The unconventional life of a solo female sailor: What? How? Why Singlehanded Cruising? What’s The Philosophy behind this? At work painting fine art inside my sailboat, Angel. ‘What a strange life to live’, some may say. Roaming across long stretches of water and seeing different shores while living on a sailboat. Irresponsible! Some blurt out. Can’t fit in society! Accuse others. Real irresponsibility is the failure to be true to yourself and to the life you were meant to live. Existing in a charade, not following your true path, brings misery and depression. (Trust me, I’ve been there!). Life seems to have no meaning, and in this state, a person is not very productive in society. On the other hand, those who’ve made the effort to change and discover a more meaningful path in life are highly productive members of society. Because they recognized their life’s joy and are pursuing it, they find it easier to connect to fellow man and spread their positivism to others. There’s nothing irresponsible or selfish about that. ‘Fitting into society’ is a matter of perspective and what one defines as his or her particular society. It’s a multi-cultural world out there, with many different lifestyles being experienced by an interestingly diverse human species. Individuals must discover and explore their own ways of fitting into the whole; on their own terms and at their own pace.   WHY WATER AND BOATS? Dad brought me onboard his boat (powerboat) since infancy. Both sides of the family come from generations of sea-farers, mostly working fishermen and sailing merchants. As a teen, I cruised through the Caribbean, which instilled the present-day appreciation for tropical climes. Most family members live on islands or along coasts and, unfortunately, several sea-going relatives have been lost in shipwrecks. Growing up with fishing/water/cruise-loving parents influenced my path. Being raised on powerboats first, and sailboats later, fostered a love for all types of maritime travel. (Yes, I’ll bristle when a sailor uses the childishly derogatory word ‘stinkpotter’.) Cruising the ICW Angel and Rebecca living their joy. Angel at Rest LEARNING FROM FAILURE However, when this baby bird jumped the nest during the later teen years, I tried to conform to American social norms and pressures. As I worked my way through college, boats and water were set aside. Then came home ownership, a professional career, and the materialistic “American Dream”; these are just fine if they’re right for you. However, it was far out of character for me. I was doing what I thought society wanted me to do, and not what I truly wanted deep down. I started spending more time at the marina than in my house on land. Living a lie brought on feelings of withdrawal, health issues and depression. An unexpected visit to the hospital served as a serious wake up call. Instead of trying to be something that I wasn’t, I had to learn the importance of being true to myself.   RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, SAILBOAT vs MARRAIGE A sailboat soon wedged her way into my life while the house, career and, yes, a relationship, felt more and more unreal. My innocent partner in the relationship deserved better and compared my boating habits to that of an affair. Unhappy comments were made about the way I touched the sailboat and spent money on her, not to mention all the time spent sailing. It was true; I was in love with my sailboat. Feeling guilty and realizing that my partner deserved a more suitable relationship- something I was never really able to provide with a boat’s presence or not; we parted amicably to allow room for new beginnings. When you deeply respect someone in a way that’s not shallow puppy love or selfish neediness, you just want to see them happy and flourishing. It didn’t help that I’d been trying to be something I wasn’t, and my partner didn’t need to suffer because of my own folly. It was time to move on so we could both grow those flight feathers back and find our suitable paths in life.   WHY SOLO SAIL? Being a nomadic, solo sailor on a small boat is not a form of escapism or an attempt to run away from personal problems. It’s just a way of life (and the call of those generations of family roots). Self-sufficiency, independence and moments of solitude are important to me. Singlehanded sailing meets these needs while I still get to socialize with others in port, so there’s a healthy balance between having one’s own space and enjoying meaningful friendships with other human beings. Friends are the most valuable things one can have. Docility or domesticity never suited me, so there wasn’t an urge to have a family or live the married life (aside from going through that do-what-society-expects phase). Biological clock? I think mine’s broken. It’s been said that people who choose not to have children are ‘selfish’. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. The time and energy not spent on raising a family is given to society in other forms. (i.e., Volunteering, working ashore, helping other boaters at the docks, donating artwork and other skills in whatever waterfront community I happen to be near.)   Singlehanding also allows for a more intimate connection between sailor and vessel; at least for me it does. Underway, Angel and I are like one being, and I never feel alone when sailing far out in the middle of nowhere. Many sailors also believe that a boat has a soul and is alive, especially an older vessel who’s seen plenty of travel. My native cultural background and its perspective on spiritual matters strongly influences this belief and tends to run away with it a bit. This may sound odd to a non-sailor and one has to become familiar with sailing to understand such a personal connection. Sailboats are amazingly adept at stealing a boat owner’s affection and devotion (and bank accounts). It’s also easy to anthropomorphize them. Working inside Angel THE MARITIME WAY OR TOO MUCH ADRENALIN? This type of maritime travel is for recreation, as well as for earning a living. (My line of work: marine electrician, outboard mechanic and boating writer are all require me to be on the water!) It’s not the same as those who sail out to prove something or break a man-made record for attention, self-discovery or public accolade. Also, I’m not one of those living-on-the-edge adrenaline junkies who delight in putting themselves in harm’s way. (Much respect to those lovable, tough souls, but I’m glad it’s not me doing that!) This particular way of boating life has nothing to do with people who need to put on a show to be the fastest/youngest/oldest/- fill in the latest fad here- to sail around the world or whatever route is considered to be the most prestigious at the moment. I'm just on the job and living it. The frenetic pursuit of new boating records does have its merit and those serious attempts are a testament to the true resilience of the human spirit. Onlookers are often inspired and will try harder at tackling the odds in their own lives. Realistically, the boating life is a very private, personal thing and we don’t go out of the way to seek attention or approval (unless we’re making websites like this one to share with others so they can see if they might be interested in the boating life). Thousands of people enjoy the water and travel to different shores. The maritime way is a lifestyle and not the fleeting contest of someone’s oversized ego. Boating writers share the realistic aspects of the life in hopes to inspire others. We write about it to intrigue and educate; sharing boating’s joys, its adventures and even the scary moments. Both power boating and sail, and paddling too, are wonderful things and it’s impossible to resist the joy of letting others know how fun it really is. Even if the sailing life isn’t one’s interest, you may be inspired to discover your own path and learn to be true to yourself, whatever lifestyle suits you the best.     HOW? LIVING ON A TRAVELING BOAT? Home-Made Beer and Tiny Toilets:   Living on a traveling sailing vessel is not unlike the RV experience, but with water instead of roads. Angel has all the onboard living comforts, but they’re compact. There’s an indoor hot water shower stall, water-catching basin and fold-away curtain. It’s narrow, but one gets clean nevertheless. The hot water heater only holds about five gallons at a time. The bathroom- or “head” in marine parlance- has an RV-like holding tank for waste treatment and pump out. The toilet flushes with saltwater and is slightly smaller than a household size bowl. There is a conversion for composting and this is used in areas where no pump outs are available or when pump outs are absurdly expensive. The stove has two gas powered burners instead of the household four. There’s no oven, but most boats normally have ovens. Angel also doesn’t have an electric refrigerator, just an ice box. Since I don’t eat meat, poultry, eggs or dairy products; foods that need a fridge, it’s easy to live without one. Fresh fruit and vegetables are fine in an ice box or in hanging baskets. Seafood is caught fresh or purchased from local fisherman and island markets. Ice for cocktails and for chilling beer is missed, but I brew my own beer onboard. The boat is dry and comfortable inside; deck and cabin leaks that older sailboats normally develop are promptly repaired. Many leaks are caused by improper mounting of deck hardware or aged caulk in hardware. A trucker’s mini 12-volt vacuum cleaner helps keep the dust and fuzz at bay. Sailing vessels Angel and companion cruiser, Defiant, enjoy a quiet moment. Angel's galley area. GREEN LIVING- SORT OF- Catching Rainwater, Solar Power, A Stinky Outboard:  It’s very low-impact way of life. Angel’s three sails snare the wind for pollution free propulsion. Admittedly, when the wind fades, the diesel is started. Rainwater is caught by a bimini top that I custom made using Sunbrella canvas and Defiant’s industrial sewing machine. The channeled rainwater runs through filters, then into jerrycans. It’s sterilized and filtered again after it’s drawn inside Angel’s main storage tank and is quite drinkable. Electricity is generated by photovoltaics (solar panels), which charge a battery bank. Angel presently has 305 watts of solar energy for a 420 amp/hour deep cycle, wet cell, battery bank. When the diesel engine runs, its alternator also charges the batteries, but the solar panels keep the bank charged and will still add input, though diminished, on cloudy days. All that extra electrical potential in the batteries powers efficient LED cabin lights (white & amber ones for reading, blue ones just for kicks, red ones for keeping one’s night vision sharp). Also powered are fans, marine radios, CB radio, CD player/stereo, GPS, two lap top computers, cell phone charging, and Angel’s boatish workings such as pumps and navigation lights. Angel is oriented for sailing foremost and doesn’t sacrifice function for living space. For instance, the keel-stepped mast is in the middle of the cabin near the starboard sleeping bunk. OOPS! – don’t stub the little toe. The floor and ceiling is curved like the interior of a giant egg. (I’m using regular household terms here and not trying to impress with exact marine language. EVERY English speaker knows what “floor” means- but, a sole?) Extra anchors, rope and related tackle get prime space in the bow. Sometimes the bow smells like briny, wet rope. The engine room is next to the galley where the cooking’s done, oh-boy! A favorite, the navigation station, gets the best space in the galley. Charts being plotted are clipped to a large bulkhead where a marine drafting arm is mounted. The main compass is in view nearby. Marine VHF radios and their dangly, coiled microphone cables are mounted in reach from the cockpit just inside the cabin. Safety takes precedence and sleep will be interrupted by a passing storm because the anchor has to be checked or Angel’s general well-being assured; (are the sail ties snug? Is the chafing gear falling off? Did that snap on the dodger pop open again? What’s that banging noise?). Since Angel likes the privacy, freedom from bugs and weather-room of being on a mooring or at anchor, as opposed to being latched to a noisy dock, a dinghy is needed to get to shore. A kayak is used for fun and light duty travel. A rugged RIB (rigid bottom inflatable) is employed for most land visits. To heck with rowing the damned thing, I don’t screw around and use a 15 hp Johnson outboard to run the dinghy. It’s loud, stinky, powerful and easy to repair; I love it! At about 80-pounds, it’s also still small enough for me to pick up and carry- with both hands and plenty of grunting that is.   HOORAY FOR D-I-Y, and: What’s This Gender Thing? Except for things like rebuilding the complex inner workings of Angel’s transmission or welding stainless steel, I do my own work, repairs and customizations on the vessel. The engineering and electrical background helps. My dad was a mechanic and taught me some basics as a youth. The rest I learned thanks to other’s advice and DIY books. Despite some backwards pockets within this society, gender is irrelevant regarding one’s ability to learn mechanical work. Yes, a woman can get her hands dirty and do a good job if she gains confidence and believes in herself. (Segments of this society still do a good job stifling a woman’s self confidence and blocking the path that leads to the discovery of her true potential. Some people still like to maintain the illusion that a woman needs a husband's help; that she can’t be strong or independent, that her life can only revolve around domestic things.) I prefer not to make an issue of gender, but some people still exhibit surprise at a female sailor, especially a solo one. Women own and drive their own cars, trucks, race cars and motorcycles- a more dangerous way to travel than sailing! Women fly their own planes, run businesses, and tackle things much more difficult than what I’m doing. So what’s the big deal anyways? Handling a five ton, tiller-steered, wind-powered dynamo on a wavy ocean may sound tricky, but it’s second nature for anyone after they get the hang of it. It's just a matter of building experience.   Outboard repair, marine plumbing, fiberglassing, installing hardware, rigging; all these things should be learned by a traveling cruiser. When you’re traveling though remote out islands and things break, then you’ll know how to repair them. There were numerous times I had to repair Angel’s aged diesel engine in the middle of nowhere or solve rigging issues. A serious collection of mechanic’s tools take up a goodly amount of space in Angel’s cabin.   Well, hopefully this explains the why’s and how’s of the lifestyle. If you’re interested in boating or cruising to new shores, many resources are available on the internet and in your own community. Sailing clubs and centers, and boating safety courses, are great ways to meet other interested people and become familiar with the maritime way.   How do you get electricity? - is a frequent question.  Most cruising vessels rely on a variety of power sources. Angel generates most of her power through photovoltaics: her solar panel array. (The diesel engine's alternator will also charge the battery bank should it be cloudy for an extended period.) Wind generators combined with solar are an excellent combo for cruising boats. Angel's solar panels are secured on custom mounts that I'd engineered and built with simple hand tools and easy to find materials. They're made to rotate in whatever direction the sun's angle may be at the moment for optimum performance. The photos below demonstrate some of the positions that the mounts can be rotated in. In windy or stormy conditions, and for sailing, the panels lay flat on their stainless bars and are secured in that position. Custom Solar Panel Mounts, rotated and extended (one panel away from sun for photo purposes) Solar Panel Mounts, rotated toward sun. Rebecca and Angel in the boatyard.   Angel's home-made beer, fresh on tap. (Gee, I wonder why those other boats keep following me?) Remote tropical 'boonies'. The water's so clear that I can see Angel's anchor and how the rope wrapped around it. Oops- better fix that! Caravan cruising, or "buddy sailing" Solo sailors don't have to be unsocial and I sure enjoy being around others in between those peaceful moments of boating solitude. Buddy sailing is a wonderful way to reach a cruising destination. Angel often sails with other vessels in a pack or small group for sociability and safety. Fellow singlehander and good friend, Bill on Defiant, is a well known traveler with Angel. Singlehander Neil B. is another solo-sailor and beloved companion who is a joy to be on the water with. At anchor, the largest vessel tends to become the social center where sailing stories, food and friendship are easily shared. Solo-sailor Neil enjoying a windy dance with his Cape Dory. Nautical articles written by Rebecca Burg: Marine How-To, Travel by Sail, Exotic Ports, Adventure and Humor...   Travels With Angel series is published in Southwinds Magazine. FREE downloads of archived issues are available at: www. southwindsmagazine.com   TRAVELS WITH ANGEL series: “Gulf Stream Crossings”, Oct 2006 “Colorful Characters” Nov 2006 “Shanghaied in Eleuthera” Dec 2006 “The Real World”, Jan 2007 “The far Eastern Bahamas: Harbour Island and Spanish Wells”, March 2007 “Great Sale Goof Up”, April 2007 “Coastal Hopping Southeast Florida’s Palm Beaches,” May 2007 “Lake Worth to Biscayne Bay”, June 2007 “The Upper Keys: Key Largo”, July 2007 “The Middle Keys, Marathon”, Aug 2007 “Smorgasboat: Marathon’s Harbor Helper”, Aug 2007 “The Lower Keys and Key West”, Sept 2007 “Panama’s Bocas del Toro, a Cruiser’s Wild Frontier” Oct 2007 “Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas”, Nov 2007 “Hope Town (Elbow Cay) and Lubbers Quarters, Abaco, Bahamas”, Jan 2008 “Storm at Great Guana Catches Boaters by Surprise”, Feb 2008 “Battle in the Bay: Eleuthera, Bahamas”, March 2008 “Reaching Bimini,” April 2008 “Entering Little Bahama Bank”, May 2008 “Cruising the Northernmost Bahamas with 5200”, June 2008 “The Pleasures of Treasure Cay, Bahamas”, July 2008  “The Joke’s on Bill at Guana Cay”, Aug 2008  “Pete’s Pub and Little Harbour”, Sept 2008 “The Man-O-War Time Warp, Abaco, Bahamas”, Jan 2009 “A Lusty Battler: Inclement Weather in the Bahamas”, Feb 2009  “Cruiser Interrupted, the Haul Out”, March 2009  “Marsh Harbour, Bahamas”, May 2009    TRAVELS WITH ANGEL series, continued: “Storm at Great Guana Catches Boaters by Surprise”, Feb 2008 “Battle in the Bay: Eleuthera, Bahamas”, March 2008 “Reaching Bimini,” April 2008 “Entering Little Bahama Bank”, May 2008 “Cruising the Northernmost Bahamas with 5200”, June 2008 “The Pleasures of Treasure Cay, Bahamas”, July 2008  “The Joke’s on Bill at Guana Cay”, Aug 2008  “Pete’s Pub and Little Harbour”, Sept 2008 “The Man-O-War Time Warp, Abaco, Bahamas”, Jan 2009 “A Lusty Battler: Inclement Weather in the Bahamas”, Feb 2009  “Cruiser Interrupted, the Haul Out”, March 2009  “Marsh Harbour, Bahamas”, May 2009 "Florida Bay to Cape Sable", Dec. 2010 "Cruise to Marco Island", Jan. 2011             Check out Southwinds Magazine each month for current articles.   SAIL Magazine: “Double Trouble”, July 2006. (Angel and Defiant simultaneously break down offshore and the unusual way both boats manage to make it back to safe harbor)   Good Old Boat magazine: “How it all Begins”, Mar/April. 2004 “Side by Side”, Nov/Dec. 2006 “Shower Solution”, Nov/Dec. 2007 (How To. A fixed, solar heated, gravity fed hot water tank and indoor shower system for the small cruiser) “A Prop-er Match”, (How To) Mar/April. 2009   MORE HOW-TO ARTICLES BY BURG   Southwinds Magazine: “Marine Electricity: Battery Basics in Plain Language”, Dec. 2007 “Fishing for Cruisers” Part I, Oct 2008 “Fishing for Cruisers” Part II, Nov. 2008  “The World’s Largest Short Circuit: Lightning”, June 2009 “Lightning Part II: Marine Protection & Safety”, July 2009 "Off the Grid Freedom: Solar Power", May 2011   SAILING AND CRUISING REAL LIFE HUMOR   Other articles published in Southwinds magazine: “When Angelfish Attack!”, Oct 2005  “Keys Hurricane Hideout Hustle: A Native American Sailor’s Secret Revealed”, Nov 2005 “The Gifts of December”, Dec. 2007   Latitudes and Attitudes Magazine: “The Sailing Life”, Jan 2007,   SAILBOAT RACING ADVENTURES, Southwinds Magazine: “Wreckers Cup Craze, Key West 2005” Part I, June 2005 “Wreckers Cup Craze at Troika’s Helm” Part II, July 2005 “The Wreckers Race: Racing With Only Three Rules”, Nov 2008    40th Birthday Boat Ride. After reaching this age, for some reason there is much teasing from friends and family. Maybe it's the pink hat.