Men are rewarded and punished not for what they do,
but rather for how their acts are defined.
This is why men are more interested in better justifying themselves
than in better behaving themselves.
-Thomas Szasz-


Map: ©Microsoft Encarta World Atlas




Where am I?

A simple question that could be answered in many ways. I'm in Curacao. I'm on this planet. I'm in the middle of my life. (I'm 42-years-young). But where am I going?

When we (Annina and I) left Finland 2008, our plan was to "follow the flocks" across Atlantic, continue to Panama Canal, stop briefly in Galapagos and then let the South Pacific trade winds push us home to Australia, ETA September 2009.

A slow decision

So let's get down to the key words of the year 2009: "Change" and "Yes We Can". You see, the change from high volcanic islands to smaller and drier rocks wasn't the only change we've had recently. There's also a change of plans taking place. It's been a slow decision that we haven't made. That's right, we haven't really made it. The decision has made itself upon us. It's been a true example of "going with the flow".

Some of you would have noticed that it's already May and we're still happily killing time somewhere hundreds of miles east of Panama. Most yachts doing the "Coconut Milk Run" are already well on their way across Polynesia. We could still make it there, easy. Pop out to Paficic side, touch down quickly in Galapagos and follow the flocks to west until the Great Barrier Reef appears infront of us. But what's the rush? Why hurry?

I know the words "rush", "hurry" and "busy" are not used quite in the same context than in a more "normal" working life. Yeah, If we only have 8 months to sail the tropical seas from Caribbean to Cairns, that's makes us feel "rushed", "in a hurry" and "too busy". Yeah, 8 months is not enough. This sort of language probably causes some disagreements with my dad and Annina's parents, who are likely to view our cruising as a "holiday beyond our means" or "disregard to our duties as good tax-paying(?) citicens" or perhaps "neglecting the absolutely important need to work hard for our pensions". Let it be known, that this is not the way I see it. When I arrived on this planet, I entered in no contract with any society, nor do I owe anything to the societies that I have lived in during my life here. I am not on a holiday, instead I'm taking on more responsibility than most working people, while gaining life experience that has a value exceeding any pension fund. Thirdly, I don't plan to live my life working hard and then retire. I plan to live my life doing things I love, getting paid for them and then die, happy.

Make work your play, and you don't have to work a single day in your life!
- Who Said That? -




Grenada Magic. Yeah, with life - like with women - some effort is required if you are to get those magic moments.


The above sounded like I need to justify my life to others, doesn't it? To who? I really don't have to justify anything I do, except to myself. Perhaps the programming we receive about the right way to live life still works? Perhaps I still need my own family to stop looking at me as a some sort of a "non-achiever" or atleast the "prodigal son". It is a question of VALUES. In my values, I have achieved more than I could dream of, while gaining more capital than I can ever spend and being able to pass on the largest possible fortune to my children (should we manage to conceive...) This, I truly believe. In my world, in the way I value human life, things are not measured with money. Atleast not all the time.

How do we do it? One day at a time. Thank's to a few regular pages published in a Finnish magazine, we have money trickling in. The expenses are still greater but we should just last another year with our savings. We only have a cheap third-party insurance and we have no property anywhere in the world - except this little tub underneath us called Aliisa. While we have no investments or capital, we also have no debts or obligations. In that respect, we are much wealthier than many who live a seemingly extravagant life ashore. Yet, I often long for the end of all the worrying, the responsibilities that come with FREEDOM.

Excuse me for all the preaching. Sometimes I just need to get things said, perhaps to make things clear to myself. No harm done if they become clear to the reader as well. So, what about this change? Let me get to the point. The plan so far has been to follow the tradewinds to Australia, cross Panama in March, spend a few days in Galapagos and follow the flocks across South Pacific. The new plan is to swing up to Cuba and Jamaica before returning back down towards Panama. Heading up to North Caribbean (hurricane area) in May obviously means that we won't be back in Panama area (outside hurricane belt) until June, maybe not until early July. The longest passage is around 500 miles and with modern communications and weather forecasting, we are willing to push our Caribbean season a little further.


It's all too difficult and stressful sometimes



... and sometimes it's all just waaay too much fun.


We are in a hurry again! It's crazy. Like cruising is just one big rush from place to place? I must be missing something. Probably the funds that one get from staying in school and working hard for 40 years BEFORE going cruising. Ah, nevermind. No regrets. Back to the plan: Panama seems to have shitloads of nice places, so why not hang out there for a bit. Maybe that's where the rush will end? Costa Rica sounds nice but the weather and the storm season will decide if we ever get up that direction. Equador is reported to be difficult and expensive with permits and authorities. Galapagos is a weird one, as you are allowed to stay without permit, but only in one port. The real permit will only cost US100 but also an additional US 300 to an agent and after that you still have to pay the authorities in Galapagos itself. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'll let you know later. Peru's attraction is purely inland, not in the cruising, but getting down to Callao (Lima) will give us a more reasonable wind angle for the long passage to Easter Island.

Easter Island, Pitcairns and the Gambier Islands are all officially outside the South Pacific cyclone area, and if we time our travels right, we'll be entering the French Polynesia around April 2010. That leaves us about 5 months to follow the trades west and arrive in Australia - probably Rockhampton or Mackay - in late August or early September. And it's all downwind from there, up the coast, ending with an emotional reunion with the concrete berth up the creek in Cairns, the Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron. Will I still know anyone there? I'll let you know that too, in due time. But now I must go and worry about things.



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