some people who crewed with us

 

Saray, 24 from Italy. Always full of energy and enthusiasm, it was great to see Saray delight in every little-big discovery: long swims and snorkeling, spotting a turtle or eating a juicy Passion fruit.

Embarked in: Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Disembarked in: Bequia, St.Vincent

Approx. miles sailed: 120

Golpar, 20 Swedish-Persian. While she was teaching a bit of Farsi we showed her how to get confident in the water, it was amazing how fast she went from zero to fish. Back in Sweden she is a gymnast and we were lucky to be shown some of what she could do. Good luck "Puffi".

Embarked in: Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Disembarked in: Bequia, St.Vincent

Approx. miles sailed: 120

Daniel, 27 from Germany. As an engineer, we expected anytime the appearance of knee-high socks on top of sandals, but he just wouldn't cooperate. It is a loss that he should be called for a serious career back home. Hopefully he'll stay away from stethoscopes and rejoin the boat sometime in the future.

Embarked in: Portsmouth, Dominica

Disembarked in: Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Approx. miles sailed: 150

 

  

Anna, 3x from NYC. We almost lost Anna in Les Saintes to a lobster fisherman and a boss of the Watermelon conditioner ring, but she fearlessly escaped their clutches. Onwards we sailed to Dominica: Just like us she fell in love at once with the island where everything might happen.

Keep smiling!

Anna said: Sailing-on-keturah.html

Anna runs her own handmade jewellery brand.

Embarked in: English Harbor, Antigua

Disembarked in: Portsmouth, Dominica

Approx. miles sailed: 150

 

Bryce, 26 from Winsconsin. Out of the blue (within three emails) Bryce came in, listened to instructions and explanations (instead of questioning them), read the books about sailing I advised and look...He actually learned to sail!

He was quiet and reserved at first until the Portsmouth Sunday PAYS BBQ: the all-you-can-drink rum punch combined with Rastaman Spaghetti fateful influence was his undoing...we brought back home a very different guy!

Nothing makes the life aboard easier and more pleasant than people like Bryce as crew. Knowing that after Keturah he will surely keep on sailing gives me immense satisfaction. Come back soon, a bunk will always be there for you.

Embarked in: English Harbor, Antigua

Disembarked in: Portsmouth, Dominica

Approx. miles sailed: 150

 

 

Zoë, 35 from NYC. It took Zoë a year before she could disentangle herself from Dive-master responsibilities in Hawaii and hop on Keturah for a while. We braved together Olinda's cachaça storms, Brazil's nasty river currents and experimented with brewing some Guava jelly.

Embarked in: Cabedelo, Brazil

Disembarked in: Paramaribo, Suriname

Approx. miles sailed: 1600

Greg, 27 from London, UK. Always ready to go and explore anytime anywhere, Greg enjoyed as well the slow times, of which there were plenty whenever doing the long passages or in remote islands in Mozambique, where bad weather kept us segregated aboard with nothing to do for days (nothing to do except gorge on fresh lobsters and octopus!). We had real pleasure sharing with him the boat and the discoveries along the way (sifakas, whales, dugongs).

Embarked in: Nosy Be, Madagascar
Disembarked in: Richard's Bay, South Africa
Approx. miles sailed: 1700

Ken, 29 from Canada. When not gene sequencing DNA back in Vancouver, Ken likes to kite-surf his heart out at every possible chance, along with his burning passion for photography. He endured bravely the shifts from Mauritius to Madagascar and got to see "whale highway" while rounding Cap d'Ambre on a seven knots average sail: it was hard getting him OFF the steering wheel!
Ken Thorne Photography - Ken's photos of Madagascar won the National Geographic's pages.

Embarked in: Port Louis, Mauritius
Disembarked in: Nosy Be, Madagascar
Approx. miles sailed: 1200

Luc, 25 from Ontario, Canada. After saving up from tree-planting in Canada and "ingrish" teaching in Korea, Luc was ready to take on the Indian Ocean with us. Another crewmember with almost zero sailing experience, he turned out to be a natural helmsman and sailed us smoothly from Malaysia to Sri Lanka and then on to Gan, Maldives. Whenever Luc steered, the boat seemed magically to stop rocking and rolling, somehow he had an instinct for taking the swell with a soft hand on the helm. These were the only times we could ever get some sleep!
Luc Forsyth Photography - Luc was just starting when he came aboard and soon found his unique style and journalistic voice.
Boarded in: Langkawi, Malaysia
Disembarked in: Addu, Maldives
Approx. miles sailed: 1900

Stephanie, 25 from London. Three months aboard took her from crazy Singapore to remote beach-combing, night sailing through fields of tankers and cargoes, and discovering what snorkeling can be. We went up the Malacca strait to Phuket and back. She left Keturah to volunteer for a charity in Nigeria.

Stephanie said: "Thank you so much for a fantastic time on Keturah! Unforgettable x"

Boarded in: Singapore
Disembarked in: Penang
Approx. miles sailed: 920

Shaun, 21 from UK. Shaun was cruising the Med on a Canadian boat planning to go around the world the wrong way without an anchor windlass. Getting a bit fed up of that he decided to come enjoy the first class comforts aboard Keturah: a dry bunk and a windlass working every other time. He sailed on Keturah from Singapore to Langkawi where he got offered a job on mount Fuji, a new unmissable experience to pursue. I cherish his D&B collection I've copied and his skill in befriending Penang's rickshaw drivers. Currently reformed good boy in college.

Embarked in: Singapore

Disembarked in: Langkawi

Approx. miles sailed: 500

Klaus, 31, from Austria. After graduating this year in Telecommunications, Klaus decided to have his first trip outside Europe, and since he was at it have a spell on Keturah also.

Embarked in: Singapore
Disembarked in: Lumut
Approx. miles sailed: 300

Carlos from NYC came to Kudat after trekking a while in the jungle. He was pretty much the reason I could get out of the boatyard before 2011! We had lots of fun in Kudat in spite of the murderous job of prepping and painting the bottom, then finally went on to Mantanani island, KK, Brunei and all the way to Singapore.

Carlos said: "Hey Keturah! Thanks for the great adventure. I'll keep the drinks cold in case you decide to pull into the New York harbor."

Embarked in: Kudat, Malaysia
Disembarked in: Singapore
Approx. miles sailed: 900

Me and Jennie sailed together a few years back into the Indian Ocean and Chagos. Having kept in touch and hearing that I finally got my boat it has been a long while she wanted to come check it out...and she did. She helped out tremendously with the bottom job in Kudat's boatyard and sailed to a few nice islands before continuing her travels in Asia.

Embarked in: Kudat, Malaysia

Disembarked in: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Approx. miles sailed: 100

Andy is a US airline pilot. Having a month off and wanting to sail, he joined us in Dumaguete. Together we went to Tubbataha reef and then on to Puerto Princesa. We enjoyed dissertating with him on life, religion and politics while crunching some good sailing miles under the keel. Getting a bit stuck waiting for parts here meant that the month pretty much ran out, but not before we went on a motorcycle tour of the area.

Embarked in: Dumaguete, PI
Disembarked in: Puerto Princesa, PI
Approx. miles sailed: 300

Kevin from Manchester came aboard in Port Carmen when we got out of the boatyard;after new paint, new dinghy and new floor the boat was an absolute mess. He really helped out in the cleanup and after re provisioning in Cebu off we went again to Balicasag, Siquijor and Apo islands on our way to Palawan. He got to dive quite a bit and left in Bombonon in order to travel the rest of Asia. He is currently a secret agent in Chennai, India.

Embarked in: Cebu, PI
Disembarked in: Bombonon, Negros, PI
Approx. miles sailed: 150

Cat is a 'traveling nurse', means she is a nurse deployed wherever there's shortage. She arrived in Cebu just a couple days ago and is eager to go see some of the great diving available around here. Keturah complies and already off she dove in Balicasag. She came with us through Siquijor, Caminguin, Apo, Bohol and back to Cebu. She goes on travelling to Singapore and who knows where else.

Boarded in: Cebu, PI
Disembarked in: Cebu
Approx. miles sailed: 400

Fernando worked on a superyacht until the whole crew got replaced by Filipinos. Instead of going back to Ecuador to brood, he decided to hop along. Back in Ecuador he's an experienced off road racer and ace mechanic.

Fernando said: "I do believe (now more than ever) that things happen just when the have to.... and so... I met the Keturah and it's beautiful people... on a place I never thought I would go to and in a time I was searching for real meanings in my life and of course real changes along with it. Suddenly I find my self in the middle of the Bohol sea having one of the most relaxed and chilling times I've ever had finding out the true meanings of "my" life...Life enjoying in its maximum expression!!! Actually, I never thought the changes that were gonna come to my life afterwards were gonna be so drastic... I know now that I lost some important things but gain even more important ones!!!!!  After almost 6 months of that experience.... Sailing, GREAT PASTA!!!, good company, perfect made baretos, awesome snorkeling and swiming... I'll do it again anytime!!!!!!!! Francesco and Miki---- Thank you very much for one of the best times of my life!!!!!!! Take Care always and keep on going!! Miss you!".

Boarded in: Cebu, PI
Disembarked in: Camiguin
Approx. miles sailed: 300

Nobina is a Marine Biologist from Singapore. She has Japanese origins. She works in luxury motorboats and wanted to see things from "the other end of the spectrum". Used to life afloat, she fitted right in. She is fabulous at mixing drinks and keeping a happy side at all times. After much wandering the world she is now a permanent resident of Tofo, Mozambique, where she runs a fantastic travel and diving service at East Coast Dive & Travel Africa.

Nobina said:"Sailing on Keturah was one of the best things I've ever done..There is nothing like the free feeling of sailing across open waters to a beautiful destination, nothing like falling asleep to the gentle/violent rocking of waves, nothing like relishing in a 1litre shower, feeling so clean afterwards (even though you're not) and enjoying a warm glass of rum on the bow as the sun sets... I miss you".

Boarded in: Weno, Chuuk (FSM)
Disembarked in: Yap (FSM)
Approx. miles sailed: 800

Andrew came aboard with Nobina in Chuuk where we threw a massive barbecue for his birthday, taking over an hotel's garden, grill and bar. He also works on luxury yachts, which means he was tidy, observant and competent. He is an historian and so he added an unique perspective in Pacific islands history relating to WWII events there.

Boarded in: Weno, Chuuk (FSM)
Disembarked in: Yap (FSM)
Approx. miles sailed: 800

Cecilia is a 19 y.o. from Sweden and sailed a little in Stockholm.
This is her first trip outside Europe and she decided to go straight for something unusual. She did great on the quite long and heavy crossing from Gizo (Solomons) to Chuuk (Micronesia) and will continue with us all the way to the Philippines

Cecilia said: "Almost six months of my life...what to say? First of all: it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Absolutely magical. Steering across the Equator at 1 am in the morning (we did it!), watching Orion on his way across the sky and listening to the sound of dolphins breathing next to the boat. Swimming in the middle of the blue, blue Pacific with nothing but sea and sky, the boat rolling gently in a friendly swell. Meeting sting rays, turtles and trigger fish on the daily snorkeling tours ... Diving wrecks from the Second World War in Chuuk Lagoon, meeting manta rays in Yap, loosing count of the sharks in Palau. Paddling canoes in Satawan and Puluwat, befriending a zillion kids in Ifalik ...What didn't I do in these months? I learned more about myself and how I react and interact in different situations than I had before in my entire life. Travelling alone to the other side of the world to join a boat with people I had never met before ... do I have to say I never regretted it? Not to forget: GREAT food (I still dream about Capi every now and then, haha), the best hot shower of my life, soft music, lots of Scrabble, learning some italian (and how to mend sails!), nice suntan, and memories that will last forever!".

Boarded in: Gizo, Solomon Islands
Disembarked in: Cebu, Philippines
Approx. Miles Sailed: 2100

Michael from Israel. Very congenial, learning fast, lots of fun. In the Israeli Army he mastered missile launching control systems (scary but cool) and knew quite a few secrets about US Navy ships going by. We share a love for herbal recreation, good music and computers, along with love of the sea, of course. After two months of sailing, facing bravely the crossing Fiji to Vanuatu, Michael went back to Eretz Israel to start college. We keep in touch.

Michael said: "I cant really describe the experience on Keturah, it took me a long time after my return to be able to understand how meaning full these 3 months have been. Besides the great food, snorkeling, great company, getting around places no one can ever visit without guides, special planning,other tourists and allot of money, the freedom of sailing the pacific days away from civilization all alone. All of the above are just the background for the true sense of freedom and total Independence. The atmosphere on Keturah is perfect, no worries, easy going and with the true understanding of the freedom sailing can provide. The ocean has a way of showing you how small we really are and puts you in the right perspective about everything, the experience on Keturah changed something forever in me for the best, will never forget it. You will definitely see me again."

Boarded in: Lautoka (Fiji)
Disembarked in: Port Vila (Vanuatu)
Approx. miles sailed: 800

Sharon, a friend met in Italy. She and Michael were here for the relaunch in Lautoka and helped me reorganize and finish up preparations for the jump to Vanuatu. Her support and friendship are very appreciated, along with her massage and acupuncture sessions. She practices that in Florida and readjusted my shoulder a few times after aches set in thanks to my moving the new generator around.

Boarded in: Lautoka (Fiji)
Disembarked in: Lautoka (Fiji)
Approx miles sailed: 200

Danica is probably the prettiest-to-a-fault Peace Corper I've ever seen. She is Bolivian-American and was --she's probably done by now-- serving her two years in Savusavu, Fiji. We had some fun evenings while I was recovering from TS-P11 (see Log), and when I felt better I invited her and her Latino colleague for a weekend away from the village. We just went to Cousteau's point and had a great dinner, wine and watched a movie in the cockpit. Considering she could get seasick while the boat was at a mooring in a flat calm day, let's hand it to her in spite of sailing only 6 miles!

Michela, 27, from Italy, never considered going on a boat, until we shared a beer in Paihia (NZ). She never sailed, never been on a boat. After the 10 days crossing from NZ (to Fiji) in December 2006 she now sails, steers, trims, balances the boat into self-steering. She worked very hard on the crossing and she now loves being on boats.
Since then she has been a permanent and irreplaceable presence aboard Keturah.

Boarded in: Opua (New Zealand) on Dec. '06
Disembarked in: Savusavu (Fiji) on Feb. '07
re-Boarded in: Kira Kira, Solomon Islands on Oct. 2007
Approx. miles sailed so far: 30000

Austin is from the US, 18, lived in London the last few years. Plays the hukulele and only took a RYA competent crew before coming aboard. He never bragged like so many others before him, but he also never lost his cool, even when I fixed the steering box while he was emergency tillering astern in a big swell.

Boarded in: Opua (NZ)
Disembarked in: Savusavu (Fiji)
Approx. miles sailed: 2000

Liat came on in Suva and stayed on for our N'gau-Wakaya-Makongai-Koro-Savusavu island hopping. She enjoyed making dolls, writing poetry, she would have enjoyed playing the mandolin if only this last one cooperated a bit more. She left to get herself a biodiesel van in the states and travel around some more.

Boarded in: Suva (Fiji)
Disembarked in: Savusavu (Fiji)
Approx. miles sailed: 600

Max was a pilot for the now defunct Alitalia airline. A keen racing sailor that can relax, always enthusiastic, full of energy and initiative. He joined the boat for a short spell back in New Zealand right after I bought Keturah. We had some serious fun sailing around the Bay of Islands.
Sailed in: Bay of Islands, New Zealand Nov. '06
Approx. miles sailed: 50

You would never be able to tell that Marco is actually a Policeman. I sure can't imagine any bad guy get arrested by him. He came along Max and had never sailed before. He managed to turn seasickness into a funny event, go figure. While he left most of the sailing to us eager ones, he contributed by picking mussels with which we had a great pasta.
Sailed in: Bay of Islands, New Zealand Nov. '06
Approx. miles sailed: 50

Saul (Mr. Soul) came sailing at the same time as Max and Marco. He was supposed to come sail on the crossing to Fiji but decided otherwise.
Sailed in: Bay of Islands, New Zealand Nov. '06
Approx. miles sailed: 50