2025 – Who We Are
We are a family of six from Ottawa, Canada. We have spent the past 10 years circumnavigating the world aboard SV Aphrodite, a St. Francis 50 catamaran. In 2025, our voyage continues. From the Pacific to Southeast Asia, we’ve raised four kids at sea — while homeschooling, maintaining our boat in very down-and-dirty ways, and meeting interesting people.
Here is a description of the crew aboard our catamaran, SV Aphrodite (written in 2025).
Lorraine
When we began, I had no sailing experience. After ten years of circumnavigation, this lifestyle has been nothing like I imagined. The highs —swimming with dolphins, and meeting people who live in remote places —have been exhilarating and life changing. The lows — losing a rudder at sea or experiencing rough weather — have been challenging.
Beach days with small children have given way to school days, as our kids prepare for university. We hope that our lifestyle, meeting interesting, passionate people, and our need for teamwork and self-reliance are memories that shape our children into adults who contribute to their communities and seize life with fervor.
Rick
Rick opted to take sailing as an elective course in university. Initially, he had been enrolled in sex ed as his elective. But, he balked at his assignment to interview shut-ins about their sex lives. The good news for us is that he has put his sailing skills to good use.
After three years, I learned that Rick had learned to sail on a sailing dinghy. Yet, he was undaunted when testing his mettle on our 15 ton, St Francis 50 catamaran. This says a lot about Rick’s general approach to life: Rick enjoys a challenge and is willing to take some risks to reach his goals.
Betty
Betty is now 19 years old. After visiting 50 remote villages in Papua New Guinea on a medical mission, Betty returned with a zeal for helping people. Her volunteer work with the medical team exposed her to some difficult situations. Betty wants to become a doctor and plans to be in university in September 2026.
Paul
Paul is 17 years old. He was in school in Canada until the age of 10. Paul has been homeschooled on our sailboat ever since. He is a natural sailor and has a verve for speed.
He is often tasked with taking our boat into a marina or fuel dock. Paul has a cool head in stressful situations. He has unwrapped sails at night during a storm, and has assisted with repairs in less-than-ideal conditions. Also, Paul is our go-to man for repairing marine toilets.
Henry
Henry is 14 years old. He is an ace at the Rubik’s cube. He needs very little instruction to do things with his hands. He has an interest in how things work, and a passion for history, particularly the Roman Empire. Henry has a keen memory. We can show him almost anything from our boat, and he can tell us where it came from.
When we are on passage, Henry takes a morning shift and arrives like clockwork to begin his day at 5:30 am. He enjoys being at the helm, and helps with maintenance and installations.
Karen
Karen is 14 years old. She is funny and very artistic. Karen is a keen observer and has an eye for drawing people. She enjoys making friends her own age, likes to swim with sharks, and looks forward to returning to Grenada, which is her favourite Caribbean country.
She is the only member of our family to have been bitten by an octopus, and to have handled a fire worm.
Karen has a built-in compass. She is the most exacting hand steerer of the family. It is tricky to steer when clouds move and reference points disappear.
2014 – Who We Were
Oh, how things have changed. In 2014, I wrote: my husband and I live in Ottawa, Canada. We have rented our house, bought a catamaran, and plan live aboard and homeschool for 5 or 6 years, possibly to circumnavigate. We had never homeschooled before, and I had never sailed before, hence the origins for the name of this blog, “Becoming a Sailor”.
Here is a photo of our kids taken about six months after we moved aboard.
You can reach me at: LORRAINE AT ESCHER DOT CA
About our Boat
We are sailing SV Aphrodite, a St Francis 50 catamaran. A review of our boat appears in the May/June 2005 issue of Multihulls magazine.
See the Full Spec Sheet for more detailed information.
Becoming a Sailor 
Hi! So cool and serendipitous that I came across your blog today. We are moving to the Bahamas to live after hurricane season. We previously lived in St. Kitts for six years and we homeschool! Two girls aged six and four. We currently live in braeside (ten minutes west of Arnprior) and I am loving reading about your adventure. We do no currently sail but it is high on our to do list once we move back to the Caribbean. Would be cool to visit here and in the Caribbean if you wish. Email me. Thanks, gayle
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Hey! I got your Xmas card today and am just now going through your blog/website. It’s a great setup. I think what you guys are doing is really amazing. And with four kids in tow. (You must be insane!) I will be following Betty’s corner and point-of-view very closely.
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Thanks for my x-mass card! It led me here and I have been reading every post. Amazing!
I have to attend a wedding in the Caribbean in April. Where are you going to be during that time?
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Edward – we’d love to meet up with you. Whereabouts is the wedding that you are attending?
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Hi from Ottawa!
We received your Christmas card, Thank you! It is so Amazing what you are doing. We wish you all the Best on your new Adventure. We will be catching up with what you have done so far and looking forward to watching for updates 🙂
Be Safe & Have Fun!
Nicola & Joe Peloso
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Hello from Ottawa (Nepean)! We’ve never posted before, but we’ve been following your family’s adventures. We’re members of a couple of Ottawa homeschooling Facebook pages, where we first read about your voyage. I’d love to do what you’re all doing.
I’m mom to a soon to be 9 year old DD, Maya, who also loves reading. If Betty is interested in a penpal (or another one, if she’s already corresponding), feel free to be in touch at seahorserescuer@gmail.com.
We were in the Bahamas just a few years ago — so beautiful. I still miss it. We hope you’re having a great day.
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Hi there! We really enjoyed meeting you guys yesterday at Sapodilla Bay. We are thinking we might make it back down this morning if you guys want to come to shore and play! Let me know if you need us to bring anything from town, we can stop on the way,
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My husband will bring the kids to the beach. That sounds great. What time do you have in mind?
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We are going to leave in a few minutes, we should be there by 9:30-10 so whenever is convenient for you guys, we will be there for a few hours!
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Hello Lorraine Rick and kids,
This is Rick’s cousin Kathleen Barnes from Carp. I just wanted to say hello and than I have been tuning in from time to time trying to catch up on your adventures. It’s been wonderful following your trip. What a fantastic opportunity!!
Lorraine, I sympathise fully with your fight against seasickness and hope that you have found your sea legs.
Rick, I just forwarded your blog link to Aunt Kathleen who was quite interested in your trip as well.
Just wanted to say hello and I look forward to reading more.
Love
Kathleen
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Hi Lorraine, where are you? Tony and I see that you are/were moored in Woburn, Grenada. We are staying a few miles away in a small hotel on the deserted, idyllic, Morne Rouge beach. If you are still around we would love to be in contact. We are second cousins!!! Your Mum is my first cousin. Love to you all, Marilyn xx
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We are in Trinidad now! It’s too bad we missed you. How long will you be in Grenada?
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We leave next Wednesday. So sorry to have missed you. Will follow your trip with delight. Love to you all. Marilyn
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Riverhawk Marina – they hauled your boat as I see. What beam do you have? and mast height if bridges are a factor getting to the marina? Thank you. I have a Lagoon 400 that I need to haul on the west coat of FLA/
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Hi – our boat has a 26’ 3” beam. We have a 70 foot mast. The Skyway bridge has lots of room under it. Lots!! I don’t recall any other bridges between Bradenton/Palmetto and Ruverhawk.
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Hi,
It was great reading your blog as we are looking at a used St Francis 50 right now. We live in Los Angeles right now aboard a Catalina 42, but spent many years in Ottawa.
I was wondering if there was any chance I could drop you an email with a couple of questions about your boat?
Thanks,
Chris
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Hi Chris, thanks for your note. California would be a perfect way to start a Pacific Crossing! My email is lorraine@escher.ca.
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Hi, I was wondering what is happening with your travels? How is it going and where ARE you?
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