Typical Day In The Life of A Sailor
A typical day in the life of a sailor sounds like a bit of an oxymoron because there isn’t anything typical about it. But, there are a few things we can count on.
Stuff will break, the weather will change, and friends will be made.
When it comes to life on a sailboat there are passage days, marina days, boat yard days, days at anchor and probably more. Each of them present their own set of challenges and rewards.
This is what we call a coastal cruise day. We’re moving anchorages, but it’s a short sail that leaves time for exploring. It’s Jason’s fave because it feels like a satisfying day without totally wearing you out. While I can’t think of two days that have ever felt the same since we moved aboard, this is as typical as it gets for us as cruisers.
Hot showers and air conditioning! That is cruiser heaven right there (minus the gene running). We were razzing them about it, but it’s just because we were jealous. Our A/C officially died we arrived in French Polynesia and a hot shower is indeed a luxury we don’t often get.
We have to give a big ol’ shout out to all our Texas friends! While you may or may not pick up on our Texas twang, theirs was the sound of home. I could hear them clear across the other side of the grocery store. I almost thought my Aunt’s had flown in to surprise us. We were looking at curry paste options when we heard “Y’all, they don’t have any Chardonnay”.
We about busted a gut! Here we are half way around the world in Huahine, French Polynesia and Texas women are hollerin’ between isles about the lack of Chardonnay. It was the most foreign sound and instantly transported us home.
Of course, all we had to do was say hello and the rest is history. We left Texas almost ten years ago and it is true what they say. Everything is bigger in Texas and that includes the heart of the people that reside there.
🐠 Coral Gardeners
We’ve seen everything from beautiful, healthy coral to rocky wastelands all through French Polynesia (and most everywhere we’ve visited). It’s always sad to see, and from what we’ve learned, it’s not one specific cause that kills the coral but more of a combination of factors. Too many humans (tourism. yikes…that includes us), pollution (organic and non-organic), the digging of canals, disease, destructive fishing practices, warming oceans, cyclones…and the list goes on. There are a couple of local organizations we’ve learned about that are working to conserve and restore these areas. The Coral Gardeners organization seems super cool and involves a lot of the youth.
Don’t worry kids, we found Nemo…but I don’t think he wanted to be found.
🌊 Trashy Oceans
I know we just talked about plastics in our last video and I don’t want to portray Huahine as a trashy place, because it isn’t! We find plastic floating all around us, all the time. Even hundreds of miles from land. It gets tumbled down from land by wind or rain, gathered up by ocean currents and carried all over the world. From Florida to French Polynesia, no stretch of water has been rubbish free.
We’re far, far from perfect with our habits and certainly contribute our fair share of garbage to the world. But we are trying terribly to be more mindful of all the disposable and single use things in our life.
We pledged to go #plasticfree when we signed up as ambassadors for 5gyres and we’re learning more all the time. If you are interested, this article is chalk full of information and tips on plastic alternatives: https://www.5gyres.org/s/5Gyres_BANlist2.pdf
🙏 THANK YOU!
Sharing our lives and what we learn along the way is possible because of viewers like you. If you like what you see, there are lots of FREE ways you can show your support. Thank you for being a part of the journey.
RESOURCES & GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
⛵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 Apps:
- iNavx: http://bit.ly/2vGgC51
- Active Captain: http://bit.ly/active_captain
- Weather, Messaging & Email: gonewiththewynns.com/product/iridium-go-predictwind
- Our Anchor: gonewiththewynns.com/product/mantus-anchor
🎥 OUR CAMERA GEAR 📷
- Sony rx10: https://amzn.to/2QAHxwx
- Underwater Housing & Sony rx100: gonewiththewynns.com/product/productsony-dsc-rx100m-iii-cyber-shot-digital-still-camera
- Go Pro: https://amzn.to/2ALaz3d
- Drone: https://amzn.to/2VQ2pzi
Scuba Gear
- Nikki
- Freedive Mask With Camera Mount http://amzn.to/2d5C6SB
- Freedive Snorkel: http://amzn.to/2cjh3dV
- Freediving Fins: http://amzn.to/2kIYmlf
- BC/Reg//Octopus/Dive Computer Set up: https://amzn.to/2GmypV0
Jason
- Atomic Mask: http://amzn.to/2uuqsZf
- Freediving Snorkel: http://amzn.to/2uxCjEb
- Freediving Fins: http://amzn.to/2kIhljK
- BC/Reg//Octopus/Dive Computer Set up: https://amzn.to/2GmypV0
🎶AWESOME tunes:
- Source: http://bit.ly/artlist-gwtw
SAILING REPORT
To see our full map with interactive pins, click here: gonewiththewynns.com/map
Huahine, French Polynesia
- Anchorage: Teapaa Bay, Huahine, French Polynesia
- Date: November 2018
Allain T
When ocean sailing, when you can’t anchor. Are there any nights where you can both sleep, or do you always have to have one of you awake, at all times?
Curious Minion
Someone should be awake at all times. You need to keep a lookout for other boats, floating debris (like shipping containers that fall off transport ships all the time), and squalls that might blow up and require changes to sails or course. Nikki and Jason have found a good watch schedule that works for them and it’s not bad once you get used to it.
Curious Minion
Allain T
Thank you 🙂
john phillips
being a retired PI and bounty hunter with about 60 years in the business, raised in Oak Cliff , lived right behind the Texas theater , went to school with J.D.T ippets kids , my father grew up with JD my life has been in a not so calm if you will environment.
25 years sober , active blackout drinker before, lived in Florida Keys many years on small sail boat , in and out of country music business, knew everyone from Gene Watson, Micky Gilley and of course Jimmy Buffet, Willy Nelson to Ray Price and Waylon Jennings and Tommy Overstreet
Ray Price and i Went to the same high school W.H.Adamson on Beckley in Oak Cliff.
My question is since i’ve never been without arments , ever….and knowing the lack of modesty amongst boating and drinking and partying how on earth does one maintain security when foreign countries dont allow you to carry protection while traveling .
i have obviously lived a wired if you will life.
Wayne McPhail
I am Judy McPhail. I go with Wayne who posts little quips frequently. We love you both and the kitties especially. We have a 53′ Hatteras Motor Sailor…..Our Miss Patches travels with us once in a while when the part of the family with allergy’s aren’t aboard
If you come up the Chesapeake Bay again. Let us know…..we have space for you anytime
Alan Solomon
That was a great video as usual. Awesome Sting Ray.
Thanks,
Roger B
Did you know that when you’re snorkeling in Molokini Maui that you cannot have sunscreen on because that kills the coral reefs also?
Nikki Wynn
There are lots of reef safe sunscreens out there. Not all sunscreens are bad. You can learn loads from this website: https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/
Roger B
Great information. Thank you and I’ll pass it on.
Nikki Wynn
My pleasure!
John Gangl
One thing I alway wonder about is the temperature and humidity where you are. I’ve been following you for quite a few years now and do notice while sailing you rarely wear a jacket/sweater so it must be warm but not sure how warm.
Have fun sailing!
Nikki Wynn
Yes, globally temps are rising but it’s very noticeable here in the South Pacific. They have had record temps both ambient and in the water. It is warm, warm and then hot, hotter and then warm. 😉 No sweaters needed.
Peter
I need to put at least a 100 thumbs up , after watching your videos , its like in the days of watching Dallas , or Downton Abbey ,
Nikki Wynn
Oh you had me at Downton Abbey…we LOVE that show! I can’t believe you even think of us at the same time as Downton Abbey, what a killer compliment. Thank you.
Pam
Where can I get a bathingsuit coverup lime your yellow one? Love it.
Nikki Wynn
It is just a strip of fabric…lightweight cotton/linen blend. 🙂
David Burnett
You write so well Nikki – full of empathy and passion, yes, but also just well written!
Nikki Wynn
Awe, you just don’t know what that means to me. I do try my best to convey the experience and my thoughts. Stoked to know that every once in a while it all connects. Thank you!
Don Capellani
Love that John Deere hat Helps pay my wife’s pension 🚜🚜🚜💰💰💰
Black Duck
As always a great video. (I flip over to youtube to deliver a ‘like’..am I missing something or is there a way to do that here -anyway I believe the ‘algorithm appreciates it?). Watching this from a Lagoon 450 in Croatia – I am in awe of your ability to keep the boat and the quality videos coming. My hat is off.
Nikki Wynn
The likes are for the people who watch over on YouTube (because YouTube judges us based on how many comments and likes we get). Your comment here is so very loved and I love you even more for caring enough to ask about the “like button”. Maybe we will catch you at an anchorage one day! Where is your next destination? Croatia is on my bucket list!
Patti Jennings
Always a joy to watch your video’s. Especially when the information brings to light the most horrible facts of the marine life. I was heartbroken to see the vast miles of dead coral, even if it was sparingly glittered with coral and reef marine life. The trashy river you filmed is even more disturbing. We have so many programs for recycling and adopting areas of highway/land/property to clear of garbage strewn around. Don’t we need more groups like that to focus on sections of the rivers, oceans, bays, and inlets? There should be an international organization of Coral Gardener’s. Perhaps there is, and, I’m not aware of it?
Nikki Wynn
It is nutty isn’t it. The rubbish problem is serious and yet so many of us don’t know about it. From what I am learning it all starts on land (because that is where the rubbish originates), so the local programs in your own community do make a difference! We are volunteer ambassadors for 5Gyres which does a ton of cleanup, research, education and more. You can volunteer with them too or just use their website as a way to learn about what is going on and what we can each do to help. We’re working hard to eliminate single use products (especially plastics) from our daily lives. Then, as things on the boat break or die, we’re researching hard to try and find better, more earth friendly alternatives. Like the broken AC…wholly molly that is a black hole. Turns out air conditioners seriously bad for the environment but I am determined to try and find someone doing something innovative.
Daniel
I just finished viewing the 160 episodes of you two becoming master sailors. Thanks a lot for sharing your (almost) daily life with us. You are an amazing young couple and lovely people, not to mention your two funny cats who seem to live happily on a boat. It’s amazing to see how fast you learned the skills needed not only to survive, but more importantly to enjoy each new day. You once mentioned that you had no “goal”, except to enjoy the adventures you undertake. My sincere congratulations ! Keep going and we will continue to enjoy the little messages the two you allow us to relive in your company.
Cordially,
Daniel
Nikki Wynn
Daniel, I feel like I owe you a beer after that comment. Thanks for being a part of the journey! Such an honor to have you along.
Richard Savage
Great video, as it’s got to be nice to get a taste of being back home while your gone as much as you are. Is there a reason you two don’t run your AC more?
Curious Minion
It died right after they reached FP and couldn’t be revived. They may look at replacing it somewhere further along their travels.
Curious Minion
Nikki Wynn
Our AC broke on the way to French Polynesia. It’s old and not reparable. We may or may not replace it.