UnTethered at Sea is a blog intended to share the experiences of a life offshore started as a transition to a new journey and a breaking of ties from old paths, routines and tethers, both good and bad.

We hope you enjoy the adventure with us!!

UnTethering: Preparation & Planning

The Boat: Pursuing the Offshore Journey, one that may span several years and the globe, requires time, thought, training, education and much more. The process is a multi-year one that begins with the right Boat, one capable of a circumnavigation that will find support, parts and marine services in what can be some very remote locations, and one that is suitable for a life aboard both offshore and near shore. Finding this boat and then sufficient sea trials to test various sail, rigging and equipment configurations has been a 5 year journey in itself, but also a rewarding and successful one.

Investigation & Education: A circumnavigation that is not about the speed of the journey, and more focused on the journey, exploration and the experience (being untethered), is actually relatively few periods composed of many days or weeks far offshore and much more time near shore in about islands, coasts and many ports of call.  The significant offshore time is centered around the major ocean crossing (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern).  But, it is these crossing the require the majority of the education, training, planning and preparation.

The required nvestigation and education begins with deeper understanding of weather, winds, major crossing routes and how these vary by season. The major ocean crossing routes have been used for centuries and the global navigator is still using the same routes used by Magellan, Columbus and Cook. These are the same routes used today for the major round the world sailing races (see Ocean Races below). The next level of understanding and education is navigation linked to these major crossing routes and includes the use of time-honored devices including the Sextant, Compass and Chronometer that sailors have relied for 100’s of years. A sailor who neglects a full working knowledge of these devices and a deep understand of the associated solar/lunar tables and star charts in favor of modern electronics and satellite communications as their primary tools (not back-up), do so at their risk and peril.

Training: Training for an extended offshore journey goes beyond navigation instruments as it is required to be a master of not only the boat, navigation, weather and routes, but all the boats mechanical and electronic systems and equipment. This means training in diesel engines and engine repair, electronics repair and the repair/sewing and maintenance of sails, masts, stays, halyards, sheets, lines, anchors and the boats hulls and decks. Practically this requires course work in each of these systems.

Training also involves time offshore and finding boats and crew positions to complete several ocean crossings as crew and under the guidance of experiences captains. All of this builds the skill and confidence to become untethered in all aspects of the journey.

Ocean Races

Vendee Globe: Single handed, non-stop round the world. Average Time – 110 Days

Volvo Ocean Race: Teams of 7+, 9 legs over 45,000 Knm, 65’ monohulls. Average Time – 270 days

Velux 5 Oceans: Single handed, 5 stages, 32’ to 56’ monohulls. Average Time – 190 to 230 days

Barcelona World Race: Two Crew, non-stop, Open 60’ monhulls. Average Time – 80 days

Clipper Round the World Race: Amateur crew, 8 stages, 60’ monohulls. Average Time – 350 days

TransPac: Pacific Ocean crossing, California to Hawaii. Average Time – 10 days

TransSat: Atlantic Ocean crossing, Plymouth to New York. Average Time – 10 days