Adventure On Deck

Abide finally made her way back to Charleston. This episode gets a little emotional… but it’s tears of joy so it’s okay!

This week, Roland and I share the last leg of Abide's first real adventure as she arrives home in Charleston, marking a heart-warming return. Recording this episode was an absolute joy.

From navigating treacherous waters to docking in Charleston, the final chapter of Abide’s journey home had its fair share of challenges. We talk Charleston history, Roland’s run-in with some feisty crabs, and the overwhelming excitement of seeing Abide back at the marina. 

Highlights from this episode:

• Navigating the treacherous waters on the way home to Charleston.
• Abide’s arrival in Charleston and seeing her in the marina for the first time…
• …only for our view to be spoiled the next day!
• Some interesting details on Charleston’s history as a major harbor.
• Roland’s crab attack and other stories that had us in hysterics.
• And more…

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

LEARN MORE

The sermon we listened to when Abide got to Charleston: Waiting For

For more about Abide - https://sailabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide in Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Have you ever wondered what life is like for a crew on a yacht? Our crew spend a lot of time on Abide, not only working together, but living together, too.

This week, we’re taking a quick break from the refit story to give you an inside look at what it’s really like to live and work aboard Abide.

I’m joined by Jacob, our engineer, and Elizabeth, our deckhand who connected with me as they both sat down aboard our boat in Newport, Rhode Island.

We’ll dive into how they got into the world of yachting, the training involved to become yacht crew, and what it’s like to live and work in such close quarters. From navigating the day-to-day responsibilities to living alongside co-workers, Jacob and Elizabeth share a unique perspective on life aboard Abide that I know you’ll get a lot of insight from.

Highlights from this episode:

• How Jacob and Elizabeth found their way into the yachting world.
• The rigorous training required to be a yacht crew member.
• Daily life aboard Abide and how they live together as co-workers.
• Insights into the crew’s responsibilities and routines.
• What it takes to make life at sea run without a hitch.

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next episode!

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

As we entered Newport on a freezing Christmas Eve, we realized days later that we hadn’t officially cleared into the port... And that was just the beginning of the next set of challenges!

This week, Roland and I dive into the next leg of Abide’s journey, as we sailed from Belfast, Maine to Newport, Rhode Island and onto Norfolk. 

From a major malfunction that had us moored to the dock for weeks, to the sea trials that revealed more problems, this leg of the trip was filled with close calls.

We delve into crew challenges in this episode, and how we found the crew that was right for us. And we revisit our dream of sailing round the world and talk about why we’re currently looking more locally!

Highlights from this episode:

• The Christmas Eve panic and why Abide needed clearing to dock.
• Navigating Newport's icy waters and returning to the dock due to a major malfunction.
• Three intense sea trials.
• Our journey from Newport to Norfolk.
• HR challenges on board: managing crew swaps and the importance of finding the right people for the mission.
• Is the dream of sailing around the world realistic?

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next leg of the journey.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

What happens when your sailboat is forced to leave the dock before it’s ready, and the deck is turned into an ice rink?

This week, I’m joined again by our captain, Roland - in person this time! We’re sitting aboard Abide as we reflect on the departure from the shipyard in Belfast, Maine. 

Abide had become part of the local scenery, with both friends and strangers showing up to give her a send off. But the decision for Abide to leave the dockyard wasn’t made by us. We revisit the chaotic moments leading up to Abide departure and the challenges that followed. 

We also dive into Abide’s sea trials - the first voyages, and finally bringing Abide into Newport.

Highlights from this episode:

• Dealing with the pressure of being forced out of the shipyard before we were ready.
• Roland’s mishap that turned the deck into an ice rink!
• The emotional farewell as friends and locals wished Abide off.
• Struggling to get off the frozen dock and into open water.
• The far-too-tight squeeze of clearing low bridges during Abide's first sea trials.

The first leg of her journey may be complete, but there’s plenty more ahead! So be sure to subscribe for the next episode.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

When we bought Abide, it was clear that she was built for something more. And part of what helped her reach her potential was the newly designed interior.

In this episode, I sit down with Kate Seremeth, owner of TACK studios and the interior designer behind Abide’s stunning look.

Kate shares her story from starting out in industrial design to becoming a specialist in yacht interiors. Growing up in Maine, surrounded by water, it’s no surprise that Kate found herself drawn to working on boats, but her path into this unique niche is anything but conventional.

Kate talks about the unique challenges she faces designing for the unique features of a sailboat and how she balances human comfort with aesthetics. She gives us an inside look into the process of designing Abide’s interior and shares stories of some of the incredible other projects she’s worked on.

Highlights from this episode:

• The unique challenges of designing for yachts.
• Balancing comfort and beauty in yacht interiors.
• Kate’s process for designing the interior of Abide.
• Refits vs. new builds and how no project is the same.
• How Kate designs interiors that ‘feel like the client’.
• Stories of Kate’s other projects and the ones she’s turned down.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

TACK studios - https://tackstudios.com/

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Kate Seremeth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-seremeth-2a620612/

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

This is where things got really hard.

After being kicked out of the yard in early June 2023, our sailboat, Abide, went back in the water… but it wasn’t yet habitable. It didn’t seem like we were far off, though, with visions of being out on the water within the next couple of months. How wrong we were…

In this episode, our captain Roland and I continue the story of Abide's refit during the second half of 2023. With constant delays, unpleasant surprises and our stress levels rising, we were starting to lose faith.

I know this doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, but we had to go there. We wanted to be open about both sides of the story. It’s all part of it, and it’s absolutely worth listening to you if you want to hear the behind-the-scenes on the challenges of such a large project.

Highlights from this episode:

• Abide’s return to the water, and the challenges that followed.
• The harsh reality of a huge project like refitting a 136-foot sailboat.
• How we raised our spirits and pushed forward.
• The Antigua Yacht Show - our beacon of hope, and how that panned out!

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

Are you feeling hungry? You will be after listening to this episode!

Vanessa, our chef on board our sailboat, Abide (and Roland’s wife), joins me on this episode to give us a behind the scenes look into life as a private chef on the sea.

We discover Vanessa’s story of how she got involved in chartering, despite having no initial sailing experience. Vanessa is now part of our crew where she uses her culinary mastery to feed us breakfast, lunch and dinner in a space smaller than most home kitchens!

Highlights from this episode:

• Vanessa’s journey to chartering, from South Africa to the USA.
• The challenges of cooking for up to ten people in a tiny galley kitchen.
• Life on mixed charters and handling diverse groups of guests.
• The differences between restaurant and private cheffing.
• The process of crafting a menu and why guests don’t get to see it before boarding.
• Nightmare guest stories!
• The no-go topics of conversation for mixed family charters…

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

A huge project like restoring a 136-foot sailboat, doesn’t happen in a bubble. While our captain, Roland, and the crew were hard at work with Front Street Shipyard in Belfast all sorts of unexpected challenges were cropping up that made us put the whole endeavour into perspective.

In this episode, we dive back into the refit of Abide during the winter of 2022. 

As the refit continues, Roland and I share a few stories behind the scenes: from the rigorous crew training that Roland has to undergo, from firefighting to spending 5 hours in a freezing pool, to some more personal trials.

Highlights from this episode:

• The impact of life’s challenges on us and the project.
• Training for the unexpected - what a sailing crew has to go through to become certified.
• Coping with sudden loss and other stressful life challenges.
• The process of Roland securing a visa in order to get the project underway.
• The moment Abide was kicked out of the shed.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

It was a cold December night back in 2022. 

Abide was tucked up in the warmth of her shed at Front Street Shipyard. 

Roland was slowly killing his Christmas tree… 

In this episode we jump back into the refit story, picking up where we left off in the winter of ‘22. Our 136-foot sailboat, Abide, was undergoing an intensive refit.

Our captain, Roland, joins me again to share stories from that winter in Maine and give us a closer look into the extensive refit challenge.

Highlights from this episode:

- What happened next in the refit story.

- The crazy level of attention to detail that had to go into repainting Abide.

- How to sail if you get seasick.

- Abide’s 2000-lb dinghy and how we got it on the boat (and why sailboats need one).

- The story of Roland’s Christmas as a South African in America.

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm

JB Turner had a vision. A vision for a shipyard unlike any other in Belfast, Maine. A shipyard that could take on bigger projects, and energise the community. And in 2011, JB and his partners got started with building Front Street Shipyard.

Abide is currently sitting inside Front Street waiting to be painted. But in this episode, we’re taking you back to how it all started.

JB shares with us his story, from developing a love of sailing as a child (back when a 32-foot sailboat was considered large!), to the handshake that built the shipyard, to refitting Adibe!

This conversation is filled with interesting stories that I don’t want to spoil for you, so have a listen and you won’t be disappointed!

Highlights from this episode:

• How JB Turner and his partners built Front Street Shipyard from the ground up.
• How Front Street was able to attract its talented team (most of whom don’t sail themselves!)
• The ‘rennaisance’ of Belfast that attracted its sailing community.
• What goes into building a boat from scratch.
• What’s the hardest part of building a sailboat?

If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your podcast app of choice so you don’t miss the next part of the story.

LEARN MORE

Front Street Shipyard - https://frontstreetshipyard.com/

For more about Abide - https://svabide.com/

CONNECT

Abide on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sail_abide

Cheryl Drury on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldruryphotographer/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-on-deck/id1749793321

Captivate - https://adventure-on-deck.captivate.fm