I am new to the cruising lifestyle and would appreciate your advice. I will be going to the Bahamas with my boyfriend soon and we plan to shower in saltwater in the cockpit then rinse in fresh water.
What soap works best for body washing in salt water?
What shampoo do you recommend for color treated blonde hair?
Pam Wall and Kathy Parsonsresponded here. Here are 3 more responses to this question from readers of Women and Cruising and many comments, including a discussion on shaving legs aboard.
Dierdre Wogaman
Dierdre Wogaman in the Bahamas
I use regular shampoo and conditioner on my hair.
To get extra conditioning, I place a shower cap on after the conditioner is worked in. By having the conditioner stay on longer with out dilution, I feel that it must be better for my hair. Rinsing my hair, after my body, comes last.
By using a sun shower, we use less water than using the pressure water from the boat.
I’d like to invite you to two opportunities, this April, for you to learn the practical and inspirational aspects of offshore cruising.
1. Mahina Offshore Cruising Seminars 2010
April 3: Seattle
April 17: Oakland, during the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show
Realize your dream of setting sail aboard your own boat to see the world in comfort and safety by joining myself and husband John Neal for our Offshore Cruising Seminar. Together we lead a highly organized day with a format that allows you to easily absorb, understand plus retain crucial information enabling you to save thousands of dollars and hours as you prepare for your cruising adventures.
Pam Wall and I are going to do two free Women and Cruising seminars at the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show on April 16 and 17, 2010.
It’s going to be great fun so come join us!
Strictly Sail Pacific is a great show. It’s held at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. There will be four days of seminars, lots of boats, lots of marine equipment, and great parties. (We always enjoy the parties at Strictly Sail Pacific…)
With our busy schedules (gotta sail…!) this will be our first Women and Cruising seminar since last October. It will be a happy reunion for us – – and for women and men who have attended the seminar in previous years and have told us they will be back again this year. I’ll be leaving the boat in the Bahamas and flying to Oakland for the show.
The Women and Cruising Seminar is different every time we give it …Read more
In September 2009, a powerful tsunami generated by an undersea earthquake killed dozens and wiped out several villages in the Pacific islands of Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. Amanda and John Neal (s/v Mahina Tiare) were in the Samoan capital, Apia.
MAHINA TIARE in Apia Marina – Samoa
Samoan tsunami (Credit NOAA / PMEL / Center for Tsunami Research )
Samoa
“Earthquake?!” we said to each other.
“Not a bad one” John commented as the ground continued to roll and shake.
“Hum” I thought as I wondered how crew are faring back aboard Mahina Tiare in Apia Marina.
The previous day, Monday 29th September we’d cleared into Samoa with our expedition crew of six after completing the 180 mile passage from Niuatoputapu, Tonga.
In RECETA’s galley, making a Trinidadian chow, one of my favorite pre-dinner snacks.
(Photo: Steve Manley)
When my husband Steve and I first talked about going cruising, one of the strong appeals for me of traveling on a boat was that I would have my kitchen with me wherever we went.
I love to cook, to try new recipes and experiment, and Steve is a willing guinea pig. And we both love to eat. The name we chose for our sailboat is a dead giveaway: Receta is the Spanish word for recipe; we named Receta’s dinghy Snack.
Still, I didn’t realize this passion would do more than put food on our table. I soon discovered, however, that it could open up routes for us into Caribbean life. …Read more
It’s not as though I have memories of any tragic or traumatic moment in my life, such as I’ve heard others tell when detailing their fear of the deep.
In fact, I remember a few family outings as a child to Terracina or Sabaudia or even San Felice (Italy) – beautiful warm water – like soup actually – and beaches that stretched for miles on the Mediterranean side of Italy (just south of Rome, where I come from) that were filled with laughter and a lot of splashing.
Of course great food was always a requirement for these outings, making us totally stuffed and horribly heavy as we waddled back into the soup after lunch.
I remember the beaches seemed very long and wide, a bit of a walk to arrive at the shoreline, and the sandbars seemed to go out for miles before the deep water.
My father swam well and enjoyed swimming – so why was I so frightened?
Well, let’s do what all analysts do
…let’s break it down into small sections.
Dad swam, Mom did not, my sister didn’t when small and only does so on occasion as an adult, my brother…not sure actually. I don’t swim and my son is now terrified of water and doesn’t swim (not proud of this legacy).
A friend once commented that Romans bathe, they don’t swim. …Read more
This week I’m thinking of all the women in my life, because March 8 was, after all, International Women’s Day and this is, by extension, International Women’s Month.
The idea itself dates back to 1910. Its historical roots lay in the socialist movement of the late 19th century, and the international celebration of women was first put forth by German Socialist Clara Zetkin, a fervent fighter for workers’ and women’s rights in late 19th and early 20th century Europe. (More on Clara Zetkin below)
But this is not about German politics or history or revolution. This is about how, from all the chaos of the early 20th century, a legacy was born. And so, I suggest, even if you don’t agree with the politics of Clara Zetkin, you might agree that she was remarkable for her time.
And certainly you’d agree that the women who surround you today are remarkable, too.
Which leads me to reflect on women who have put meaning into my life.
They are not necessarily rebelling in the streets or founding political parties. But they are doing things that are nonetheless worth mentioning here. …Read more
Actually, it was the other way around: It was my passion that took me cruising.
I became an avid scuba diver while living in New York City.
I know it sounds odd, but not only is there some excellent (and very historical) diving in the New York metro area, but the city probably has the world’s best access OUT by air to great diving destinations.
I learned to dive in the first place because my sister and brother-in-law had invited me to join them and my nephew on a bareboat charter to the Virgin Islands. Since they were all divers, I assumed that meant they would be diving, and I didn’t want to be left out.
Ironically, although we did fit in a rendezvous dive on that trip, the main message I got was that many people think diving and sailing don’t mix. Something about scuba tanks and fiberglass decks, the awkwardness of getting into and out of the water, the lack of storage space, maybe even the amount of time scuba takes out of a vacation day, etc. …Read more
Judy emailed Women and Cruising with the following question as she and her husband contemplated going cruising. We forwarded her email to several women who might have thoughts to share with Judy. Beth Leonard, Sherry McCampbell, and Kathleen Watt responded to Judy and we printed their responses here in our blog. We have since received three more responses to Judy’s question from readers of Women and Cruising. Read on …..
Question:
My husband and I are thinking of living aboard a sailboat in four to five years from now. His daughter is grown and just purchased her first home while my daughter is a freshmen in high school.
I suppose it is harder for me to take to the idea of living aboard because I have a really great paying job and I feel I need to help my daughter with college. I am only 39 so leaving my career is harder than I thought it would be. Any advice for me? My husband is 47 and more than ready to leave tomorrow. He is self employed and can build or fix anything so he will not have a problem finding work along the way of our adventure.
I look forward to hearing from you if you have time or advice.
– Judy and John
Harriett writes in:
Hi Judy and John,
It’s probably too early to decide – 5 years is a long time and you may feel differently by then. Or your daughter may get a scholarship or change her path.
If you can fit sailing into your current life, that would be a good start to finding out whether you want to even try it.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with a “try it and we’ll see how it goes” attitude.
All these thoughts come from my own experience, since my husband and I left to go cruising at 45 with the idea that we’d do it for 2 years and see if we liked it. Twenty years later, we still consider ourselves cruisers, although we’re ashore right now caring for elderly parents.
It’s been over a year and a half since we pulled out of our home port of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and headed south.
Going cruising as a family, instead of waiting for our children to leave the nest, is one of the best choices my husband and I have ever made.
Sure, we have some challenges that the empty nest cruisers don’t have: they probably haven’t had lego bits bind up their macerator pump, or string cheese blocking the finely machined teeth on a winch. …Read more
— “Yeah, we’ll make it.” (him)
— “I don’t know…” (me)
— “We’ll make it; sheet in the main!” (him)
60 SECONDS LATER…
— “We’re not gonna make it.” (me)
— “We should tack.” (him)
— “Yeah, we should. We’re not gonna clear that boat.” (me)
— “Wait: I think we’re clearing it. Let’s wait a bit more.” (him)
ANOTHER 30 SECONDS LATER…
— “OK, let’s tack away from that boat.” (him)
— “No, it’s too late now. Let’s fall off and jibe around.” (me)
— “OK, you’re right. You do the jib sheets; I’ll get the main.” (him)
— “Yeah; let’s go. Now!” (me)
These decisions happen fast on board our boat MOMO…
…and my husband and I usually reach a conclusion much like we did that day, when we were departing Banderas Bay in Mexico, bound for the Marquesas. …Read more
In December 1992 I answered one more personal ad in the “Columbus Monthly” magazine, a glossy trendy publication in Columbus, Ohio. I responded by writing a note, as it was before Internet dating and instant gratification. Don called me after receiving that note.
What I did not understand at first was that he was actually looking for a cruising partner.
While on my first phone call with Don, I learned that people actually lived on boats. What a novel idea! It had never occurred to me. …Read more
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