Names of Owners (and crew): Christine and Matt Mitchell

Nationality:  American

Boat Name:  SV Sugar Shack

Boat Type/Model and Size:  Catana 471 (47ft/14.5m)

Your Home Port:  Austin, Texas, United States
 
Blog/website/facebook pages:

• svsugarshack.com
• https://www.facebook.com/svsugarshack
• Instagram: @svsugarshack
• noforeignland.com/map/boat/svsugarshack
• https://www.youtube.com/@svsugarshack

We are not super active on YouTube,  but you can always find us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram and No Foreign Land.

Describe what sort of cruiser are you:

Matt and I have lived full-time on-board Sugar Shack for the past nine years. We are always super excited to host friends and family, but for the most part, it is just the two of us cruising full time. It’s a joy to celebrate every day as a Friday.

What type of cruising are you doing currently?

We spent the first year cruising in the Atlantic and the last eight years have been spent cruising in the Pacific.   This season we will explore the north coast of New Zealand. In April 2026 we plan to head West starting with New Caledonia, Australia and on to Indonesia.

We are pretty conservative sailors and are willing to wait for the better weather window to make a passage. However, our boat is a “go fast” boat and likes to move, which makes passages thrilling and challenging all in one go.

What were the key reason you selected your current boat?

We absolutely love our Catana 471. Our 2001 performance cruising catamaran is known for its speed and safety. In addition, she was specifically designed for easy, efficient and safe long-distance offshore sailing with access to all of the lines from the cockpit.

We make frequent use of our daggerboards which are excellent for upwind sailing. Plus, the boat is super light with a high bridge deck to reduce slamming. The interior is spacious, comfortable, and perfect for full-time cruisers.

As much as I hate to say it, we have loads of storage in our owner’s version vessel.  Sugar Shack literally ticked all of our boxes when looking for our first yacht and has proven to be all that she promised.

What other boats have you owned?

Small Mastercraft wake board boat (Lake Austin based ski boat).

What changes have you made to your current boat?

Oh, where to begin on the upgrades and modifications.? We’ve added CZone (automated electrical system with two panels and remote iPad access for all controls), Mastervolt lithium batteries, a solar arch, 3000w of solar, Air conditioning, (2) parasails, (1) spinnaker, (2) portable generators, (1) dive compressor, stainless counter tops, 316 stainless fixtures (galley and heads), (2) inverter chargers, stainless chain and anchor, V5 Lewmar windlass, HF (SSB) radio, Wetsounds bow stereo speakers, trampoline, dinghy and chaps.

We’ve upgraded the heating system, modified the helm stations to accommodate new chart plotters, dyform standing rigging, running rigging, most lines replaced, all electronics were upgraded (2018), cockpit enclosure, window (rain and sun shade covers), rain flashing on the large windows, custom vinyl stickers, ceiling panels, interior/exterior cushions.

Most useful equipment fitted, and reasons for this choice:

It’s hard to narrow down the one most useful piece of equipment, so I will give you our top three:

• Parasail (divine!) We purchased a beautiful 170sqm parasailor and it provides us with so many more sailing options. Our boat points really well upwind, but the parasail gives us a lot more opportunity to sail different wind angles.
• Wireless remote for the windlass and a remote at the Helm: Allows us more opportunities to deploy the anchor from different places on the boat.
• Cockpit enclosure: We added both sun and rain shades which we’ve used daily. We love the versatility each provides while still being able to see out.
• Starlink was a game-changer for us. We hate to love it, but we do.

Equipment regrets, or things you would do differently:

We replaced our Avon dinghy with a Highfield 360 and it has not lived up to our expectations. Our Avon, hard, V-bottom dinghy lasted for 23 years. She was heavy, but she handled all sea situations while keeping us comfortable and dry.

However, during her last year she had a few leaks in the pontoon. Unfortunately, the manufacturer is no longer making the smaller Avon dinghies. The cost to replace the pontoons was similar to purchasing a new Highfield. So, we opted for the new dinghy and sold the Avon.

The Highfield certainly gets us  around, but the driver is often splashed and wet. In retrospect, we wish we kept the Avon and replaced her pontoons.

List the countries you have cruised:

In no particular order: Turkey, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Saint Barth, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique, Grenada, Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Panama, Galapagos, French Polynesia, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Columbia and Chile.

Future cruising plans:

Written in sand, during low tide, our current plans are to head West. Over the next five years we will slowly make our way toward the East Coast of the U.S. where we plan to spend half the year on the east coast and the other half in the Bahamas.

We are not 100% certain which direction we will take to get there, but right now we are heading towards New Caledonia, Australia and Indonesia in 2026. We will then hit Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, South Africa, Namibia, St. Helena, Brazil, Caribbean to the U.S.

List the oceans/seas you have crossed:

North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, South Pacific

Approximate sea miles:

So far, 64,000NM.

Scariest day on the water:

We lost one of our rudders somewhere between Minerva Reef and Tonga and had to sail over 1,000nm to get a replacement. Luckily, we quickly learned how to efficiently manoeuvre the boat with one rudder.

Best cruising moment:

Most downwind sails with the parasailor up on a sunny day. Being that I get terribly sea sick, I prefer calmer days. If we are flying the parasailor, it usually means we have fairly calm winds and seas on a sunny day – perfect conditions for me.

Favourite cruising area and why:

Fiji is our favorite cruising area because there is such a variety of sailing conditions and distances between the islands.  Fiji offers great wind and sea conditions with most islands a day hop away.

Favourite anchorages:

So many favorite anchorages, but they all have one thing in common – solitude. The first anchorage that came to mind when I read this question was Salt Whistle Bay in the Caribbean. But here is a list of a few more of our favorite anchorages:

• Bay of Virgins in Fatu Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia, is lovely with towering sculpted rocks.
• The “7” anchorage in Tahanea, Tuamotus, French Polynesia was pristine.
• The swimming pool at the Bay of Islands, Lau Group, Fiji.
• The Cove at Rakitu Island, Great Barrier Island, NZ, is surreal.
• Puamu Gambier, French Polynesia for its solitude, pristine waters and lovely locals.

Favourite cruising apps:

Our favorite cruising app is No Foreign Land. However, our favorite resource is Noonsite.

Favourite cruising websites:

• No Foreign Land is great when you want to locate friends, learn about anchorages, passes and locations of almost anything you can think of.
• Noonsite provides wonderful knowledge and background on each country, news and more.
• www.svSoggyPaws.com/files has the fantastically useful compendiums for 25 countries with everything a cruiser needs to know about that country.
• Island Cruising membership portal is full of excellent resources.

What advice or message would you want to pass on to anyone new to cruising or thinking about casting off the dock lines?

Living, working and sailing on a sailboat is a joy and privilege that should not be taken for granted. Take classes or lessons if you are thinking of sailing or buying a sailboat. There are countless sailing clubs around the world – join one. Learn how to sail before you get behind the helm.

Don’t be afraid to sit down with other cruisers and ask them to give you a realistic view of cruising (not a YouTube or Patreon view).  Go to boat shows and look at the different types of boats to see what models meets your needs and then charter that boat.  Trying before you buy is a good idea if you can.  Many brands have forums, chats, and online groups. Find that tool for the brand of boat you like and ask the members questions to help you make the right decision for you.

Remember, when you arrive to a new country that you are a visitor, so ensure you understand the local customs and follow the rules. Some are easier to follow than others, but all are important to the locals.  Also, set a good example for those cruisers who follow in your path.

Why cruise? In a few sentences, what is it that inspires you to keep cruising?

Cruising gives you the ability to travel to far-reaching places, meeting new people, learning new cultures, and enjoying once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Despite my sea-sickness, I love the freedom of sailing (in good conditions) to new places.

Any other comments about the cruising life?

Living the cruising lifestyle has many pros and cons and you have to decide what you are willing to accept. Yes, you can visit amazing places, sleep in gorgeous anchorages and experience many cultures. But, remember you will have to quickly learn how to maintain your boat’s plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems while producing your own power and water. It is a big responsibility, but it gives you great freedom and is truly a liberating feeling.

Christine and Matt Mitchell
SV Sugar Shack

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Noonsite Reports from SV Sugar Shack:

• Updates from Kiribati and Tuvalu

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