Festina Lente - The Dutch Explorers
Names and Ages of people on the boat : Jasper 47, Anne 39, Fenne 10, Marijn 8, Oscar 6 Tamboezer-De Haas
Boat name/type: Festina Lente, Privilege 39
How long have you been living on a sailboat while travelling?
2 years
What were you doing before you moved aboard?
Living a ‘normal’ life in a house in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, both working as Project Manager in technical projects
Motivation: What inspired you to embark on a sailing adventure?
Being a mate on a sailing vessel in 2010, sailing around South America, I realised at once wanted to do something similar with my own family. Married a technical guy who was willing to share this dream, and save money together for this big adventure. Having only one life, there simply wasn’t any reason not to do it.
Any unforgettable destinations / moments you have been to or experienced?
Many! Celebrating all family birthdays with our friends from Mothership, swimming with a humpback whale and her calf near Tahiti (and being on top of one in a canoe!), early morning yoga on the beach at Huahine with my dear sailing friend, sailing in the beautiful waters of the Marlborough Sounds (New Zealand), eating fresh oysters and mussels, harvested by my husband and daughter (while taking shelter for a cyclone), ...
Is there a typical day for your family on a sailboat?
Sort of.. During crossings everybody is doing their thing (kids playing Lego, reading, listening to audio books, a bit of homework), eating fruit at the table outside (to get some fresh air) end of the morning, lunch outside, trying to catch some fish in the afternoon (and sometimes actually catch one, yeah, sushi time!), early diner, kids wrestling to get rid of their energy, early bed times for the kids, quality time for ourselves, starting watch schedule. At anchor: (ideally) starting with some exercise in the morning, followed by a morning swim, (trying to do stimulate the kids to do some) homework, coffee and fruit end of the morning, preparing lunch and go to shore by dinghy, for a walk and some exploring. Sundowner with boat friends, eating at the boat, playing a board game, and go to sleep.
How do you handle education and schooling?
We got hardcopy material for language and mathematics from school. We made a schedule for the first 10 weeks, together with an online teacher in The Netherlands. For the rest it was all self-study, one kid more successful (=motivated) than the other. Bought some nature books about sea life, forests etc. and played lots of board games as alternative homework. Youngest one had to learn reading and writing, which he did with Donald Ducks and some basic prints for the lettering. We stopped schooling with our middle child, since motivation was all gone after nine months. We switched to a schooling app on the Ipad, but eventually did ‘schooling’ with board games, helping in the kitchen and learning from ‘living the sailing life’.
What were the biggest challenges you find about this lifestyle?
It took time for everybody to get used to the limited space, to learn to listen to each other and for each individual to find a way to get rid of negative energy now and then. Once we were there, let’s say after 6 months, the adventure really began.
Has this lifestyle helped you grow and learn?
Definitely. It has made me more confident, in general and in my relationship. It has shown to me the added value of communication with the people around me, also about things that may not seem important enough to say. It has also shown the importance of certain things in life (more people than the material stuff), our reliance on nature and the value of an open attitude towards new people.
How do you connect with others while sailing?
With friends and family now and then via Whats app (on shore, when having internet connection). With Iridium Go, messages with family and sailing friends, during crossings.
Do you have any memorable cultural experiences?
Hiking through indigenous forest to the Lost City, Colombia, where indigenous people where guiding us through their area on their horses. And a very impressive dance festival on Fatu Hiva (French Polynesia), where all the islands of FP were represented. And a savu savu ceremony on the Yasawas, Fiji, with music from the local band. And.....
What items would you not go without ?
Good tools and duct tape
What Lies Ahead: Do you have future plans or new destinations in mind?
Sailing around Great Britain and Ireland and Scandinavia. First saving money to buy another boat.
Do you have a heartfelt message or piece of wisdom or advice for people looking to embark on similar adventures?
Listen to your own gut feeling, and not too much to other people’s opinion. Everybody has another way of sailing, looking at risks and values in life in general. Think twice to take people on board that you don’t know well. It is an extra responsibility, so gather references and again, follow your gut feeling. And regarding family and friends visiting you during your trip: it sounds nice but it also gives you restrictions on arrival and departure dates. And the most lovely thing of sailing with your own team, is to be able to make your own decisions and have little to no restrictions..
