Welcome to Our Sailing Adventure: The Story of Sand Dollar
Hi, and welcome to our blog! My name is Natasha, and I’m so excited to share this journey with you. My boyfriend Kyle and I recently took a huge leap into the unknown—we bought a sailboat! This is the beginning of a new adventure, one we hope will span the next 10 years (and beyond). While we don’t have it all figured out yet, we’re learning as we go, and I can’t wait to document every step of this wild ride.
A Dream 10 Years in the Making
For as long as I’ve known Kyle, sailing has been his dream. In fact, for the past 10 years, he’s been saving, planning, and hoping that one day he could buy the perfect boat. I’ll admit, I didn’t always believe it would happen. I thought it was just one of those far-off dreams you talk about but never fully pursue.
But Kyle proved me wrong. One day, while I was visiting him in Florida (we were in a long-distance relationship at the time), he found his dream boat—a Nauticat 43. Neither of us knew what to do next, but somehow, everything fell into place.
Finding Sand Dollar
The Nauticat 43 is a ketch sailboat with a pilothouse, and it was love at first sight for Kyle. At 6’5”, he needed a bigger boat to move around comfortably, and the Nauticat was perfect. The only catch? The boat was in San Francisco, all the way across the country.
We flew out for a whirlwind weekend to see her. From the moment we stepped aboard, I could tell how much this boat meant to Kyle. It was exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. On the second day, we had a surveyor inspect the boat. She spent a day and a half going through every detail and declared it in good condition. We even hauled the boat out to check for external damage. Everything seemed to be lining up—until it didn’t.
A Rocky Start (Literally)
The agent had arranged for a captain to take us out for the haul-out, and this is when things got interesting. As we were leaving the dock, there was a malfunction with the gears. Suddenly, the captain lost control, and we found ourselves slamming into the dock at full speed—in reverse! For a terrifying moment, we thought we were going to crash into a very expensive boat nearby.
Thankfully, there was no damage (to the other boat or ours). This moment, though, solidified something for us: Sand Dollar is a beast. She was built for tough conditions and bad weather, and she’s as strong as they come. In a way, that chaotic moment made us love her even more.
Diving Into the Unknown
Here’s the funny thing about all of this: I had zero sailing experience when we bought Sand Dollar. None at all. And while Kyle has a lot of knowledge about boats (he’s a boat captain, after all), sailboats are an entirely different world. He’s taken one sailing course, but we’re both learning as we go.
This is one of the scariest and most exciting parts of this adventure. We’re stepping into the unknown, learning a new skill and way of life, and figuring it all out together. If you’re someone who feels overwhelmed by the idea of starting from scratch, trust me—you’re not alone. We’re right there with you.
Looking Ahead: Making Sand Dollar Perfect
Our plan for Sand Dollar is simple (and ambitious): we’re going to make her perfect. Over the next few years, we’ll be refitting her and tackling the upgrades she needs to be ready for the open ocean. In the future, we hope to sail her around the world. It’s a big dream, but we’re taking it one step at a time.
Why This Blog?
I decided to start this blog because I know how overwhelming this lifestyle can be. There’s so much to learn, and no matter how much research you do, there are always surprises (and challenges) waiting around the corner. My hope is that by sharing our story, I can help others feel less alone.
Whether you’re dreaming of buying your own boat, just starting out, or already living the sailing life, I want this blog to be a place where we can connect, share information, and support each other. I’ll be sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Thank you for being here, and welcome aboard!
