Seeing as it is still January, and therefore people are ok with being all nostalgic about years past, I thought I’d take the opportunity to post a round up of the articles that were published in Cruising World Magazine 2025.
I got back into the swing of things by writing a feature on a 126-year-old historical vessel that has been converted into a humanitarian aid ship.
Vega has been doing annual trips to the remote islands of Eastern Indonesia and East Timor since it’s crew, Shane and Meggi, volunteered to take 20 tonnes of relief supplies to the outer islands devastated by the 2004 tsunami.
They deliver educational supplies, farming supplies, solar set ups, and basics like reading glasses in an area that is not only hard to reach but also overlooked by local governments. They’ve worked with local doctors to set up midwifery training and to supply medical equipment that is basic but life saving.
Not only do they volunteer both their own time and their vessel but they are completely crowd funded. They work directly with local village elders and authorities to ensure that the supplies provided are actually useful and needed. And because they avoid the bureaucracy of larger non-profit funding, they are able to funnel maximum amounts of the donations to the people they are helping.
As Shane aptly pointed out they carry a Cargo of Hope, and I hope you enjoy the read about their ‘Special Deliveries.’
I also had a destination piece about our time in the Calamain Islands of western Philippines published.
We spend some time there in 2018/2019 and returned again when we launched post world melt down in 2023/2024.There are a lot about our time in the Philippines that I would like to forget, but the months we spent anchorage hoping in these often over looked islands is certainly memories that I treasure.
Excellent snorkeling in clean, clear water, friendly locals, deserted islands, and giraffes. Seriously, real live African giraffes and zebras that you can hand feed! Catch up on those ‘Waypoints Less Visited’.
The final article that I had published has already been mentioned in my 2025 Recap, but since it was such an extensive project it feels like it bears mentioning again.
Originally titled ‘Getting to the Core of the Problem’ but published as ‘DIY Deck Repair’
(As the Writer I often have little input how Editors change my work.)
This piece chronicles the odyssey that was excavating and repairing our rotten balsa cored deck.It ended up being a bit of an in-for-a-penny kinda situation and in the end the project not only encompassed the WHOLE foredeck but also included areas on both port and starboard side decks, as well as 80% of the couch house.
If you have a soft spot (haha) for in-depth boat repair articles, or are just curious how we spend our time when not sailing, check out DIY Deck Repair.
I definitely have felt the call of the keyboard again, and am looking forward to having some more artilces published in 2026. Love to hear your thoughts if you read any of the articles linked above, or if there is anything else about life onboard that you are curious about. Please leave me a comment below!
Love,
H&S
