No Brownies. No Cakes. Just Squalls. Happy Birthday Sailor!
Being at sea is like the crest and trough of the waves we sail over, up one second and down the next. This passage, like all great adventures, has it’s trying moments.
We’re sailing for the Tuamotus and it’s Jason’s birthday. I had planned to bake up a storm, but Mother Nature beat me to it.
This passage marked another first. It was the first time Jason has ever thrown up while sailing on Curiosity. We’ve sailed over 10,000 nautical miles but this was the passage where he had to reach for the bucket. Luckily, it was just once and then he felt better.
He now describes that day to me as, “the 2nd worst birthday ever.” The worst was when he was ten and his parents gifted him a barbie doll. Apparently, he had popped off one to many doll heads from his sister’s collection and this was his payback. It was a joke of course, but he still doesn’t think it was funny.
Considering his hit list for worst birthdays ever, I think he’s had a pretty good 37 years. (Happy Birthday Old Man!)
As we were editing this video we kept thinking: it almost looks like we’re suffering from bipolar disorder. This is great…this sucks…look, its great again…wait a minute.
But that is the thing. Sailing life and passage making isn’t always rainbows and picture perfect sunsets. As with any grand adventure, the challenges don’t make it undesirable. Some would argue that the difficult bits are where the real adventure begins.
Imagine a photo of a woman on the cover of National Geographic. She has icicles for hair, wind burned cheeks and a dry, cracked lip smile. She is smiling because she just reached the summit of Matterhorn, one of the most dangerous mountains in the world. What do you think when you picture her?
I think, Now That Is An Adventure! But I have no doubts that she cursed, spit and had some setbacks during her journey.
It wouldn’t be much of an adventure if there wasn’t any adversity. Plus, the moments of challenge (physical or mental) are what make for good stories at the pub.
So, if you see us struggling, know we appreciate those moments too. Because sometimes we’re having a great day and thank the storm for all its might, beauty, and the rainbow it leaves behind. Other times we just want to tell the storm to stick its rainbow where the sun doesn’t shine.
Either way, we keep adjusting our sails and as long as we’re still floating, it’s a damned good day.
Big Thanks!
Sharing our lives and what we learn along the way is possible because of viewers like you. Thank You! We’re here because of and for you. If you like what you see, there are lots of FREE ways you can show your support.
RESOURCES & GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
In The Galley
- All Kitchen Faves: gonewiththewynns.com/store
Entertainment at Sea
- Kindle: http://amzn.to/2mpGQ9K Audiobooks and podcasts are The Best on passage.
- Currently listening to: The Butterfly Effect (insanely fascinating!), https://amzn.to/2KMWFkT
Camera Gear
- Sony rx10: https://amzn.to/2QAHxwx
- Virb: gonewiththewynns.com/product/virb
- Sony rx0: https://amzn.to/2PcVMm8
Sailing Specific Gear
- Chartplotter: https://amzn.to/2xHqxsV
- Garmin InReach: gonewiththewynns.com/product/inreach-satellite-communication-and-tracking
- iPad Mount at Helm: https://amzn.to/2RWRz95 Using iPad Pro: http://amzn.to/2d9Oopf
- Sailing/Navigation/Weather Apps:
- iNavx: http://bit.ly/2vGgC51
- Active Captain: http://bit.ly/active_captain
- Weather, Messaging & Email: gonewiththewynns.com/product/iridium-go-predictwind
AWESOME tunes for vids: http://bit.ly/artlist-gwtw Artists Used In This Video: LUMINAR, Giants and Pilgrims, Eill
SAILING REPORT
To see our full map with interactive pins, click here: gonewiththewynns.com/map
- Dates: June 22-23, 2018
- Passage: Day 2 and 3, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas to Manihi, Tuamotu
vandir
thanks
Michael
Happy birthday, Captain Jason! Say, you could always go up the mast and stay there awhile. Coming down would seem like heaven.
Jen
The music is so ominous this episode. Definitely played on the isolation. Maybe a strange correlation… but it made me think about UFOs. Ever see anything strange out there in the skys?
Jason Wynn
ha, i did see a massive ball of fire enter the atmosphere then explode into 4 pieces that slowly flew into the sea…it was pretty weird and had my mind going. somethings out there 🙂
Yvan
I love this stmt: “… we keep adjusting our sails and as long as we’re still floating, it’s a damned good day.” It’s becoming my quote of the month !!!
Thanks for a different perspective of what living on a sailboat looks like.
Take care…
Jason Wynn
Haha, yep 🙂
Joyce Barnes
Happy birthday Jason. You share your day with our son, but he’s 49 this year
Jason Wynn
Usually I’m happy my Birthday is one of longest days of the year (in North America) but I couldn’t wait for this one to be over 🙂
Nicole
I have two things! First, I cannot seem to find what the name of the song is when you’re filming the waves and the rain! I love the bass it has! Most definitely a good cruiser! Do you think you could maybe start posting the music y’all choose as well! I really do enjoy your taste!
Second, we are almost birthday twins! 🤗 Summer solstice, June 21/22 is no joke the longest days ever and I cannot imagine being out at sea like that! A dream! But sheesh! It looked rough! Have you found anything that maybe makes that easier for you??
Curious Minion
Hey Nicole. I can’t tell you the name of the song, but Nikki always lists the artists at the end of each blog post, so that’ll at least get you started.
Curious Minion
Dave West
Happy Birthday Jason!
Jason Wynn
Thanks Dave!
paciii
Best wishes to Jason for your birthday, whenever you get around to celebrating it!! We delay birthdays all the time in our family.
I did have a question, which may have been answered earlier, but missed in my binge watching of all of your videos in just a couple weeks time… I seem to remember it being mentioned that something monitored if either of you or the cats went overboard while underway, but I don’t recall ever hearing details of how that worked. Is that correct , and if so, could someone mention what does it? Thanks, and best wishes that all the rest of your long-term visa paperwork can be accomplished without problems. (And that you can find real kitty litter for C&S 🙂 )
Curious Minion
There’s nothing that will sound an alarm when anyone falls overboard. However, their flotation harnesses (which they wear when weather is bad or they’re alone on deck) do have lights and a transponder that will emit a signal so the person left on the boat can home in on the signal. The cats aren’t allowed out when weather is bad.
Curious Minion
Nikki Wynn
We do have a Man Overboard AIS which you can learn more about here: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/product/man-overboard-ais It does connect with our helm and does set off an alarm that not only alerts us there is a Man Overboard but also any other vessels in the area.
Alan Solomon
Happy Birthday Jason. 23, right?
Nicki, those cookies were thick, Chocolate Chip Cookies make everything better.
All through your sailing, Cleo and Singa have had great Sea Legs, great stomachs and care-free attitudes.
Enjoy,
Nikki Wynn
Big, chewy chocolate chip cookies are one of our faves! I have shared my recipe here: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/category/recipes
Diana T.
Jason actually looks green at one point! Not fair at all. Hoping a wonderful adventure is just around the corner to make up for the challenges of this passage. ❤️
Jason Wynn
Ha, crossing an ocean is the only way I’m going to get to live in Tahiti and Bora Bora…so I’d say it’s worth it 🙂
Eric
A man I once knew, who climbed Everest, skied across Antarctica, and scaled El Capitan numerous times, once told me “it’s not an adventure until something goes wrong”.
Words to live by
Nikki Wynn
Ha ha, so very true!
Robert Dawson
Happy birthday Jason, hope you are feeling better.Hope you got a Chance to celebrate. Happy sailing, so enjoy traveling along.Bob here near Annapolis Md
Jason Wynn
Once I ‘let it out’ I felt 100% better. Now it’s time to play 🙂
Robert Dawson Daw
Happy birthday Jason, hope you are feeling better.Hope you got a Chance to celebrate. Happy sailing, so enjoy traveling along.Bob here near Annapolis Md
Mike
Best wishes for your next adventure; be safe
Roger B
Happy Birthday Jason. A sea sick and exhaustion Birthday you’ll probably never forget. Me too. I want to see how you pull in the big one on your fishing line.
Jason Wynn
Sailing for me is definitely a rollercoaster, one minute I love it and the next I’m done with it…but in general it’s all good 🙂
Christina Stilwell
I guys. I’m really concerned about your rash. I’m a nurse & it looks like ringworms to me. I’ve had my share of them. I can look @ a cat & get one. You must change your towels after each use & put LIQUID ANTIFUNGAL MEDICATION on them & wash your hand all the time. They are highly contagious.
That is want my Doctor has told me to use & the liquid goes a long way on a few drops. Pricey but works very well.
I really am trying to save you a trip to the doctors Office.
I love your videos. Be safe out there.
Chris from Missouri
Curious Minion
In the previous episode they visited the hospital and got treatment for it. It’s a rash caused by exposure to taro plant and/or mangoes.
Nikki Wynn
I guarantee you it is not ringworm. It is indeed an allergic rash from mangoes which is very much like poison ivy. Because we didn’t know what was causing it at that moment, we were continually exposing ourselves to the mango sap…which is why it is so severe. Lesson learned and now no more rash. 😉
Michael
How long does it take to go away?
Bruce McCaskey
Can’t wait to see how you bring in the fish on that set-up, especially if it’s a big one. There appears to be no pole or reel, just a shock absorbing connection between the line and the boat.
My father used to talk about catching huge sturgeon on “hand lines” in the lower Columbia River back in the 1920’s using only gloves and a tight grip on the line. He always said it could be a real challenge to control the big ones and it was important to never wrap the line around any finger you were fond of. He also said to always hand-over-hand the line when letting it out, never let the line slip/slide between your fingers because it could cut through even leather gloves, although they used heavy cotton gloves.
As I said, can’t wait to see how this turns out as I’ve never actually seen a hand line used before.
Nikki Wynn
Hand lines are super easy to use and I (nikki) have easily reeled in 5ft barracudas. I think its easier than the pole honestly. Hopefully we can demonstrate one day soon. 😉
Brian
Another great video, thanks for sharing. What kind of rig was that towards the end you were fishing with? How do you reel in a fish with that? Thanks again, love your adventures.
Nikki Wynn
It’s a called a hand line and a quick search on the internet will do a better job of showing you how its done. 😉 They are great and super easy to use.
John Flynn
Happy birthday to Jason!
Jason Wynn
Merci 🙂