I have a goal to make it through my entire life without ever calling 911.
It's not that I don't like help from emergency services. My real purpose is pursue a healthy lifestyle and to be situationally aware so that I don't get myself into predicaments where outside help is required.
When you sail offshore a thousand miles from land, you need to be a self-sufficient sailor, because help is not down the block and around the corner. If you make a serious mistake, you better be able to sort it out yourself. Sailing offshore around the world requires a level of self-sufficiency that is uncommon in the twenty-first century.
Self-sufficiency used to be the holy grail of offshore sailors. Mariners were proud of the fact that if they got into trouble, they also knew how to get out. Hard core sailors often did not carry radios because they didn't want to be tempted to call for help and take the easy way out.
In the twenty-first century, things are very different.
Sailors routinely are evacuated off yachts in rough seas because of seasickness. The yacht is in no danger of skinking, but the sailors suffer so severely from mal de mer that they call the Coast Guard to pluck them off the yacht. They abandon the yacht for a day or two, and then they mount a search to see if they can locate and recover the sailboat.
I did expeditionary travel in Land Rover Defenders in Saudi Arabia for more than ten years, and not once did we call 911.
We carried several thousand dollars in spare parts, and if something went wrong, there was a good chance we could fix it ourselves. We didn't often have things go wrong, but we never left a car in the desert. Self-sufficiency was an absolute requirement of deep desert exploration.
When we sailed around the world on our thirty-nine foot catamaran, we worshipped at the altar of self-sufficiency.
I chose a catamaran because I wanted to push the odds in our favor when we experienced adversity.
Our catamaran had two engines, and if one of them went down, the other engine was there as back up.
We carried several thousand dollars worth of spare parts, so that if engine problems occurred, there was a good chance we could fix them without outside assistance.
We had three ways of generating electrical power. We had engine alternators, solar panels, and two wind generators to make us completely self-sufficient in generating electricity.
Our catamaran had two sterring wheels and two rudders that guaranteed we would never loose our steering offshore.
We carried a complete set of spares for our autopilot, and we made emergency repairs at sea on more than one occasion. Our autopilot steered our boat for more than fifty thousand miles around the world.
It doesn't matter whether you are traveling in a sailboat offshore or in a Land Rover Defender, self-sufficiency is the foundation on which you build your adventure.
When I get ready to start a new adventure, the first bag I pack will be a suitcase full of self-sufficiency.
Once that bag is ready to go, I will set sail on the ocean of my dreams. And if I am not back within ten years, feel free to call 911.
Please don't call 911 a moment sooner.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip, the crew shot 200 hours of video with professional cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features including an Instructional Video on Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at sea.
And don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues", and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike.
Join Team Maxingout as they sail through Pirate Alley and up the Red Sea
See what it's like to cruise on a catamaran before you spend a bazillion dollars purchasing one
After watching the Red Sea Chronicles you will be able to see yourself sailing on the ocean of your dreams
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
