26 COMMENTS

Wayfinder Update

Just spent a month in St. Francis Bay looking over the build of Wayfinder. Here’s the video I shot on the last day:

I’m now in Cape Town, and won’t be back to St. Francis Bay until early August. At that point, the boat should be close to going into the water. It still doesn’t feel real. I remember this feeling when I bought my first sailboat in Baltimore back in 1995. My friend Scott and I crawled through the boat, filled it with supplies and sailed down to Charleston with all kinds of crazy adventures along the way.

There’s something about living at sea that just feels right to me. I could have spent the same amount of money on a house, a car, property taxes, power bills, water bills, cable, internet, etc., and I wouldn’t be nearly as happy. With a boat, you are self-sufficient. You make your own water and power. You catch as much of your food as possible. And when you move from place to place, you take everything with you.

I look forward to taking you all with me on this trip, whoever wants to follow along. A lot of writing to do. A lot of reading. A lot of learning.

26 responses to “Wayfinder Update”

  1. Melissa Alexander Avatar
    Melissa Alexander

    I’ll be following — and not just because I plan to do the same in… *checks calendar*… 5 years, 11 months. (Well, that’s when the house goes on the market. We may start the build on the boat then and spend a year or two driving the US and Canada before sailing.)

    Remind me. Is Wayfinder a true blue water boat or primarily a coastal cruiser? Are you planning to circumnavigate or just hang in the Caribbean? Do you prefer tropical or higher latitudes? We prefer the latter for climate, but we don’t have the sailing experience for it.

    When do you think you’ll launch? Uh, generally. No stalkiness, just curiosity.

    Reply
    1. Hugh C. Howey Avatar
      Hugh C. Howey

      There is no more blue water boat than this. She’s built in South Africa, to handle the Cape of Good Hope and the Southern Ocean. Most of these boats go clear around the world. They’ve been in 50 foot seas and 60 knots of wind.

      Congrats on setting the date, Melissa. Look forward to rowing over for a drink one day. And we should be in the water by August. Stalk away.

      Reply
  2. Bridget McKenna Avatar
    Bridget McKenna

    I just want to say thanks for bringing us along, Hugh. It’s going to be a wonderful adventure even for those of us who are staying behind–I can scarcely imagine how fantastic it will be for you and Amber and Bella.

    Reply
  3. Suzi Avatar
    Suzi

    So cool. I can’t even imagine what life is going to be like on this. I’m really looking forward to following your adventures. Just one question, how’s Bella going to do on the boat? Has she been on one with you before?

    Reply
  4. Michelle Clair Avatar
    Michelle Clair

    Don’t forget, since you guys are leaving from my home continent and favourite city, that one of the “must see” places in the world to travel to by boat is the SOUTH Island of NZ.. not just that other place! Looking forward to hearing of your travels and hopefully..meeting you when you get here :)

    Reply
    1. Hugh C. Howey Avatar
      Hugh C. Howey

      Can’t wait to get to the south island!

      Reply
  5. Dan Thaler Avatar
    Dan Thaler

    Wow! That’s a lot of fiberglass and epoxy. Congrats! Enjoy!

    Reply
  6. antares Avatar
    antares

    Your idea to leave space in the nav station instrument cluster for the laptop’s screen is brilliant. How are you going to secure the laptop to the nav station?

    I very much want to see the dish drying rack when it is completed.

    Reply
    1. Hugh C. Howey Avatar
      Hugh C. Howey

      You don’t need to secure it (unless you mean against theft). You can put a stack of books on the counter, go out in 8 foot seas, and the books won’t move. I would have laughed at the idea of this until I saw it myself. Nothing really shifts about like they do in monohulls.

      Reply
      1. antares Avatar
        antares

        That is amazing. Been a monohull sailor all these years. This I gotta see.

        Reply
  7. Jordan Rivet Avatar
    Jordan Rivet

    Looking great! You must be so excited about this new adventure. Can’t wait to hear all about it.

    Reply
  8. HN Wake Avatar
    HN Wake

    This is ridiculously exciting! I’m so psyched for you all. Thanks for taking us along.

    (And Cape Town is the most amazing city! I’m super jealous right now.)

    Reply
  9. Besco Avatar
    Besco

    Thank you for posting this here! Your Wayfinder site got blocked by my company’s IT so I haven’t been able to keep up with it as much as I’d like. She’s looking good!

    Also, Are you still going to be at the Annapolis boat show in October??

    Reply
  10. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    You should check out the crew at S/V Delos (they’ve got a site and you tube channel). I’ve been following them a couple years now and find their trials, tribulations, insights and adventures a constant source of pleasure and inspiration.

    Reply
  11. Meagan Avatar
    Meagan

    I have the same urges, except I want to do it on land. In an old school bus converted to a motor home. Just be a nomad. :)

    Reply
  12. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    This is so exciting! I think our family may find our way to boat-living someday! We are selling our house and are going to travel the US via RV together (the 5 of us) and have the experience of a lifetime! We’ve looked into sailing lessons, and found a great place that will teach us everything we need to know. Someday, we’ll take to the water. :) I’ll definitely be following your new life and learning from you so someday we may follow in your footsteps!

    Reply
  13. Gary Dennis Avatar
    Gary Dennis

    Hey Hugh

    Could you extend / deepen the shelf above the nav station? If so, you could sit the lap top up there and have a wireless keyboard on the nav table. That way when it comes to working with hard copy charts etc you would still have lots of room and also be able to fit instruments into the redundant space behind the lap top screen?

    Reply
  14. Szybcy i wściekli 7 Caly film Online Avatar
    Szybcy i wściekli 7 Caly film Online

    Once logged in, viewers can also chat and discuss, with their friends on the network, about the video they are viewing.

    a very fair price and a two month satisfaction guarantee, they would
    refund my money if Szybcy i wściekli 7 Caly film Online wasn. As media shifted from newspapers to a more online
    focus, pictures and video began to appear of movie stars walking down the street, shopping, or eating in a restaurant.

    Reply
  15. arizona state online degree image Avatar
    arizona state online degree image

    As stated above, this is the most important part of a program to look for.
    The academy of applied arts is noted to be the biggest art and design school in New Delhi, India.

    Individuals who are engaged in jobs to meet the financial responsibilities or basic needs of their family can not
    be expected to leave their jobs just to earn a higher degree.

    Reply
  16. horny women houston Avatar
    horny women houston

    I know this site gives quality dependent articles and other information, is there any other site which provides these data in quality?

    Reply
  17. Betsy Avatar
    Betsy

    Thanks , I’ve just been looking for information about this subject
    for a while and yours is the greatest I’ve found out till now.
    But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you sure in regards to the source?

    Reply
  18. snapdeal canvas spark Avatar
    snapdeal canvas spark

    Indian manner accessories is an additional class
    that will have surfaced dominantly in shopping on the web.
    Earlier ladies used to wear just silver and gold conventional accessories design but these days, ladies are shifting towards
    most adaptable options. Indian style jewellery in stylish models
    has generated a buzz among female of any age. While young girls
    flaunt layered pendants, report necklaces and
    dangling earrings; elderly women adorn on their
    own in beverage rings, pendant earrings, pearl necklaces and kundan jewelry.

    There are plenty of internet shopping web sites drifting on the web market,
    this offer enough choices to the clients. There
    is absolutely no a lot more dependence on checking
    out any shopping centers or developer specialty shops, just get on your favourite net shops internet site and get Indian clothes online.
    These Indian online shopping website have finally effectively bridged the difference between Indians staying overseas and their homes in Asia.

    When you need to look for more about shopping online and
    want to increase vouchers, deals and greatest
    grants, please visit our very own websites: snapdeal canvas spark

    Indian styles include common since they’re timeless.
    The Indian culture is among the eldest countries into the world, and also this traditions has been very carefully maintained by the
    Indian visitors. The jewelry created in Asia is actually unique, wealthy, and delightful.
    Indian people understand the value of accessorizing with gorgeous materials,
    styles and styles.
    If you’ve chose that an attractive piece of precious jewelry from India is the perfect choice
    your garments, you may want to start by trying to find these trends online.
    The world-wide-web offers a massive variety of jewelry to match any special
    occasion or any personal preferences. You might get excellent deals
    on jewellery this is certainly produced from the highest
    quality stuff and which includes the latest fashions.

    Shopping on the web is straightforward because you need not put your home
    or cope with the crowds. You can find what you prefer in a relatively quick length of time.

    More over, the options were boosted in the eventuality of shopping online.

    There is no need to get determined by limited merchandise when you create in the example of standard buying.
    You have the choices to perform some searching from worldwide
    industry. Additionally, if you do not realize about the portals and internet sites which
    provide these places, it can be done by searching in the search
    engines. Many of the stores have likewise began their particular web pages to offer items to
    worldwide customers. Without a doubt, the reasonable offers and benefits provided by
    Web purchasing will be the primary reason due
    to which shopping online trends get common.

    Reply
  19. customizable shirts Avatar
    customizable shirts

    you’re in point of fact a just right webmaster. The site loading velocity is amazing.
    It seems that you are doing any distinctive trick.
    In addition, The contents are masterwork.
    you have performed a wonderful activity on this subject!

    Reply
  20. http://tshirtprinters.org Avatar
    http://tshirtprinters.org

    Can I simply just say what a relief to discover somebody who really knows what they
    are discussing online. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
    More people ought to check this out and understand this side
    of your story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular since you definitely
    possess the gift.

    Reply
  21. Women Avatar
    Women

    Link exchange is nothing else however it is simply placing the other person’s webpage link on your page at proper place and other person will also do similar in favor of you.

    Reply
  22. custom tshirts cheap, Avatar
    custom tshirts cheap,

    My family every time say that I am wasting my time here at web, except I know
    I am getting experience all the time by reading thes good content.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *