Listen to This

— by Jason

Tomorrow morning we’re scheduled to relaunch Debonair at the boatyard here in Sitka. We’d hoped to work on her out of the water for about a week, but it’s been raining and it’s forecast to continue raining for the foreseeable future, so we cut the haul out short. It was gratifying to work as a family—a team, a crew—on the boat in the yard this year. With limited time, we all worked hard, got dirty and got done what we needed to get done.

Family/Team/Crew

After launching, we’ll push on towards the little village of Petersburg. We’ll move pretty quickly through some beautiful parts of Southeast Alaska, so that we can get there and have time to downrig and winterize the boat. After last winter’s punishing snow, we’ll cover her this year to try to protect her better from the elements.

We’ll send another post from Petersburg about what we’ve been up to since we left Prince William Sound. (The short version is: Alaska continues to amaze us.) For now, I wanted to give you the link to a podcast of a conversation that Caitlin had with a colleague of hers. The conversation begins as a discussion about courage and ends up being about life and challenges and risk and considering your values and how to follow them. We listened to it as a family tonight, and I know I’m biased, but I loved it. For me, what Caitlin talks about in that conversation, and how she says it, is the clearest, most complete and thoughtful distillation of the important parts of what we’re trying to do with our family and this boat.

Listen to Caitlin on the Bright Morning Podcast

We’ll sail through Olga Strait, Neva Strait, Sergius Narrows, Peril Strait, Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound on the way to Petersburg. Tonight, Arlo said he was looking forward to getting underway again. It made me glad to hear that, to be reminded of that. Here in the final days of this summer, as Caitlin and I turn toward the challenges of putting the boat to bed and getting ourselves back into our life at home, we have one more little passage together here in Alaska.

9 thoughts on “Listen to This”

  1. As Jason said, the podcast was amazing to listen to. I can understand that this talk is what it is all about when you as a family took on this adventure. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the last trip before settling the boat down for winter.

    1. Thanks for listening, Hetty! Elena asked really good questions, so we got right into what matters.

  2. Hope the last leg of this year’s journey goes well. We’re looking forward to more pictures along the way.
    Happy birthday to Jason this week. Sarvis berry pie or mocha pound cake to celebrate?
    All the best. Stay safe.
    Susan and Fred

    1. Susie, thank you for this and for the birthday wishes for Jason. We’ll look forward to catching up.

  3. Yes CJAA,
    Your Alaska journey so different from the Southern Pacific one culturally and geographically, we KNOW you all will love as fully as the first!! We listened to your podcast C and found is truly inspiring and informative!!! Like your Dads’ podcast in Falmouth, talking about the important things about their journey to The Cape with you and Megan as very young sailors , I hear their voices in your voice!!! I absolutely am astounded by that and yet I expected it to be that way with your whole family unit!! Congratulations on making a difference in the many wsys you all do!! Heavens!!
    Looking forward to more news, we love you !
    Safe and fun sailing!!
    JEpc

  4. I wish I had known you when I was young which , of course, would have been impossible. The world would have been so much broader and stimulating. I had a very unimaginative upbringing , bowing to traditional convention, which didn’t allow for much leeway. Thank you for allowing me a peek into your world. Hope your return to Alameda goes well, and you can again adjust to everyday life .

    1. Thanks for this lovely thought, Harriet. I wish I’d known you when you were young too. Thank you for entering my brain a little and sharing your reactions. Much love.

  5. This current chapter is as delightful as all that have come before, with a special added bit of delightful. Thank you, all four of you, for being.
    I look forward to the next installment!
    —
    Nolan

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