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What draws sailors to cross vast oceans, leaving behind comfort and certainty for the unknown? Saskia shares her remarkable journey from the Florida Keys to French Polynesia, revealing both the exhilarating freedom and surprising challenges of the cruising lifestyle.

Originally beginning her Instagram (@saskiasailing) simply to update family about their Pacific crossing, Saskia never expected thousands of followers to join her virtual journey. Together with her husband Kyle, they've cultivated a life that prioritizes experiences over possessions, sailing their Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 named "42" through some of the world's most breathtaking seascapes.

Their Pacific crossing wasn't the gentle downwind sail many envision—instead, 30 challenging days at sea with equipment concerns tested their resolve before reaching the dramatic cliffs of the Marquesas. Since then, they've explored remote Tuamotu atolls, swum with humpback whales in Moorea, and connected with locals in ways that transform typical tourism into profound cultural exchange.

Beyond the postcard-perfect visuals, Saskia offers candid insights into the practical realities of long-term cruising: how they financed their dream through charter operations in Key West, their meticulous provisioning strategies, and the art of interacting respectfully with officials in foreign countries. Their approach to budgeting—asking whether any purchase is "worth X days of cruising"—reveals how meaningful priorities reshape financial decisions.

As they prepare to continue westward through the Cook Islands and eventually to Australia, Saskia's story reminds us that modern cruising isn't about escaping life, but embracing it more fully—challenges, beauty, and unexpected connections included. What part of this sailing life calls to you?

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SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

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