Sailing Home

Sailing home after a three-year circumnavigation was a journey filled with emotions: anticipation, relief, and a touch of sadness as we prepared to leave our liveaboard life behind. The final 2000 nautical mile leg from St. Martin in the Caribbean to the northeastern shore of the United States was special. Thanks to Pierre’s careful weather planning, we managed to slip between two weather systems, and the Gulf Stream was relatively calm compared to the start of our world tour. When we left United States in 2021 the Gulf Steam was not so friendly, and waves crashed over the coach roof of BioTrek.

Relatively calm Gulf Stream on our way home

Our circumnavigation officially concluded when we reached the Caribbean. My sister Krista joined us in Brazil for the journey across the equator, a fun milestone for blue water sailors where sometimes time seems to stand still. This was our fourth equator crossing; the first two were during our earlier voyage via the Red Sea route around 20 years ago. Three years ago, on this journey, we crossed the equator in the Pacific Ocean after transiting the Panama Canal.

During the final year of our trip with the GLYWO rally, we crossed the Indian Ocean and turned south at Mauritius to sail around South Africa, stopping in Cape Town for Christmas. Then we crossed the South Atlantic with stops in St. Helena Island and Brazil before heading home. In Martinique, Tiller completed her first circumnavigation—a unique achievement for a dog!

Homeward bound, our stop in St. Martin was especially memorable due to the time spent with friends from POM3 (sailing another Outremer 5X) and with family who flew down to meet us. Departing from St. Martin, Pierre and I enjoyed our eight-day non-stop journey home with Tiller as our loyal crew. Tiller always senses land before we see it, which added to the excitement of our homecoming.

Krista and Michael look at BioTrek from Villa Mapai, St. Martin.

As we neared the Rhode Island coastline, we spotted ocean wind farms, a new navigational hazard that had appeared during our absence! Tiller sat on deck, smelling and watching intently—did she know we were returning to a familiar place?  Our niece Chrissy (US Navy Officer), who had been tracking our journey on AIS, met us at the dock to greet us and expertly tied our lines.

Chrissy greats Tiller

Our friend Catherine delivered our car from Boston to Newport, allowing us to leave the boat for a few days to return home. Tiller was ecstatic when reunited with two of her favorite people!

Returning home was wonderful yet overwhelming with so much to do—catching up on administrative duties, reuniting with family and friends, and preparing BioTrek for sale. Despite 45,000 miles at sea, BioTrek looked good thanks to the care and maintenance along the way. We had to drive back and forth between Newport and Boston many, many times to take care of BioTrek before the new owners took possession.  Even now, with BioTrek sold, we return to keep an eye on her sometimes. The new owners will only return after hurricane season to start their own

circumnavigation.  

BioTrek in Newport

Transitioning from boat life to city life has been fun as we rediscover Boston. We appreciate long hot showers and fully stocked grocery stores, things that most people here take for granted. As we recount stories of the remote places we sailed to, it feels like sharing tales from another life. When friends ask about our sailing adventures, they often inquire, “Did you encounter any storms?” not fully grasping that sailors live weather, watch weather, and prepare for adverse conditions. We lived the challenge of navigating vast oceans, sometimes under unpleasant conditions. We had the thrill of catching Mahi, tuna or Wahoo along our route, and seeing Tiller’s excitement as we landed a fish.  We witnessed opening and closing displays to each day as exploding sunrises, breathtaking sunsets or ominous clouds that obscured the horizon.

This second circumnavigation, a three-year journey, was more than a voyage; it was transformative, leaving an indelible mark on our lives. Twenty years between our voyages allowed us to witness first-hand changes in the oceans. Our time at sea has provided us with a fresh perspective to our planet and the importance of preserving it.   

Please stay tuned to the BioTrek Sailing YouTube channel for more content to come! This will be the final blog on the BioTrek Sailing website.