Ooooh, says Video Annie. Magic bolts! Watch as we get our frames blasted and painted and get “real creative” (Brandon term) making custom bolts to fit the stupid binding posts for the windows. Thanks, as always, to the boys at Perdido Sailor, Inc. for helping us DIY’ers on the re-fit. Enjoy the video!
You might have thought it was the rigging, or the bottom job, or the (oh yeah) falling-off keel but you’d be wrong. It was the horrendous job of popping our our windows, scraping away the mess, replacing the crackled lexan, then painting and putting them back in. Particularly when one was 5,200’ed (that’s a word) in. Subscribe. Share. Don’t use 5200. Ever. And enjoy!
Why would you sign up for the passage then?
While I have received approximately 93.8 questions since I shared the exciting news that I will be crossing the Atlantic on a non-stop voyage this June, many ranging from the comical to concerned, the well-founded to the what-in-the-world?, but this one─“Why would you go if you can’t share it on YouTube?”─really frustrated me. I think it’s important I take a moment to make sure my platform and message here is clear.
I love to write and film and share my journey, but first and foremost in that is my desire to embark on journeys. The experience is primary. The ability to share the experience with the masses is secondary. What I hope I have conveyed and achieved here is my goal to document and share my journey so that it inspires others to follow their dreams, including the desire to go cruising. Is it my goal to share the story and experience of a friend who has asked that I not? No. Never. Any time a fellow cruiser has asked me and any time one may ask me in the future: “Please don’t film this” (or “Please don’t blast this on YouTube”), I will gladly honor that request, not unfriend him, stomp away in a huff and lose the experience of his company.
Okay, rant over. But that had to be said. If any of YOU out there are struggling to start and grow your own sailing blog or YouTube channel and have ever found it, at any point in time, frustrating, please remember cruising is about the experience. If something in your life is hindering that experience, take a step back and assess its importance to you and your attitude about it. Do and create things you love and don’t worry about those who cast hate on it.
I am excited about this Atlantic-crossing trip, exuberant really. The Captain’s request is well-founded, legitimate and I am grateful he honored my request to share my content about the Atlantic-crossing on Patreon. If you feel a couple dollars a week is worth it for the experience? Wonderful. If you don’t? Wonderful. It will not deter me in any way from continuing to share my Atlantic content on Patreon and my as-always free content on YouTube and here on the blog.
As a treat, here is a fun little snippet of the video I’m working hard on for Friday about our “work project of the re-fit.” Also, because I knew I would soon be doing some serious traveling (“What? Where to?” France people! Try to keep up!), I finally had to roll over and upgrade my long-time friend and two-year running $115 Chromebook and exclusive use of online video editing software to a computer that would allow me to create videos and write offline. This is the first little mini movie I made on the new MacBook using iMovie and (and!) I got a new mic for Voiceover Annie. *applause* Enjoy!
I’m also very excited about where things are going with the Nonsuch book. Phillip, as it seems he always does (he’s kind of annoyingly awesome that way), came up with a fantastic idea for an overall theme and fun spin on the book and I’m typing away fervently every day trying to work it in. I will send out a request soon for advanced readers so some of you (you’ll have to jump on it quick!) can get a free glimpse of the book in exchange for an honest Amazon review. Plenty of HaveWind goodness to come!
On Patreon this week, I will be sharing more details about the Atlantic trip and will try to answer some of the many (far more legitimate … that’s the last time I will say it) questions I have received about the trip:
1) When are you leaving?
2) Why Non-Stop?
3) Are You Paid Crew?
If you’re interested and inclined …
If you’re not? No worries! ; ) I’ll catch you here on Wednesday.