both feet on the ground here in Austin but really enjoying your trip. With rocking and rolling days like you are having now, I know it must be challenging to come up with interesting content to show us all. Somehow you make it happen. We appreciate the effort and thank you for allowing us to share the experience! At the same time hoping the mighty sea will take a day or more off to allow you smoother sailing. Looking forward to your next update!
Steve and Janette Sanne
We hope this past Hurricane has not caused you any problems. Praying for you all. Have fun!
SV Avighna
What vacuum are you now using? The small white canister with green wheels…
Ausbin G. Pippin,
Really enjoy all of your videos and your sharing of your adventures that to a lot of us is only a dream. Be safe and enjoy your sail. Will be looking forward to your next post.