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Final thoughts (for the 3rd time!) from Dale, Christine, and Megan as we conclude another fantastic year of sailing experiences aboard Helios. The boat is now for sale and we have no expectations of going for a 4th season, so here are our parting thoughts that attempt to capture what our 3 years of boat life have meant to each of us.
DALE
It was noon on October 16, 2024 in Monfalcone, Italy. Stepping off Helios for the last time brought a disorienting mix of emotions. Foremost was the bitter / sweet feeling that boat owners attempt to describe by saying "the two happiest days in their life is the day they buy a boat, and the day they sell it." I admit, it is a difficult feeling to describe. On the one hand, we are exhausted by the constant upkeep of the boat, the administrative challenges of being always on the move, and the longing to re-plant roots in one place. On the other hand, our 3 years of travels aboard Helios were amazing beyond description. Our summary stats alone speak to the corners of the world we explored by sea:
17,899 nautical miles traveled (20,600 miles)
24 countries visited
102 major cities visited (and 250+ other small towns and anchorages)
96 overnight passages (sometimes tiresome, but often filled with magical moments)
Transits of the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, which included bodies of water such as the Adriatic, Aegean, and Ionian Seas, the Gibraltar Straits, and the Corinth Canal
The ability to explore such a sampling of this vast world, with the sanctuary and comforts of our own home under our feet each day, all while hosting over 100 different friends and family at various points was priceless. It was an incredible experience far beyond our already high hopes when we set off on this adventure 3 years ago.
So why stop now, people ask? That, too, is difficult to explain - especially when the joys have always far outweighed the challenges. Perhaps our original 1-year plan extending to 3 years has sated our thirst to explore. Or perhaps there is a subconscious fear that we've hit a point of diminishing return and we want to get out while still on top. And when I think about my own personality - the kind that dreamed up this adventure in the first place - I know there's another adventure in the future waiting to be dreamt up and fulfilled. I don't know what it is yet, but stepping off Helios is sure to accelerate the next chapter in our lives. And there's exciting appeal to that anticipation. Whatever it is, however, it will be difficult to best our wonderful Helios Years!
Oh, and the other disorienting emotion with my last step off of Helios was the recollection that I had made this same last step - and gone through the same mixed emotions - in each of the prior 2 years. This is the third time we have packed up the boat for the winter and put her on the market for sale. Given that history, is anyone really to believe that this year's step was the last?! ;-)
CHRISTINE
Famous Last Words:
After 3 years cruising Helios over 18,000 nautical miles of coastline in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, we bid a very bittersweet farewell to our beloved sailing yacht in Monfalcone, near Trieste, Italy on October 16, 2024.
I feel extremely fortunate to have had 2 bonus extended summers on our boat as we originally set out to sail for only one year.
Big Picture Highlights
The rush I got whenever we unfurled our bright blue Helios-themed trade wind sail, pushing us over 9 knots downwind with our hulls gliding smoothly through the sea with only the sound of water churning behind our wake.
Relishing the freedom of being able to sail “our home” from one stunning destination to another on a whim. I loved the convenience of having a cozy place (with all of our creature comforts) to return to after a full day of exploring.
Waking up in a new destination almost every day was a treat. Many times before rolling out of bed, I would have to think twice about where we were exactly.
Exploring new coastal towns by foot, paddle board, dinghy or rental car.
Savoring culinary delights up and down the Mediterranean coast.
Marveling at the varied coastal scenery and fauna in remote bays, large bustling cities, charming villages, beaches, ancient ruins/castles, sheer cliffs, sea caves, uninhabited islands and stunning rock formations.
Experiencing nature first-hand - dolphins, sea turtles, fish, sea birds, whales, jelly fish, goats, wild boar and even a rare monk seal.
Being able to jump in the water from our boat whenever we felt like cooling off or going for a swim or snorkel in crystal clear waters.
Having bonus time with Megan during her gap year on the boat was a blessing
Sharing our adventure with family and friends, spending quality time with them and working together as a team to get from point A to point B.
Learning so much about sailing, winds, weather, tying special knots, navigation, boat logistics, boat maintenance, anchoring, mooring, utilizing boat data, etc.
Knowing that we made this dream happen; we conquered and overcame the many challenges we faced.
The conditions in the Med are known to be difficult given its unpredictable winds dictated by its jagged, mountainous coastline. When Dale initially spoke of sailing the Mediterranean for a year, several scenarios crossed my overactive mind such as severing fingers in the electric winch, suffering catastrophic damage to our boat leaving us floating aimlessly in rough seas, falling overboard during a night watch by myself (without anyone realizing it until the next morning), losing control of our boat during a storm, or worst yet, losing Dale and Megan overboard and having to single-handedly perform a man overboard maneuver, etc.
Fast forward three years…I’m thrilled to report, we still have all of our digits intact and we never experienced any “man overboard” challenges, nor did we lose any guests overboard! Did we experience some conditions that were completely out of our control? Absolutely, especially during our last month of sailing in the Adriatic, where the weather was extremely unsettled and violent at times.
Although safety was always top of mind, I still firmly believe some higher power was carefully watching over us and Helios, as we are aware of several boats and sailors that have dealt with some pretty unfortunate circumstances.
By synthesizing experiential knowledge, research and planning along with our combined wisdom and strong sense of self preservation, I felt like we built enough “Plan B’s” such that I could truly enjoy and embrace our sailing experience. We monitored wind and weather forecasts constantly and planned our routes and timing accordingly.
In an effort to minimize risky maneuvers, we sailed conservatively by reefing the sails (using less) if we anticipated a change of conditions for the worse. This was especially important during our solo night watches.
Despite the inherent risks of sailing in the open sea, I am forever grateful for Dale’s passion to live his dream and for taking me and Megan along on his journey. I surprised even myself for embracing this experience infinitely more than I expected. I will forever cherish all of the photos we took, our book we created and the journal that I kept so I can go back and relive this spectacular journey over and over and even into my future from my rocking chair. It may be impossible to top this adventure, but we’ll certainly try!
MEGAN
After my year aboard Helios, I thought that it would be the last time I saw our boat. As it turned out, I would be aboard Helios for a total of almost 4 more months over the next two years. Over those 4 months, we were able to sail to many islands in Greece - something we had run out of time to do during my gap year. It’s crazy to reflect on the growth I’ve had as a sailor and person over the past three years. I remember how insecure and unsure I felt during the first month aboard Helios. By the end of my sailing journey, I was so confident in my abilities and had learned many valuable life lessons during my time at sea. Although I will miss all of the adventures we had aboard Helios, I know there will be many more adventures to come!
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