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Ballast Early Access
BIG DECISIONS…We’re At A Crossroads. Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 523
The time had finally come to make a choice that had been weighing on us for a while. When we left the build months ago, the plan was simple: sail Delos to Fiji and leave her there while we carried on with the project. But once we actually made it here, another idea started creeping in—what if we kept going all the way to Australia, closing out this chapter on Delos once and for all and allowing us to focus ourselves 100 percent on the build. Both paths had their pros and cons, and we went back and forth more times than we can count. In the end though, we landed on a decision that felt right. But that wasn’t the only thing on our minds…The generator saga was still in full swing. After days upon days spent in the […]
Our Generator BROKE IN HALF 😳 Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 522
Buckle up for this week’s episode it’s a doozie! The title of the video pretty much says it all, and yes it was as bad as it sounds..our generator had been out of action and when I dug in to see what was going on I was absolutely shocked at what I found. This turns into quite the project, and it definitely required me to channel my absolute highest levels of MacGyver instincts, and the help of a very skilled local welder. But luckily, despite all the long sweaty days in engine room, the marina we were staying at is AMAZING and a dip in the pool combined with a frosty brew and a juicy burger and we had everything we needed to power through! Get behind the scenes with exclusive bonus content, early & ad free videos, meet […]
Wasp Invasion, Engine Failure, & Seasickness 🐝 WEIRDEST PASSAGE EVER…Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 521
Ahoy Delos Tribe, we’ve got a pretty, ummmm….interesting video for you today 😂 The time has finally come to sail from Tonga to Fiji, and it was time to bring in the big guns. Our very own VIP crew member, the one, the only…DAN THE MAN! It was soooo freaking cool to be able to show Dan our world. After a year in Australia with him giving his whole heart and soul to the build and teaching us everything he can about welding, it felt great to be able to give him a taste of what we’re working towards. But in true Delos fashion, this would not be a boring passage, and Dan definitely got a taste of the kinds of curve balls that the ocean can throw your way. We hope you enjoy this passage as much as we […]
The Side of Sailing You Don’t See…Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 520
For those of you who have been missing the build videos, we’ve got the next best thing….endless boat work 🤣 The biggest difference of course being that instead of a fully equipped workshop and every tool and part that I need, out here we have to get a bit more creative with our solutions. We also give you our first glimpse into what has been a new world for all of us, Sierra has started home schooling! It’s definitely been a new type of challenge for us, but also lots of fun, and it’s such a joy to see her grow and develop. So between the boat work, the home schooling, and of course you have to throw in some bad weather because…well, boat life… and we’ve got our work cut out for us in this week’s episode! We hope […]
BUILD UPDATE + Life Right Now…Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 519
Get behind the scenes with exclusive bonus content, early & ad free videos, meet up invites, and more! https://patreon.com/svdelos After weeks of the boat yard scramble and a VERY challenging 1400 mile passage, we are sooooo happy and relieved to catch our breaths and enjoy the fruits of all our labor. We’re back into cruiser mode in full force, and it feels fantastic! And of all places to ease back into the life, Tonga is a pretty great one. There are tons of anchorages to choose from, and because there are so many small islands everywhere to protect from wind and swell in every direction, it’s like anchoring in a swimming pool. We also have some very cool updates to share from the build with everything Dan and the team has been up to while we were away so far. […]
Trapped Between Two Bad Choices…Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 518
We’ve got a doozie of an episode for you this week! After a very challenging 8 days at sea, we had finally made it to the calm and crystal clear waters of Niue, a literal rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We were suuuper excited not just to explore this very unique part of the world, but also to get some good nights of sleep and recuperate a bit…we were a bit rusty after all since our long stint on land, and this last passage had hit us pretty hard. But only about 24 hours after arriving, as Mother Nature has a tendency to do, everything changed completely, and we found ourselves faced with a VERY tough decision…Neither option was good, but the stakes were high and we knew we needed to get this one right. In this […]
HEAVY WEATHER Sailing! Slammed by 15 Foot Waves 🌊 Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 517
Get behind the scenes of the build with exclusive, early, and ad free content: https://patreon.com/svdelos Buckle up, It’s about to get real!!! 5 meter swell and sustained 30 knot winds are on the horizon, and it’s time for Delos to stretch her legs and get back into what she does best, absolutely charging through heavy seas! She’s ready and rarin’ to go, but we on the other hand are still brushing off the cobwebs 😂 But we manage to make the best of it, and after some princess dance parties, some very rowdy fishing, and a casual stop over at one of the most pristine and remote reefs in the world, I’d say it’s fair to call this passage a win despite the absolutely BRUTAL rolling. For those of you that have been excited to get back into the […]
Day 1 and 1000 Miles To Go! Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 516
Get behind the scenes of the build with exclusive, early, and ad free content: https://patreon.com/svdelos We’re BEYOND stoked to share part 1 of our first passage back on Delos with you! After nearly a year as land lubbers, it’s no surprise that things were a bit of an adjustment. We had a slow start with a mixed bag of conditions and some sea sickness, but it felt great to be back out on the open ocean and slow things down after all the craziness of the build and bringing Delos back to life in the yard. The first part of the passage is always a unique feeling…like everything is such a scramble to get ready and make all the preparations, and then all of sudden there’s nothing but you and the endless ocean all around you, with nothing to do […]
FINAL PUSH: Offshore or Bust! Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 515
Get behind the scenes of the build with exclusive, early, and ad free content: https://patreon.com/svdelos It’s that moment that every sailor has a love hate relationship with….There’s always soooo much work to be done to prepare the boat and ourselves for a long passage and months of cruising with limited access to parts, food, and other necessities. It can be exhausting and stressful. But at the same time it’s also the part that signals the start of a new and exciting chapter, and the feeling of freedom when we cast off the lines and know that anything can happen out there is so freaking liberating and it’s one of the best feelings in the world. So join us for the FINAL SCRAMBLE as we get Delos ready to venture into the heart of the South Pacific! Interested in […]
A ROUGH START…Things Didn’t Go As Planned 😳 Sailing Vessel Delos Ep. 514
Get behind the scenes of the build with exclusive, early, and ad free content: https://patreon.com/svdelos Today’s episode marks a moment in every cruiser’s journey that’s equal parts excitement and equal parts nerve wracking…SPLASH DAY! After busting our booties in the yard, Bill and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and the feeling of knowing that we were about to be in the water was a huuuuge relief. But, no matter how many times we do it, it always just feels like there’s so much that can go wrong, and soooo much is at stake. And spoiler alert, this was by far our most hectic splash ever. But despite the chaos and clogged toilets, nothing could get me down because Kazza and Sierra were on their way! We were about to be reunited after our longest […]