We made it! You made it!! Six hundred nautical miles later—a conservative estimate—we’d like to sit down with you and take a look back.
How did this rowing sailing contraption of ours work out? What went well? What would we do differently? Are we still on speaking terms? What’s the take-away?
Well, there is a moral of sorts.
We’re not the brightest bulbs, the best builders, the best sailors. We’re neither tough nor intrepid nor especially courageous. What is it that gets and keeps us on the water—limitations notwithstanding—vessel after vessel, year after year?
Dreams. Determination. Persistence.
We all have dreams. Once we determine to pursue them, we are determined. If we persist, one measly step at a time, we will look back to find that we have the persistence we need.
It’s nothing special. It’s within our reach, one and all.
Come all o’ ye Dreamers!
Dear Dave and Anke,
Thank you again for putting together such a wonderful series of videos and for taking us along.
In your introductory note to this video you said that “We all have dreams.” What sets you apart from a great many people is that you act on those dreams and don’t wait for the perfect boat, the perfect time or even the perfect weather. You choose to make your dreams a reality rather than let all the obstacles that might stand in the way prevent you from moving forward.
You two are such a terrific team with a marvelous sense of humor that seemed to turn even the bleakest of times into an opportunity to chuckle about. Thanks again for sharing your adventures with us and can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
Anke and David,
Thank you for sharing your adventure with us. When I was younger, sailing Narragansett Bay and up and down the New England coast was one of my greatest pleasures. When I entered my 50s, the pressures of work and life kept me off the water for far too long. In my mid-60s, with the help of friends and family, I was able to get back on the soul-nourishing waters of Narragansett Bay on an albeit somewhat smaller scale. It is still magical.
A Peeler Skiff I was part of building
Gene has put it well. I too have enjoyed the series. Some of the scenery is stunning, but you had to earn the privilege of seeing it. What you took in your stride, let’s be honest, would be much too uncomfortable and risky for most of today’s recreational sailors. And few of us have an Anke!
Huzzah huzzah Dave and Anke,
You both offer such an incredible safe harbor of positivism in a world that has gone so negative. I love your boat design, making use of everything that has been discarded, and the clever rig. I hope to see more postings by this incredible duo. Please hoist prayer flags with personal representations of the trip to send this positive energy into the environment.
God bless both of you
what Gene said!
I am hoping to sail thru the Murray canal, up the Trent River system somewhat, next year – all being well and the creek don’t rise (I’m 81).
This is in Ontario, near Brighton. Boat is a Mirror, and I hope to rig a tarp over the boom for a tent. Inspiration is youse guys and the teacher’s adventures in his (The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow). [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-66977635]. Amazing how the list of on-board items is growing! Peace.
Dear Anke and Dave,
Thank you so much for the example you set and all of the inspiration.
Anke and Dave,
Thanks again for bringing us along on your journey. Your unpretentious approach to boatbuilding, sailing, filming and life in general is very refreshing in this over-hyped time of “influencers.”
I’ll be interested to hear about your further adventures and experience with whatever tweaks and improvements you make. I would be awfully tempted to do some shaping of those leeboards. Along with a better shaped sail, they are the other, equal and often-forgotten half of windward performance.
Stay safe!
This was so enjoyable, it is sad to see it end. I look forward to more adventures. Are you considering putting all 15 episodes into a single?
Thank all of you for your heart-warming comments… it’s been wonderful sharing with kindred spirits! We do hope to share more adventures as we’re able, and look forward to reading of and/or seeing yours.
Love,
Dave and Anke
@Dick… Nice skiff! And we got a look (from shoreside) at Narragansett Bay while East for a wedding. Beautiful!
@Steven… I count my lucky stars every day!
@George… You go, Brother! Jack De Crow is an inspiration to us, too!
@Alex… Hear ya RE boards and sails. Definitely mulling them. But then, we might have to beat to windward?
@Phillip… Not quite, but one for the Vessel and one for the Voyage. Smaller bites to chew.
Dear Anke and Dave,
Thank you so much for sharing your journey and your relationship with us. I sailed from ’67-’79. I moved to Wyoming while working in the oilfield and then in ’80, I went back into the ministry. None of my churches were near any significant bodies of water, so I turned to bicycles with long-distance rides and then, after a divorce in ’98, motorcycles with long-distance rides, alone or with one or two partners. After I started riding, I took a divorce recovery class and met my 2nd wife. I was beguiled by her smile (you probably know what I mean, Dave). We married in ’99 and had 23 wonderful years. But then she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I couldn’t care for her at home and after she got into memory care, her decline was sudden and terrifying to watch. Through the summer I watched her not be able to recognize any of us and be more and more frightened. She died in September. I’m feeling more relief than sorrow. It helps that I have so many great memories.
During the last couple of years, I’ve returned to sailing (especially sailing in small boats) as one of my primary interests. Since you started sharing Mustelid with us, I’ve found a lot to ponder. First, it’s been fascinating to see what you created…it shows that people who aren’t afraid to go outside of the box can create new solutions to situations that have been around so long that most people don’t imagine that they could be solved differently.
Second, I’ve enjoyed your spectacular scenery. I’ve ridden my motorcycle to Hyder three times, and in 2013, I took my “Epic Post-Retirement Ride to Alaska, the Four Corners of the US, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador.” My ride was 21,000 miles in 80 days. In Alaska, I was able to get to Tok, Valdez, Anchorage, Seward, Denali, and Fairbanks, before heading back to Tok and British Columbia. I didn’t get to see as much of the coast as I would have liked, but you live in a beautiful part of the world.
Third, I have appreciated your relationship. I love seeing a team, a couple, who share so much of themselves with so much honesty and joy. That has triggered many memories of the times Joanne and I shared.
I’m 80 now, and I’ve had six knee replacements. Even if I lived near water that would let me sail except in small circles, I doubt if I could do it today. But you guys have stimulated my imagination and helped me get in touch with memories of sailing the four little boats I was able to use in big lakes, rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico. I appreciate your help in keeping me “sailing.”
Hi Phillip,
Thank YOU for sharing your story! And very glad to have had you (and all the rest of you) along for the venture.
We’re moved by what you write of Joanne, and your blend of relief and sorrow — not only at her passing but the manner of it. Yet those good years and the memories that remain are the sure sign and substance of lives well lived. Not to mention all the other great adventures you’ve had!
We’re honored to have had a hand in keeping you ‘under way’!
Dave and Anke
Anka and Dave,
I viewed all of the episodes and based on your openness and honesty regarding your experiences, I have decided to attempt a renovation of a used pontoon boat. She is 24′ long, wide open with some fixed seating, has a 9′ beam and sits on three 30″ diameter aluminum pontoons.
She is about ten years old and has hardly been used. Nearing 80 years, yet somewhat quite healthy, my wife and I desire to explore the Intracoastal Waterway of the Gulf side of Florida. You both have encouraged our endeavor and we anticipate short outings. It has a head and shower and we intend to simply use a tent for our cabin which may be easily taken down and set up. You have shared so many interesting thoughts that we decided to use two 25-horsepower Honda four-strokes for power. They sip gas fairly well.
Thanks for your work sharing your adventures.
God bless you both.
Hi Joseph,
Sounds like a great platform for getting onto the water. Flexispace is a fun way to go… take a fiddle (or find a fiddler) and you’ve got room to dance!
Bon voyage and keep us all posted!
Dave and Anke