Sometime in 2005 we had a crazy idea. We would take some time off to drop out of our normal life routine and sail the Eastern Caribbean with our 4 children, Kiana(13), Cole(11), Luke(9), and Tyler(9).
Over the following two years, Kendra and I learned to sail (no, we didn't know how to sail when we came up with the idea). Many people validated that yes our idea was the craziest that they had ever heard and that we were on the verge of being irresponsible, putting our family in such a risky situation. Others just kept silent! (But their body language was easy to read). Enough people did encourage us to pursue our dream and admitted that this was the type of idea that once you make the decision, if you do not follow through on the decision, it will haunt you for the rest of your lives.
W
ith positive encouragement keeping us going, we began planning our trip. We spent many hours finding the right boat which turned out to be a 2002 Robertson & Caine Leopard 42 catamaran. We also spent countless hours formulating a plan for how our home lives, work lives, and business lives would be taken care of while we were gone. The kids began the 2007 school year home schooling and we will continue this throughout our trip.
In August, 2007 we took possession of our new sail boat ‘ONE LIFE’ on the island of Martinique. The day after taking possession, hurricane Dean passed over Martinique to give us a taste of the power of Mother Nature.
Luckily, ‘ONE LIFE’’s life was not meant to end that day and survived with minor damage. Once the hurricane moved on and the seas calmed, Kendra and I sailed ‘ONE LIFE’ south to Grenada where she sat docked at Clarkes Court Bay Marina to wait out the hurricane season.
On November 2, 2007 we returned to Grenada and ‘ONE LIFE” as a family and our adventure began.
The Matwichuk Family
S/V ONE LIFE
Over the following two years, Kendra and I learned to sail (no, we didn't know how to sail when we came up with the idea). Many people validated that yes our idea was the craziest that they had ever heard and that we were on the verge of being irresponsible, putting our family in such a risky situation. Others just kept silent! (But their body language was easy to read). Enough people did encourage us to pursue our dream and admitted that this was the type of idea that once you make the decision, if you do not follow through on the decision, it will haunt you for the rest of your lives.
W
ith positive encouragement keeping us going, we began planning our trip. We spent many hours finding the right boat which turned out to be a 2002 Robertson & Caine Leopard 42 catamaran. We also spent countless hours formulating a plan for how our home lives, work lives, and business lives would be taken care of while we were gone. The kids began the 2007 school year home schooling and we will continue this throughout our trip.In August, 2007 we took possession of our new sail boat ‘ONE LIFE’ on the island of Martinique. The day after taking possession, hurricane Dean passed over Martinique to give us a taste of the power of Mother Nature.
Luckily, ‘ONE LIFE’’s life was not meant to end that day and survived with minor damage. Once the hurricane moved on and the seas calmed, Kendra and I sailed ‘ONE LIFE’ south to Grenada where she sat docked at Clarkes Court Bay Marina to wait out the hurricane season.On November 2, 2007 we returned to Grenada and ‘ONE LIFE” as a family and our adventure began.
The Matwichuk Family
S/V ONE LIFE
