The Sailing Shipleys

Hola Amigos, 

Jimbo here, writing from La Cruz, Mexico, waiting to depart on a 54-ft Amel from here to the Marquesas Islands. Usually, Tory writes our posts, but as I am back to offshore sailing, I thought it would be fitting to write my first blog post and update you all with what’s been happening to us Shipleys.

It is spring in Baltimore; the flowers outside our modest garden apartment are thinking of blooming soon, joining in with the rest of the colorful neighborhood’s daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips. Much like the plants in our garden we have been preparing for a new season ourselves. Beginning in the fall, Tory began a career change. She became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and is working at a local long-term care facility. She’s been taking online courses as well so she can start nursing school in May! I was not surprised when she was accepted to Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science of Nursing program. This 15-month program will be very intensive for her, so I’ll need to find some new sailing mates in Baltimore.

I couldn’t let Tory be the only one hitting the books and charting new courses. Through Practical Navigator, I studied for my Able Seaman (AB) certificate and am on my way to obtaining a captain’s license and mate endorsement. Tory would like me to add that I aced the Rules of the Road test with 100%!

Of course, our lovely Jolene is not forgotten, although she is looking a bit stiff after some snow this winter. We see her once a week, and try to get into the harbor for an afternoon sail. With the Key Bridge Collapse, we are not sure when we’ll be able to escape industrial Baltimore to explore the quieter parts of the Chesapeake. We will continue to prepare Jolene for any and all future endeavors, from day sails to ocean passages.

(1 & 2) Sailing Jolene in the Baltimore Harbor a few weeks before the bridge collapse; (3) Tory with Jolene after her first big snow!

In the meantime, with Tory working and studying, I have tried to get more experience on the water. I joined Offshore Passage Opportunities (OPO) and can highly recommend it – I have a few trips lined up this summer helping folks deliver boats to different parts of the United States. March 20th, I went to Mexico to be crew on a 54-ft Amel. Our destination is the Nuka Hiva on the Marquesas Island. I always thought the Atlantic would be my first ocean crossing, but life has thrown us so many curves that I guess I’ll have to settle for a Pacific voyage. You can track my progress with our usual tracking link.

Tory will be posting my “Captain’s Log” in a new section of the blog, so head over there to read about my day-to-day on a sailboat in the Pacific Ocean!

Fair winds to you all!