Akela is a two-masted sailing boat called a Hardin Sea Wolf ketch made in Taiwan in 1977. ("Akela" is named after the lone wolf in Kipling's Jungle Book.) The Burge family acquired Akela in San Carlos, Mexico in 1999 and spent 15 years cruising aboard Akela in the Sea of Cortez while maintaining a seemingly … Continue reading The Story of Akela
A Tragic End
Our adventure was brought to a tragic halt on July 16, 2019 when Max took his own life at our home in Tucson. This came out of the blue and we don't understand it. Max was healthy, surrounded by loving family and friends, and was excited about his plans for the future. As you can … Continue reading A Tragic End
Back to the South Seas
In January, Jim went back to USA for a couple of months, and Max sailed aboard Poppy with the Schlegels, the Danish family that we encountered in Moorea. Jim returned to Polynesia in March, meeting Max in Nuku Hiva. We sailed Akela from the Marquesas Islands to the Tuamotos, when we tried our hand at … Continue reading Back to the South Seas
The man from Nantucket
Out in the big ocean blue With not anything to do Just burning up time We’re making up rhymes Songs, limericks, and Haikus While crossing the sea in a gale The water came over the rail Day after day We take waves and spray And even caught squid in the sail I’m off to go … Continue reading The man from Nantucket
Haiku Day
Haiku Day It is haiku day Calm winds, fair seas, no one sick We’re just killing time A haiku haiku Five seven five of haikus Think we can do it? My brain feels so slow Haikus haikus everywhere Not a thought to think So close to nature Always living on the edge Can’t just plug … Continue reading Haiku Day
Open water passages
"Open Water Passages" by Max
What now?
When we started this adventure, we planned to spend a year in the South Pacific. That year has come and gone. We have had exciting times, seen beautiful places, made new friends, and sailed thousands of miles. We tried to moor Akela in Tahiti for a few months, but there was no safe harbor there. … Continue reading What now?
Merry Christmas
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas! It's Christmas Eve and Max and I are heading offshore from Tahiti for a three or four day sail to the Tuamotus. We expect to make Fakarava by Thursday. If the weather is good, we will make Makemo my Friday. We plan to wait in Makemo for … Continue reading Merry Christmas
Christmas Break
As true wanderers, we haven't had much of an itinerary for this trip. We expected something like a year, that we would spend time in interesting places, and that we would try to avoid bad weather. Starting off in February, we thought about following the "coconut Milk Run" of Marquesas-Tuamotus-Societies-Cook Islands-Tonga-Fiji then going to New … Continue reading Christmas Break
Close Encounters with Poppy
We were anchored in the South end of Cook’s Bay, Moorea on a beautiful windy day. It had been calm all morning, but a nice breeze had come up from the North, blowing fresh air directly into the bay. Sitting on deck reading, I was alarmed to hear somebody yelling. Looking upwind, the old guy … Continue reading Close Encounters with Poppy