Cruising Families

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CHANNEL 4 TV DOCUMENTARY
LOOKING FOR FAMILIES EMBARKING ON A FAMILY ADVENTURE

Are you taking some time out to sail with the kids? Planning on giving the children an experience that can't be matched by anything they'd learn in a classroom? Want an adventure to share and unite the whole family?

Channel 4 would like to speak to families who are putting "normal" life on the backburner to do something different with their children. We are very interested in families setting sail, but if you or someone you know is planning any kind of family adventure, we'd love to hear from you.

Call +44 (0)7505 883 514 or email familygapyear@twentytwenty.tv

Please note, families must be British or based in the UK, and should comprise of at least 1 parent/guardian and at least 1 child aged 17 years or under.

Contact With Other Circumnavigating Families
January 2007
bartverhaeghe@hotmail.com
We are a family of 4 with two boys of 8 and 10 years old, traveling around the world on a Hallberg Rassy 46. As of January 2007, we are in Grenada and we want to pass the Panama canal, westbound, by mid March 2007. Our trip will then continue through French Polynesia, Fiji, Vanuatu and on to Australia. From September 2008 on, we will sail from Australia to Europe, but have not decided whether to pass the Red Sea or go around South Africa. We would like to make contact with people having similar plans.

Crew For Family Yacht: Teacher and navigator couple looking to crew a family yacht
posted Jan 08
gillmwilson2@yahoo.co.uk
We are a newly married couple, who are looking to work on a family yacht with small children. I, Gillian am 25 years old and am a qualified foundation phase teacher, with teaching and childcare experience in a wide range of ages. My husband, Matthew, is a third officer in the Merchant Navy. He has worked for a container shipping company for three years and has motor yacht experience. We both worked a season in the Mediterranean as crew onboard a 105 ft motor yacht for a private family. I was a stewardess and my duties involved maintenance and upkeep of interior, cooking, service and some deckwork, including assisting with mooring of the vessel. Matthew was a deckhand with watchkeeping responsibilities. He was responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the exterior of the boat and the tender. He also kept watch and assisted with the navigation. We are now looking to join a boat, where we can both put our experience to use. We are looking for a more permanent job, ideally for a family needing assistance with tutoring or home schooling young children and the smooth running and the maintenance of their boat. We are an easy going, hardworking, friendly couple, who are looking to start a new adventure. We are very reliable and can supply you with cv's and refferences if requested. We are available immediately and look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Matthew and Gillian Sheel

Cruising Teenagers
myacoe@yahoo.com
Hello we are a family with a 13 year old girl preparing to cruise, and looking for other teens aboard to connect our daughter with. She is worried about loneliness and boredom... any ideas or words of encouragement??? Marina

Kids in the Cockpit Author Happy To Give Advice
http://www.jilldickinschinas.com/books/kids-in-the-cockpit/
Jill Schinas, author of Kids in the Cockpit (Noonsite book of the month in July 2006), is happy to give advice to anyone with questions about educating your kids on board: "If you visit my website you will see that I have made available a number of extracts from the book. That way, people can see what they are getting themselves into before they part with their money! At the bottom of that same page there is a link to my contact form, with the specific offer of further advice for anyone who wants it.
"We also have another website : yachtmollymawk.com. This one is our logbook-cum-scrapbook. Its purpose is threefold - firstly, it gives us a way of keeping in touch with friends and family; secondly, it gives the kids the opportunity to hone their internetting skills and their writing skills; thirdly, I'm hoping that it will develop into a useful resource and meeting place for cruising yotties and for home-schoolers."

New to Cruising
yomiota@hotmail.com
We are a family of 4 (2 girls ages 5 and 9 months). We are from NYC but currently live in Tokyo. We have been thinking about cruising for some time now, but unlike many of you, we haven't been on boats all our lives. In fact, we haven't even purchased our boat yet. We've taken a few week long sailing courses in Australia and Thailand. To begin with, we'd like to sail around Asia. Any insight into sailing for those without lots of experience would be greatly appreciated.

Planning our next cruise
abloom@cheqnet.net
Hello! We are a family of three - Eric, Annie and our 4 year old boy, Bear. We have been cruising for four years and have been as far north on the west coast at the San Juan Islands, down through Mexico, Central America and the Panama Canal and up to the Chesapeake, then back down to the Bahamas. We are taking this year off and living in Salt Lake City to ski. We are planning a trip to Alaska in the summer of 2008 then down the coast and over to the South Pacific in 2009. We hope to circumnavigate but are looking for other families with young children that may going our way. Bear loves to be with other children, any age, and we really want to find friends for him. Anybody planning that far ahead? Annie, Eric & Bear aboard Oso Blanco, Nordhavn 64

on board schooling
tonyguy9@aol.com
Hi Everyone, Would anyone be able to give me any info on onboard schooling for children aged 7-14 yrs, is there internet or similar available? Kind Regards Tony Guy.

Europe

Cruising Family Northern Europe
posted Jan 08
sailnaia@yahoo.com
We are a family of 3 wintering aboard in Ireland before heading to Scotland in the spring. Summer plans could include Scandanavia, Germany, Holland. The past few years were spent in the Med (we came through the French canals should anyone like current information on them), and Hannah was homeschooled until this year. Our daughter is 7 and always on the lookout for other family boats. There seem to be very few families cruising northern Europe - please contact us if our paths might cross. John Kim and Hannah Oliver s/v Naia

European Cruise In Company
March 2007
Tel:+32 475 746 432
hfailly@belgacom.net
Hello, Couple in their 30's & 2 kids (1 year and other to come) looking for other (family) sailors with own boat to share a family cruise of 3 to 6 month around Europe. Our boat is 38 foot. Dates to be determined, looking at 2008 earliest Routing to be determined together.
Bonjour, Sommes un couple dans la trentaine, avec un enfant d'un an, et un deuxième qui devrait pointer son nez en août 07. Programmons 3 à 6 mois de croisière familiale (à 4 + passage d'amis) sur un 38 pieds. Eté 2008 au plus tôt. Pas encore de date fixe, ni de destination arrêtée. Pensons à un tour de l'Angleterre/Ecosse/Irlande. Aimerions beaucoup rencontrer un autre équipage qui serait intéressé de naviguer de concert sur autre voilier. Projet à élaborer. Hugues.

Sweden - Turkey April - Nov 2008
posted March 08
slowtravel@gmail.com
We are an Australian Cruising family my wife Nicole, Neisha (8), Jack and Jessica (6) and I, sailing from Sweden in April 2008 to Turkey for next Winter on board Grace our Hallberg Rassy 46. We plan to Winter in Turkey before spending the 2009 sailing season in the Med and then joining the ARC in 2009. We would love to hear from other families that are sailing from Northern Europe or the UK to the Med this year who may be looking for some company along the way. Shane, Nicole, Jack, Jessica and Neisha Collins

Americas

Bloomquist Family Cruising Plans
posted October 2008
abloom@cheqnet.com
Six year old and his parents will be cruising the west coast of Mexico and Central America this winter (2008-09). Any other families going that way? We'd love to hook up with other kids! Annie, Eric and Bear Bloomquist

Cat & Crew (s/v Yebo)
www.cruisingcolomba.com, cat@cruisingcolomba.com
Cat, Justin, Abi and Aaron are planning to set sail again in Spring 2009 so keep an eye on the website.

Family of four starting Fall '07 trip on ICW
October 2007
c.hallendorff@gmail.com
We are a family of four, Mattias, Carrie, Liv (6) and Hanna (4 1/2) from Minnesota en-route to Sweden where we will be moving. Taking the long way, and are currently on s/v Windfall in Annapolis, MD. We are planning to head down the ICW starting end-Oct 07. Would welcome other families on same/similar route to share advice or meet up. Girls are friendly and love to play!

Sailmakanikai
posted March 07
www.sailmakanikai.com, aschrispeels@sbcglobal.net
We are a family of 4 who are starting our cruising adventure. We have just purchased a 44' steel cutter in Blaine, WA and will move her to San Diego, CA this summer. We will move aboard to get used to the live aboard life for the next two years, before embarking on a 2+ year voayage to New Zealand. Our boys are Kai (5) and Myles (3). We look forward to meeting other cruising families on the Pacific Coast doing short trips to the islands and then doing the Baja Ha in 2009 to start our trip. Drop us a line or check out our website. Arno and Sunshine.

Will host Cruising Families in San Francisco
September 2007
barb@marinx.com
We have made the decision to begin living aboard and cruising with our family (5 year old girl and 1 year boy) early next year. We plan to launch our first trip with the Baha-haha 2008 and then head where the wind takes us. If you’re passing through the San Francisco Bay Area before March, we’d love to meet you, as we begin to get our daughter accustomed to the idea of living aboard and sailing fulltime. Barbara

Atlantic/Caribbean

A Year's Cruising - UK to Caribbean and Back
July 2008
ollieholden@hotmail.com
We are a young family (Mum, Dad and 2 daughters aged 2 & 4) who are leaving for a year's cruising from the UK to the Caribbean and back. We would be interested to hear of and meet up with any other cruising families en route or with similar plans. We are leaving S. Coast UK early July 08 and cruising down through France, Spain & Portugal with the aim of reaching the Canaries by October. The boat (minus Mum and the kids) will cross with the ARC and will then cruise in the Caribbean from Dec 08 - April 09. The boat is a Nicholson 38 called "Nutmeg of Shoreham".

Bahamas - teenagers jan 2008
March 07
jwmintz518@aol.com
We are a family of 5 (daughter 15, son 13, son 9) who will be leaving Chicago for the Gulf Coast in 9/07. We expect to depart Florida for the Bahamas in dec 2007 or jan 2008. Our kids would love to begin a conversation with other teens who might be going the same way at the same time. They are enthusiastic, but anxious. Judy

Cruising with Teens in the Bahamas
May 2008 to May 2009
stacyk40@hotmail.com
My family anticipates cruising to the Bahamas on our sailboat Nov 2008 - May 2009. We are searching for info on homeschooling/internet schooling for a 16yr old. Also info on the best way to access internet for on-line schooling, any contacts (kids) for her when we arrive.

Departing July 2009
adammanc@hotmail.com
Couple with two kids (eleven and seven) looking to cruise from UK (July 2009) to Caribbean and then onto South America. Would quite like to meet other families who could be interested in sailing to the same areas. All the best and happy sailing.
Adam

Hurricane Season in Curacao with 3 boys
June 2008
monkeyfeet10@mac.com
We are a cruising family with three boys ages, 5, 7 and 12. We are currently in Jamaica and weather depending heading down to Curacao beginning June 7, 2008 to spend hurricane season there. We have been cruising in Cuba, Grand Cayman and Jamaica and have yet to run accross any other children. Our kids would love some other child interaction and we are hoping to find some children for them to spend hurricane season with in Curracao. Please email us if you are planning to be there or around the area for this season. Also if you know of anyone who will be there if you could forward on our information. These are not definite plans either so if know where there will be a group of kids elsewhere, please let us know. We know alot of people spend their time in Trinidad but we were also told more people are heading to the ABC and Venezuela now. Any information would be great.
Monkey Feet

Monkey Feet's Original Posting
January 2008
monkeyfeet10@mac.com
We are a family of five, us and our 3 boys ages, 4, 6 and 12. We are currently situated in St. Petersburg, FL and in the next month or so will be heading across to Cuba and down through the Caribbean to be in and around Trinidad, Grenada for hurricane season. If there are any other families out there travelling in the same direction we would love to hear from you. Especially for our 12 year old, we have found it easy to find families in the same area as us with the younger aged children, but our oldest would love someone to talk to and hang out with. Also, it would be nice for everyone to have someone else to travel with. Our vessel name is Monkey Feet, we look forward to hearing from you.

Indian Ocean

Yacht Indigo
vitaminbead@hotmail.com
Hi we are currently based in Bali Indonesia, heading June 2007 to SE Asian waters - Sing/Malasia/Thailand. Have 2 girls on board, 8 & 6 and wanting to meet up with boats with kids around the same age. Heading across to Red Sea in Jan 2008 to be Med based for unspecified time at the moment. Adrienne, Uli, Arlee & Bella

Mediterranean

Cruising family Eastern Med
posted February 2008
alexinaofshoreham@hotmail.com
Hi, my name is Tiger. I am 7 years old and cruise the Eastern Med aboard my yacht Alexina, a Nicholson 38, together with my crew, Mum and Dad. I are currently wintering at Yacht Marine in Marmaris. My plans are to head north to Istanbul and the Black Sea, then around the Aegean to winter in the Ionian. I often travel in company with another cruising boat with 2 children on board, a girl 7 and a boy 4. We would all love to meet other children on the way and any families planning on wintering in the Ionian. Tiger, Helen and Peter.

Gibraltar - Christmas 2007
jenicltd@hotmail.com
We are a cruising family of four, with Greg and Jenny (mum and dad) and Jessica (13) and Nick (12). We are cruising the western Med and Algarve areas until May 2008 on a Moody 33, "NEBULA". We intend to spend Christmas around the Gibraltar area. Would love to hear from other families with children of similar ages. Even if you are not in this area the children would like to hear from other cruisers of a similar age to share experiences.

Looking for cruising families in the Med
updated July 2007
www.thebartonsafloat.spaces.live.com, cowrieofcowes@googlemail.com
We are a British family of 4 with two children, Tom aged 11 and George aged 8. We are cruising out of Marseille this July in our Jeanneau Sun Odyessy 45.2 "Cowrie of Cowes" and plan to spend a year in the Med before crossing on the ARC 2008. We’d like to find any families who will be cruising the Med at this time and any families who may be over wintering in Turkey. The Barton Family.

Sweden - Turkey April - Nov 2008 [see above]

Pacific

Sailmakanikai [see above]

Teenagers aboard s/v Purrrfection
July 2007
purrrfection at ocens dot net (written that way to avoid spam) ki4fsd at winlink dot org (for those with Sailmail or Winlink addresses) Hello! The crew of s/v Purrrfection (a 42' Fontaine Pajot Venezia catamaran) is Sam, Jennifer and kids Tori (age 14) and Alison (age 12). We are currently in French Polynesia, then heading to the Cooks, Samoas, Tonga and then hurricane season 2007-2008 in Whangarei, New Zealand. The girls are always looking for company their age and love to email with other kids. Tori also has started an SSB net for teens (or almost teens) in the Pacific and has had a great response so far. Tune in on 8137 USB at 0300 UTC and join in. Sometimes "life" gets in the way and Tori may not be on, but anyone listening in at that time should just make a general call for any other kid boats on the frequency. An alternate frequency at the same time is 8143 USB. Happy Sailing! The crew of s/v Purrrfection (Check out our blog at www.sailblogs.com/member/purrrfection)

Reports

Boat Kid Chatter - a new forum for cruising kids

TV DOCUMENTARY LOOKING FOR FAMILIES TAKING GAP YEARS

Cruisers Kids Net For Pacific Through To End Of 2007

Cruising with kids and 5th Grade Calvert Course available

Research Into Travel Benefits For Cruising Children

New Google Group Cruisers With Kids

Xmas Island & Cocos Keeling for cruising kids

Links

Active Yahoo Group for Families
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sailing_Kids/

Boat Kid Chatter
www.Nordhavn.com
A forum for boat kids up to the age 13, and for those thinking about going cruising who have lots of questions to ask.

FIRST COLLEGE UK
http://www.firstcollege.co.uk
Online high school UK 11-17yrs. LIVE CLASSES ONLINE daily. Small sized, personal approach, class limit 15 students. IGCSE exams or non-exam studies. Very experienced teachers' & home educators' co-operative; family learning community online , camps etc.

SSCA discussion board
http://www.ssca.org/sscabb/index.php
Has a families and home schooling section.

Wilderness School
http://www.wildernesskidsclub.com/
www.wilderness-school.us Source for outdoor learning activities for students of all ages.

http://www.thecruisinglife.com
http://www.thecruisinglife.com/?page=family

Seeking Views Of Sailing Parents and Teenagers (06 Dec 2007)

Seeking Interviewees For Survey on Boat Schooling Options (09 Jul 2007)