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.