Hi Stacey,

I always feel safe when we are cruising because my Dad is a good captain,he knows what he's doing and we have very safe, sturdy boat.

Paige

Hi Stacey!

Is boating safe? In a Nordhavn, absolutely. These boats are built to handle 20 foot seas so they can cross oceans. A boat smaller than us (the 40 footer) has circumnavigated, and gone through a hurricane! The boat and the people were 100% fine. I always feel super safe on the boat no matter what. Are you thinking of cruising at all?

Thanks for the Question.

Hi,
Recently me and my family have just moved onto our boat!!!

We are all still trying to get used to all the different routines of the 'boating life'.

We have been to a couple of close places just of the coast and it was a great first time experience, espeacially when a few turtles decided to come over and greet us.

After the new year do you start your distance ed early before other schools so that you are ahead and organized or do you start on the normal dates?

Have you been on any rallys yet overseas because me and my family are considering doing a rally to Malaysia maybe this year or the next.??

Where are you at this point in time?? Do you plan to go on a long trip anytime soon if so where is your destination?

Thankyou

Saraya!

Hi Saraya,

Yes, we usually start with the normal school year depending on where we are, for example, since we are in New Zealand I will be starting home schooling in February and when I am in Canada I start in September.
We did do a rally to Mexico called the BajaHaHa. I really enjoyed it because it is a great way to meet other kids on boats.

Right now we are in Tauranga on the East Coast of New Zealand.
We are enroute to Auckland from Nelson which is about a 700 mile trip. We have stopped in Tauranga because of weather.

Have fun living the cruising life.

Paige

Hi!

Yes, we do live on the boat all the time. This will only be our second Christmas on the boat, and I am very excited. We still make gingerbread houses, decorate Christmas trees, make cookies and eggnog, and watch Christmas movies! Santa, as Paige said, is super smart. He definitely knows how to go down an exhaust stack. The reindeer probably park up on the boat deck or on the bimini top! We always leave milk and cookies out for him...and they are always gone in the morning. Happy Cruising!

Ayla

Hi Laurel,
Yes we do live on board full time and we have spent many Christmases on the boat. Santa is a pretty smart guy and we always put up Christmas decorations and leave milk and cookies for him. I think Santa gets into our boat by coming down the exhaust stack.

Have fun on your boat trip.

Merry Christmas,
Paige

Hello again. I have not asked a question in a long time but now I have two: Are you on a journey right now? If you are, what is it like? I've been on a four-hour boat trip before, but never across an ocean.

Hi Brian,
Good to hear from you again.
We are not currently on a passage, we are in the Nelson Marina in New Zealand getting ready for our passage north to Auckland and then we are shipping our boat to Palma de Mallorca in Spain. When we are on a calm passage we listen to music, dolphin watch, tell stories, read books, hang out on the fly bridge, watch movies and sleep lots. When it is rough we watch movies, hang out in the pilot house and get lots of sleep.
Our longest passage was 16.5 days from Mexico to the Marquises Islands in the South Pacific.
Paige

Hi Brian!

Thank you so much for your questions! It's good to hear from you again, and know you are back on the chatter! As for your first question, no, we are not currently on a passage. We are in the New River in Fort Lauderdale right now. You see, before we set out on the circumnavigation, we have make sure we are 100% prepared. There is a lot to do, and we also are working on funding for the big trip. Even though I am not on a trip at the moment, I can still answer what it is like. If the sea states are good, then the trip can be fantastic! I do school, play games, watch movies, cook, clean, and just hang out! It's like life at a dock, except if you want to get off the boat, you better be a really good swimmer. if the seas are rough, then sometimes it is a little less fun. We usually stay up in the pilothouse, and watch movies or re-runs of "West Wing" to take our minds off of it. Luckily, I don't get sea sick, but my mom does, so it isn't so fun for her. I love cruising. Our longest passage so far was a five day run from St.
Augustine, Florida to New York, New York. That run was FANTASTIC, because we had really good seas. I was disappointed when it was over!
Thanks so much for your great questions, and I hope to hear from you again.

Calm Seas and Clear Skies,
Ayla

Hi Maggie,

The first few months living on our Nordhavn were fun because I got to decorate my own room and make it homey as we were getting ready to leave on a big adventure. Our adventure began in Canada and we are now in New Zealand still on our adventure.
Yes, I do get seasick when the seas are rough but I take seasick pills to help stop that.
I have piloted the boat but not for very long. I usually don't do set watches but my dad is teaching me how to run the boat and do all the engine maintenance checks.
One of my favourite moments on the boat was in the Vava'u Island group in Tonga (Ancorage 24 to be specific). We were anchored in 8 feet of clear turquoise water and and there wasn't a breath of wind or a cloud in the sky, it was just perfect. It was so cool because we got to swim, snorkel, beach comb and we even got to go meet the children at the local school.
I did experience a bit of culture shock when we got to the South Pacific because it was so remote, plus their culture is very different.

That is so cool that you were born in Japan, I have always wanted to go there.

Hi Maggie!
Thank you so much for your fabulous questions! I had fun answering them. That is so cool that you were born in Japan! I can't wait to visit there on our boat-it is one of my favorite countries. Thanks for your interest in our boating lives!

How did you feel about the first few months of being on your Norhavn?
I have grown up with the idea that I'd one day live on a boat a cruise, so after eight year of preparation, when we finally got on the boat, I was REALLY excited. I remember the first night I spent on it I barely got any sleep because I was so excited. It felt like my home right away. We had a huge learning curve, but it was all worth it because we are were doing what we love!

Did you get get seasick a lot? What makes you get seasick?
I actually have never been sea sick, which is super lucky. My mom gets sea sick though, so I do know some stuff that causes it. If you are really tired, and haven't gotten a good nights sleep, then that certainly has an effect. Also, if you don't eat well, things can get really messy. Go for water, bananas, and a bagels for breakfast over Lattes and danishes or something. I have made that mistake...I won't again :-) .

Have you ever piloted the boat?
I have stood watch and been on duty before. I have never driven the boat extensively, but there is a ton to do on watch besides steering. A few times, I had to steer around lobster traps while mom was napping and dad was checking the engine room.

What do you do on watch?
ON watch, I have to do checks every fifteen minutes. During these checks, I look at the gauges, check contacts, and make sure we are on course. Every hour I check the engine room. Between these increments, I mostly read or watch movies. You can never have headphones in because you have to have your ears mostly open if someone radios you or something hits your boat. I think the important thing is being very wary.

What are one of your favorite or funny moments you've experienced on a boat?
There have been some moments where they were entirely un-funny at the time, but as we look back, are chuckle-moments. We had a 2:00 AM anchor alarm one morning, and were out in the wind, and waves resetting our anchor. When we were down in the Bahamas with the cruising kids, we had a lot of fun. Fun includes trying to do synchronized diving off of the kayak...it didn't work.

Were there times when you've experienced culture shock?
Yes, definitely. When we came back from the beautiful and peaceful Bahamas, we came into West Palm Beach. Not that it isn't pretty there, but it is very urbanized. I was in total culture chock for almost a month after we came back to the states.

Thanks again for your questions!
calm seas and clear skies,
Ayla

Hello, it's Saraya again!
My family and i are going to move on to our boat soon and I am very excited.

What do you do for daily activities?

Because I play the flute do you play an instrument?

Does your mum or dad tutor you for distance education? Or do you have a normal tutor?

When you're snorkeling, are you afraid of sharks or sting rays or are you completely comfortable just swimming with all the sea creatures?

Thanks for everything!
Saraya

Hey Saraya,

For daily activities it really depends on where you are. I'm not exactly a routine person, but when at sea I have a recuring theme. I wake up , eat breakfast, fall asleep on the couch, watch a movie , take a watch, fall asleep on the couch, go fishing, hopefully catch a fish, help dad clean the fish, have another sleep (after all that excitement). That's a day at sea but on a fun one you get to see dolphins and whales, sit on deck and enjoy.

I used to play the piano but haven't in a few years, I do love to sing and I never seem to stop, it drives my parents crazy but its something I enjoy.
My parents do my distance learning, my mom does english and math and my dad does science annd all the other subjects change daily.

I feel quite safe swimming in the water and every where we go we find out what is poisonous or dangerous. I have swam with sharks and stingrays and I was not worried.

Have a great time!

Paige

HI Saraya,

That is great that you are moving on your boat soon! Good luck!

1. Daily activities come in all shapes in sizes on a boat. Some days, you are out exploring a new town, meeting new people, hanging out with fellow cruisers, and hiking, biking, or swimming in wilderness areas.
Other times, when you are out at anchor or on a crossing, you have time just to read, write, play games, talk with your parents, and just relax and hang out.

2. Yes, I play the violin. One of the best parts of playing an instrument on a boat is picking up music from the local areas you visit.
I picked up a ton of fiddle music this past month in Canada! At sunset or dawn, you can go out on the bow of your boat and play your instrument for the fellow cruisers in the bay you are in...that's always fun.

3. I actually do most of home school myself! The curriculum we use (Calvert School) is written directly to the student...so I basically self direct my school day. Naturally, mom and dad are always there to check my work, give me tests, and answer questions. School usually takes about three hours for me, then the rest of the day is spent exploring new places!

4. You know, I still am a little jumpy about sharks and stingrays. Just remember, unless you are bleeding or dumping fish guts over the side of your boat, sharks are not interested in you. There are 365 species of sharks, and only a dozen are remotely dangerous. Out of those, only three are known to occasionally attack humans. Still, I do get a little jumpy in the water. Always have a buddy, and if there is a shark, stay calm...he'll probably just swim right by you.

Thanks for the great questions! I hope you have tons of fun on your trip!
Calm Seas and Clear Skies,
Ayla

Dear Ayla and Paige ,
Have you ever seen otters holding hands before? Or do they swim by themselves? My dad is going to rent a boat [next] summer.

Sincerely,

Emma

Hi Emma,

Personally, I have never seen otters holding hands, but we have had otters cracking shells on the hull of our boat. We were in Monterey, California on our 40' Nordhavn when that happened. All the otters I have seen have been alone or with a baby (the babies were especially cute).

Have fun next summer.

I have some more questions:

Do you get sick of eating fish do you have it often?

Do you have any tips for sea sickness

What has been your fave monent on the boat?

Were you in shock when you heard that you were going to move onto a boat?

When did you start getting Distance education on your boat?

Thank you very much!!
Saraya

Thanks for some more wonderful questions!

1. You know, we actually don't to a lot of fishing off of our own boat.
However, we do buy fresh fish from local fishermen and freeze it. I find that I don't get sick of fish because we prepare it in different ways every time! On our website, www.threeatsea.com, we have some recipes for great ways to prepare fish if you are interested.

2. If you are prone to sea sickness there are several courses of action you can take to prevent yourself from having a miserable time. Before we go out in rough seas, the whole family takes Bonine, which is an excellent sea sickness medicine that acts fast, so if you are already getting sea sick, it will help to stop it before it gets to awful. Don't eat super rich foods like cheese, and don;t eat to much acid as in tomatoes or orange juice. For breakfast, a bowl of Greek yogurt and a banana works well, and snacks throughout the day include nuts and pretzels. Stay in the pilothouse or in the cockpit, and keep your eye on the horizon.

3. There have been so many amazing times and experiences while living on the boat, but I must say, my favorite was New Years Eve. We were at a completely deserted anchorage in the Bahamas, and my family and I slept outside under the stars. It was so magical, and a very peaceful way to start the new year.

4. My family has been talking about this trip ever since I can remember, so I basically grew up with the idea that when I was twelve, we were going to move onto a boat and sail around the world. I have always been really excited about the idea, and so as the time drew closer it was like a dream come true.

5. Before we moved onto the boat I went to a public school in Boulder, CO. We moved onto Three@Sea the summer before my sixth grade year, so I finished elementary school in a regular school, and started middle school as home school. I absolutely love the home school program. I learn so much and can operate on my own schedule at my own pace. The experience and just living on a boat is also give a great education. In just our daily life there is math, and science, and a million chances to learn things like navigation, and marine sciences.

Thanks again for the awesome questions!
Calm seas and Clear skies,
Ayla

I have some questions about living on a boat hope you can give me an answer!

Do you often get sea sick?

Do you miss not being able to hang out with your friends at school?

When you are travelling and it is a long trip to your destination do you feel closed in not being able to get out and run around?

My parents are buying a catamaran and we are going to sail around and go lots of places so i wanted to get some advice from someone my own age!!

Do you have any pets with you cos my puppy will be coming with me!! If you do ahve any what are they?

Thanks so much for the great questions! I'm really glad you have an interest in boating and nature! It's always fun to hear from other "cruising kids" like yourself. Here are your answers:

1. Whenever we are day cruising, we go in fair weather so the seas are calm enough to keep our stomachs happy. I actually don't get sea sick that often, and when I do, I take some medicine and it usually subsides.
During long overnights, everyone will take Bonine and eat really healthy foods that aren't to rich or have lots of acid. If you take the right precautions, you don't have to worry about sea sickness.

2. I am able to keep in touch with my friends via email and skype, so we feel like we can talk and tell stories even though we are a long distance from each other. I also get to meet lots of great cruising families along the way, so you' definitely aren't cut off from the young crowd. You meet so many great people like you when you are traveling, you never feel super lonely.

3. Long passages are actually my favorite time. Luckily, we have enough room on the boat to do workouts like Wii Fit and get moving a bit. I think being out in the open is a magical feeling, and though you /are /secluded, it's the good kind where you feel bonded with the environment and everything around you.

4. I have an orange tabby cat named Piccadilly, who is very happy on the boat. It depends on the size of the pet, but if they are relatively small, then they will have plenty of space to move around and get exercise.

Have a great time on your trip!
Calm seas and Clear skies,
Ayla

Thank you for the excellent questions. To tell you the truth, I absolutely love living on a boat and wouldn't trade it for anything.
Even though we only go eight knots, it is very relaxing and it gives you time to enjoy the environment. We may not get there fast, but looking outside the window to the waves lapping gently on the hull or the sun sinking in the west is magical as well as a perfect way to ease your nerves. I love it.

Ayla

Living on a boat definitely brings out your sense of adventure. At times it can be testing or boring but there are tons more good times than bad. Moving slow does not get on my nerves. The good thing about moving slow is it's easier to reel in fish and there is plenty of time knit and read. Another great thing about moving slow is you get to see more wild life. We often have dolphins playing in the bow wake or watching whales and seeing stingrays jumping out of the water, things you don't get to see when you are moving fast.

Paige

Brian

Thank you for the awesome question. The biggest swells we have been in were probably five feet in the Tongue of the Ocean. At first, it was a little intimidating because you feel very very small in the vast ocean.
However, after we were out in it for a while, I could relax and we could just enjoy the ride. It is like a roller coaster as long as you don't get sea sick! To keep our mind off of the swell, we watch movies and listen to music which helps to pass the time.

Happy Cruising!
Ayla

My family isn't going to other countries, we might do the great American
Loop with a teacher on a 65 foot boat. Here's 3 questions out of thousands.

1. Could mice or rats get on the boat.
2. If so, how would you guys think my orange tabby cat Sebastion, (who likes
everything and everyone) handle being out at sea?
3. How would a girl Boxer and and Male Rottweiler do on a 65 footer or bigger?

Good luck at sea!
Ashlynn

Thank you so much for all the great questions! I'm so glad that you are interested and like hearing what we have to say. Thank you!

1. It is possible for rats and mice to get on a boat, but the chances are very very low if you take the proper precautions. The main way is to either scurry up the lines or jump to a side door. When you are away from the boat, close the doors to and from the dock to your boat, and make sure you have no doors or windows leading from the outside in without a screen. However, higher up ones on the fiberglass are fine, as rats cannot get up the slippery sides. As for climbing up lines, this can be avoided by making sure you do not have lots of food out.
Remember, the chances are very very low.

2. Though I do not really know your cat's personality, I would think he would be fine. When we moved on the boat with Piccadilly, she settled into her space when the boat was still comfortably. When the boat moved for the first time (and almost two months after that) she hid behind my parents pillows downstairs. However, after extensive cruising, she got a grip on herself and embraced the moving boat. Don't panic if at first Sebastian does not like the boat and does not come out when moving.
After a while, he should settle into routine, and go about his daily business, even while underway.

3. The dogs are tricky. Because we have a 43 and no dogs, I cannot really relate to this. I would say that it depends on a dogs needs. If they need tons of space, lots of time to walk, and access to the outdoors all the time, I would consider leaving them with a family member. However, if they are good with small spaces, easily pleased, and do not need a lot of exercise, they might be Ok. I would go look at the
65 with the dogs in mind and see what you think!

Happy Cruising!
Ayla

Kimberly Paige

If you have more than one pet on a boat, problems may start to form. If you have all cats, litter boxes out at sea are not problems. However, things may start to get crowded. On a boat, having a lot of pets (especially ones that shed) can create problems such as clearing customs, space for each of them, and allergies. For dogs, a friend of ours with a dog has them basically pee on the swim platform, then rinses it off. I am not really sure about any further than that, as I don't have a dog.
I can add that the main issue is clearing customs. In many countries, the animal cannot even touch land at all, ever. This is enough of a problem for a cat, but for a dog whom needs to be walked, it creates very major problems. If you are going to bring a pet on the boat, I recommend only one, and a very very small one at that.

Thanks again for all of the great questions!
Ayla

1. How long have you been on the boat, and how long do you all plan on
being on your boat?

2. Are you doing a circumnavigation?

Thanks for the question!

1. My family (mom, dad, and my cat) have been on the boat for about seven months. We should be on the boat for about four years. I'll be back for my Junior year of highschool.

2. Yes, we will be doing a circumnavigation. We will cruise the great lakes this year, then Panama and the South Pacific next year. After that we'll be in Australia. Then we'll cruise Europe and go back across the Pacific.

Thanks again for the question!

-Ayla

Warm regards,
Ashlynn

Thank you so much for the question! The longest crossing we have done was about two days, however longer ones are coming up soon! We are planning on doing a week from Florida to the Hudson River! When I am out at sea, I do school, read, and write. I don't get sea sick, so it is nice to be able to have lots of time to read a good book. I love to write and out in the ocean, there is lots of inspiration. At night, we watch movies in the pilothouse. I love doing overnights because you are so isolated and even though you are out in the ocean, it feels really safe.

Warm Regards,
Ayla

1. My favorite sports are probably tennis and swimming. I love to be in the water, and swimming is a good sport when you are on a boat. I love to play tennis with my friends because we always have a great time running around on the courts and talking while exercising. I also really love to hike. The places we go here in the Bahamas are full of great hiking spots where you can look out and see the ocean from the top of the mountains.

2. My favorite place that we have been was Warderick Wells. It is located in the Exuma Island chain of the Bahamas, and is amazing. Warderick was the first land and sea park ever established in the world! There is amazing hiking, fabulous swimming, and a cruiser community where you get to meet friends that you look forward to seeing in other places. Big Majors is also pretty cool because of the wild pigs that inhabit the beach. You can go feed the carrots or bread. Another great place that we have traveled to is the Blue Hole at Long Island. It is a really shallow sandbar that you can stand in, and then it randomly drops of 395 feet to the bottom of the ocean. Some friends of mine and I went there, and we enjoyed jumping off the high cliffs that surround it. Swimming at the Blue Hole is eerie, but it is also magical to look down and wonder, "What's down there?"

Type back soon,
Ashlynn

My family is thinking about taking a long cruise and I am trying to
find out what it will be like for me and my sister.

Hope you are having a good time!

Ashlynn

1. What is it like to be home schooled. Is it cool, boring or the same as a regular school? What do you study most of the time?

I like home schooling, but I miss socializing with my friends. My main subject is math but we do English and social studies which we base on the countries we are visiting.

2. What do you do when you are not on the boat?

Well when we aren't on the boat we are doing stuff like snorkeling, fishing, exploring, checking out the local schools and attractions. You're always busy when living on a boat.

3. What is it like to sleep on the boat for such a long period of time?

Good question, I've been on a boat long enough that when I sleep I don't really notice the motion. Even when your at anchor or tied to a dock there is always a little motion, but it's just enough to rock you to sleep.

Cruising is great, you get to see and learn lots.

Thanks for the questions.
Paige

Hope to hear back from you.

2. I do miss my friends, but we stay in touch via email and phone. We set aside a time to call each other each week and email almost every day. I make friends in the ports I go and there are people I still run into along the way. Whats really fun is my friends come visit me sometimes. When they do, its so much fun. In the long run, its like they are out with me, so its not bad at all.

3. I don't have a specific schedule, but here we go: I get up around 6:00 because that is when we usually leave anchor. It pretty hard to sleep when you have an anchor coming up right over your room. :). I just hang around, read, and have breakfast until about 10:00. At 10:00, I start school. I do it up in our pilothouse. It takes about two to three hours. After I have learned a lot, I continue to play around. If we have gone into port or dropped anchor, we get off the boat and go exploring.
We usually return around 5:00. We are late eaters so after a few more hours we make or go out to dinner. I go to bed around 10:00.

Thanks again!
Ayla

Hi! I am six years old and living aboard our Nordhavn, Oso Blanco with my parents. I would like to know what is the best way to find other kids
on boats. Thanks!
Bear