Making the Dream a Reality
Kismet ... Fate ... Destiny
Our journey together has a foundation in our shared love for the ocean and traveling by sail. This love for sailing brought us together. In fact, on the first day we met, upon crossing the gunnels of Harley’s boat Manu Kai, Jen said to Harley: “Wow, I have always wanted to sail around the world, and this is the boat I’ve imagined it happening on”…. to which Harley responded “Well that can happen sooner than you think.” Big smiles all around … so began our union!
the first circumnavigation
We married exactly one year later, and set sail one year after that on Manu Kai, a Hans Christian 41. That two-year sabbatical from our conventional life was an incredible journey. It gave us not only a remarkable sense of accomplishment, but taught us the value of quality time together and how soul-enriching it was to expand our horizons while living outside of traditional societal norms.
Sailing Inspired Us
We returned to the Bay Area in 2006 determined that we would once again set sail and rejoin the sailing cruising community. But this time we hoped to have a family in tow. We welcomed Sophia into the world and our philosophy for raising her was grounded in those experiences we gained during our first circumnavigation: sailing as a family was the vision, and homeschooling provided the needed flexibility to ensure a comprehensive and quality education within the context of our lifestyle choice.
kailani launched us
Our first steps of turning our sailing plans into reality began after purchasing our new sail boat in Turkey in 2010, a Deerfoot 63 we christened Kailani. With the help of numerous friends, family and crew, we sailed Kailani 10,000 miles home to Sausalito, CA over the course of one year. We then spent a year refitting and making her our home, while also working the logistics of cutting the land-lubber “docklines” of jobs, house, and stuff to make this dream a reality. Kailani set sail from San Francisco in May of 2012.
homeschooling on the high seas
And so began the biggest phase of our journey so far: homeschooling Sophia as we sailed around the world, traveling 30,000 miles and visiting over 20 different countries over nine years. By traveling the world while raising our daughter, we aimed to connect her classically trained mind with experiences that developed an appreciation for diversity in culture and lifestyles, ultimately nurturing Sophia’s curiosity and sense of wonder about life. This dynamic lifestyle formed Sophia into the well-rounded person she is today.
Sophia is Launched!
We have had an amazing adventure as a family while sailing the world’s oceans. Most significantly, we raised Sophia to be a true citizen of the world. It brings us the greatest joy to see her transition to mainstream school with the heart of a traveler, the spirit of an adventurer, and the self-confidence to keep growing into her true self as life’s journey goes on. She is a voracious reader, a critical thinker and a good listener. Her zest for learning inspires her daily, while her maturity, responsibility and self-discipline help her excel. We couldn’t be more proud.
The Next Phase Begins
Meanwhile, we are somewhat back to where we started that fateful day on the decks of Manu Kai: the two of us, on the precipice of another great sailing adventure together. We are still loving and laughing together, finding adventure in every new space we live in. For this we feel very blessed.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
marcel proust