Its funny, the thing I’m worried about most is getting this boat ready. I’ve never tried to get sponsored to do a trip before; in the past I just worked hard, saved my money, and did my trip. It took me nine months to get the money for my first trip, I was 20 and saving money to ride a bicycle alone through Loas, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. It took me nine months to save enough money to do a 3 1/2 month trip, with one third of my money going to the plane ticket. To call that trip low budget would be a understatement. I slept anywhere and everywhere. I spent 100 days biking through jungles, mud hut villages and big cities. You think traffic is bad on the Interbelt you should try rush hour in Siagon. My second trip took 5 years to prepare, as sailboat is a lot more expensive then a bike. Well that and I had to teach my self to sail. Never the less, I was able to take my Pearson 323 single-handed from Annapolis to Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and back to Annapolis. Again, money was tight. In 15,500 nm I only stayed in one marina. It was Novemeber and I was sailing around the North Sea and I thought, this is crazy, So I found a cheap marina downtown Amsterdam and keep my boat there for the winter. I always anchored, I just couldn’t afford marinas at 35 euro($50) a night.
Sponsorship is a different story, in order to get a company or private individual to donate money you must be able to sell yourself and your idea. The skills a person needs to cross a ocean are quite different than the skills a person needs to convince other people that your goal is a worthy enough cause for them to part with there hard earned money. Its been a learning experience, but then again the second you stop learning is the second you stop living.
The Albin Vega 27 is coming along. The mast is out and new sails are being made. I ripped out the old bulkheads and took half the boat apart. Sometimes you have to tear a boat apart before you can put can put it back together properly. I still need a few more sponsors but all in all things are coming together. I feel confident that I will be able to leave by June 7th.
Matt
Is this the page of the person in a wheelchair planning to sail around the end of South America I saw on WBAL TV Baltimore? If so do you have a ham radio station aboard your ship? Are you a ham radio operator? If so I’d love to make contact with you and track your progress. I am a wheelchair bound person into ham radio and I might look into wheelchair sailing in the Baltimore area.
Andrew Zagorski
I work with your day at CHS. We will all be following you from the desert. Good luck and smooth sailing.
hey Matt!
just pretend i am there with a crowd of people hugging and waving goodbye for your voyage launch-off today!
Vaya con Dios, Matt!
con mucho amor,
sendy!
Matt,
I do help small sailors at NWP with their logistics and planning many of them are my personal friends. Hope you will succeed but no shooting the birds. Stay away from it and never admit it. Arctic Char is fantastic fish to eat and there is free. I will follow your progress and expect some notes among the route. I am located in Canada, the center of it.
Don’t forget to report your attempt to Canadian Coast Guard.
Cheers
Good luck on your adventures. I also tore the interior of a boat apart to build a blue water pocket cruiser. My web page jeanmondeau.blogspot.com has some photos. If your in California and need some help give me a call. I have a trailer and can haul your boat out for you to work on it. I have done this with several cruisers for fun. Its great to meet fellow cruisers this way.
Fair winds and bon voyage.
Hello Matt,
It appears that you were approaching Sable Island and then diverted southward. Was that to avoid risks? Your speed seems good and steady. You make me wish I was young again – ready to adventure.
I’m not going to say good luck. You don’t need luck, you have great skill and a sharp mind.
Dave Sterling
Safe travels Matt. You’re amazing and talented. I’m excited to follow your journey.
-J
As a landlocked (Colorado) yet a sailing lover I’m vicariously sailing around the americas with you, and have put some of my friends onto this website as well. However would love to see daily posts!!!
Awesome adventure. I have been checking your blog daily to read the latest. Be safe.