Becoming a Sailor

Becoming a Sailor

More Than a Decade Afloat • Raising Sailors • Stories from SV Aphrodite

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  • Our story in six chapters, in the order we sailed it.

    See the story-map →See our entire route →

    Before We Moved Aboard

    • From House to Sailboat: How a Road Trip Changed Us
    • Buying Our St Francis 50 Catamaran
    • Learning to Sail From Scratch
    • Our Family Camping Gap Month
    • Browse all 113 posts →
    • This chapter on the map →

    Florida and the Bahamas

    • Living on a Sailboat With Kids: Freedom or Confinement?
    • Crossing the Gulf Stream
    • Off the Beaten Track Bahamas
    • Bahamas Long Reads: Exumas Stories
    • Browse all 43 posts →
    • This chapter on the map →

    The Caribbean

    • Luperón Long Reads: Boat Kids Go Local
    • Dominica Travel: If Outside Magazine Visited
    • Rough Offshore Sailing in a Gale
    • Long Reads Grenada: 6 Stories From Our Sailboat
    • Browse all 66 posts →
    • This chapter on the map →

    Panama and the Pacific

    • Crossing the Panama Canal
    • Shellback Ceremony at the Equator
    • Long Reads: Galápagos
    • Sleep Deprivation at Sea
    • Browse all 11 posts →
    • This chapter on the map →

    Melanesia

    • Heavy Weather Sailing: NZ to Fiji
    • Sevusevu Ceremony in Fiji
    • Land Diving on Pentecost Island
    • Shallow Water Blackout
    • Browse all 19 posts →
    • This chapter on the map →

    Micronesia to Southeast Asia

    • Lagoon to Table: Subsistence Fishing
    • Losing an Anchor in Thailand
    • 322 Days in a Malaysian Boatyard
    • Bangla Road Phuket
    • Browse all 26 posts →
    • This chapter on the map →

    By Topic

    • Learning to Sail
    • Downsizing & Moving Aboard
    • Sailing With Kids & Homeschooling
    • Boat Projects & Gear
    • Health & Safety at Sea
    • Food & Provisioning
    • Family, Crew & Guests
    • Writing & Creative
    • Browse all 291 posts →
  • About the CrewMeet our family of six from OttawaSt Francis 50 Catamaran Specs: SV Aphrodite, a Bluewater CatSV Aphrodite, our St Francis 50 catamaran
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Category: About our Boat

About our Boat covers our gear, projects, haul-outs, and refits. I share what worked, what didn’t, and how we’ve adapted our St Francis 50 to best suit our needs afloat. It’s about the ongoing work, and equipment that keeps SV Aphrodite safe and seaworthy on bluewater passages.

Fedex picking up our three boxes in our friend Carl's apartment in Miami.
August 27, 2025July 22, 2026Lorraine Escher

FedEx Shipping to Malaysia: Yacht in Transit Customs Tips

A photo of SV Aphrodite anchored in Langkawi, Malaysia
December 7, 2023July 24, 2026Lorraine Escher

St Francis 50 Catamaran Specs: SV Aphrodite, a Bluewater Cat

Picture of a catamaran
December 7, 2023July 24, 2026Lorraine Escher

Bluewater Catamaran: A Detailed St Francis 50 Equipment List

Dropping rudders in the water: Removing what remained of the port rudder
May 31, 2023July 28, 2026Lorraine Escher

Dropping Our Rudders in the Water in Fiji: No Haul-Out

Losing a Rudder at Sea on a Catamaran
May 20, 2023July 28, 2026Lorraine Escher

Losing a Rudder at Sea, 500 Miles from Fiji

Miele washing Machine repair: SV Aphrodite in Auckland Harbour also known as Waitematā Harbour.
May 1, 2023September 26, 2026Lorraine Escher

Miele Washing Machine Repair on Our Boat: Miele Stepped Up

Miele W1 washing machine on SV Aphrodite, a St Francis catamaran.
May 1, 2021September 20, 2026Lorraine Escher

Sailboat Washing Machine: Miele W1 Dimensions and Capacity

Splendide 7100XC review
February 14, 2021July 30, 2026Lorraine Escher

Splendide 7100XC Review: Not Built for Sailboats

Boatyard project management
October 18, 2019August 6, 2026Lorraine Escher

Boatyard Project Management: Set Expectations Early

Henry and Karen with the Splendide washer/dryer on SV Aphrodite with the machine in its custom hutch under the saloon table
September 18, 2019October 6, 2026Lorraine Escher

Installing a Washer/Dryer on a Catamaran: Splendide Retrofit

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