1 Year, 3 Months to cast off.

44°49.7 N —87°22.45 W

I write this post from the cockpit of the Olivia Grace, while moored at Center Point Marina, in Sturgeon Bay, WI, having just completed our annual summer sailing trip.

Joy and the kids left for Chicago by car yesterday morning. I am currently waiting for Conrad Reichoff and crew, who will be delivering the boat back to Chicago over the course of the following week. I’ll take his car back to Chicago.

This year, we cruised Green Bay, up and down the Door Peninsula. But for a day or two, I’ve been aboard for 26 days. Joy and the kids were aboard for about 20 of those—our longest “live aboard” experience on the OG. After spending the July 4 holiday in Racine, I singlehanded the boat north to Sheboygan, then to Kewanee, and finally landing in Sturgeon Bay. In a rental car, I then returned home. Two days later the entire family drove north and returned to the boat, intent to spend the next 2 weeks or so harbor-hopping the peninsula.

Every season we’ve worked to improve our sailing and navigation skills in preparation for our Sabbatical. This year, we did longer crossings and spent more time “off the grid.” We cooked more onboard, ate out less, anchored more and generally attempted greater self-sufficiency.

The battle against WiFi continued. But without question, the less time spent on technology, the better for the kids and the better for our family as a whole. Without YouTube, Insta., etc., E&F were forced to interact with each other—they swam at the beach, played at the local parks, made up songs and games. They had to get along with each other; they had no choice as there was no other option. The same could be said for their parents.

We bought this boat for the express purpose of taking her offshore in 2020/21. But, as the kids have grown, the boat has gotten smaller. It’s previous owner sailed her across the Pacific. He must have been short handed. A serious question was raised (by Joy) as to whether we need a bigger boat.

To make matters worse, an older cruising couple we met in Sister Bay walked us through their newly purchased Sabre 402. Jill introduced herself with “you’re brave, cruising with kids… It gets better when they’ve grown.” She and her husband (I forgot his name) told us all about their summer sailing adventures with their children and about the challenges they faced in a small cockpit surfing down eight-foot rollers. “We are all better for those experiences, as tough as they were at the time,” she said. But, when their kids grew taller, they traded their Erickson 34 for the 40′ Sabre.

The Sabre 402 is a beautiful boat. A large and dedicated navigation station meant that one wouldn’t have to sit next to a sleeping Frankie to read a chart or plot a course. Large refrigeration, freezer, and a large u-shaped galley would make meal preparation a veritable treat. Its longer waterline also meant faster and more comfortable passage making. It was Joy, not me, who said “lets do it.”

The following day we were approved for a boat loan (this was new to us as we had always taken the firm position that interest was only appropriate when purchasing a house or financing an education). There were 3 Sabre 402s offered on the east coast and I scheduled showings in New York and Connecticut the following week. Indeed, we had to act fast as cast-off was only a little more than a year away. We needed time to get to know a new boat.

For two days, we (maybe I) obsessed over listings on Yachtworld.com and Moreboats.com. I called brokers in Illinois, Georgia, New York, California; I reviewed and agonized over vessel surveys and boat reviews by Bob Perry and John Ketchmer. Joy was starting to lose her patience. But, it was her idea in the first place! I can’t be blamed for merely executing her wants and desires.

After a few days, however, cooler heads prevailed. This trip, the Sabbatical, was not about a cushier ride—it was supposed to be about simplicity and self-sufficiency, about fewer comforts, not more. How can we claim those virtues after buying the equivalent of a Cadillac Escalade? Besides, we know the OG as well as we know ourselves. I could rebuild the engine if I had to. Indeed, I overhauled or rebuilt nearly every major system onboard over the last four years and feel confident in her performance and ability to sustain our lives while offshore.

The decision was made. It’s tight and cramped, and has a wicked prop-walk, but we’re doing this in the OG. Now, I have to cancel my flight and my meetings next week with the east coast brokers.