Miniyachts, Mega Adventures — Megayachts, Mini Adventures
We have an upcoming podcast with Josh Kali, who recently finished the McIntyre Mini Globe Race around the world in his 19-ft sloop Skookum. The scale of his small yacht, which just sailed 24,000 miles around the world, provided sharp relief to the megayachts tethered to the docks in English Harbour, Antigua. Up until about 30 years ago, places like Tahiti, Tonga, Antigua, St. Barts and many more were destinations for adventurers and explorers. The voyages were often inspired by people like Captain Cook, Joshua Slocum, Webb Chiles, the Pardeys or Robin Lee Graham. It was Robin Lee Graham who said, “One learns from the sea how little one needs, not how much.”
We were thinking of the adventures of people we’ve written about in Changes in Latitudes, and Josh Kali whose stories we’ve shared in ‘Lectronic Latitude, and wondered if it is even possible to have an adventure on a megayacht. With the enormous amount of indoor space and comfort, one wonders how much the guests know about what’s going on outside. How different is the yacht from their home or office?
We know we get excited by your adventures in the Baja Ha-Ha, the Pacific Puddle Jump, or by anyone who just sets off on their own over the horizon. Randall Reeves’ Figure 8 voyage around the world was an epic cruise that started right outside the Golden Gate. The cloistered world of megayacht owners has them traveling in packs to places like St. Barts at New Year’s where dozens of them gather to see and be seen. Most cruisers we know are trying to keep it simple and “get away from it all.” Sadly, there are the oligarchs who are showing up and bringing it all with them. They say, “You can’t take it with you,” but the oligarchs are trying their best.
To find real sailing adventures, have a look at this month’s Changes in Latitudes, where you’ll find the story of Scott and Jennifer Brigham, whose Valiant 40 Pendragon is anchored in the photo above. If you’re currently on a real sailing adventure, we’d love to hear your sailing story. Email us here.