When asked to describe my last 34 days at sea, I find it extremely difficult to put it into words. What an epic adventure and journey we had. The challenges encountered at sea made us stronger, wiser, and better mariners. The true beauty of the ocean and our planet filled our souls with joy, and the ocean humbled us with its power, force, unpredictability, and vastness. To describe the sea in one word: enchanting.

Sunsets, sunrises, moonrises, and moon sets were all so breathtaking; we were witness to indescribable beauty. The stars filled the night skies as the moonlight elegantly lit up the sea; The Milky Way was ever so vibrant and clear while shooting stars soared endlessly through the night.

Everyday life aboard

Our Mariner tasks included daily engine checks, fueling, checking sails and rigging, fresh water monitoring and pumping, charting, weather reports, fishing, cleaning, watch, and the ever so prevalent troubleshooting of day to day & middle of the night challenges that would arise.

Jenny and I found peace in working out everyday, even if it was rough. Our workouts included kick boxing, squat/Ab/lunge challenge, burpees (because who doesn’t love burpees at sea!), running laps around the boat, yoga, and even some Block inspired circuits! We crushed it out there. Gabriel was also seen partaking in his own exercise routine in between his numerous projects to keep the boat running.

The sea life consisted of flying fish, squids, jellyfish, tropic birds, and of course Boobie birds! Here is a poem I wrote while aboard:

Boobie Birds resting on TRILOGY V at sea.

“13 Boobies”

13 boobies rest on our rails, as they have taken a break from their sails.

With their heads tucked in, feathers expanded out, they settle in without a doubt.

Dreams of flying fish swim through their mind, as the moon shines off of their fury neck lines.

Blue beaks, orange feet?! Oh what a treat!

But please! No more doodoo, it’s simply voodoo.

Enjoy your sleep aboard our ship, as the sun begins to rise, spread those wings and fly!!

Creative Fun

We returned with a piece of “artwork;” A combination of all of our creativity. It was a game we played together where one person draws one section then folds the paper so the other one can’t see it. Then the next person draws the middle section, and so on and so forth. Behold the final masterpiece:

Food:

The first couple of weeks, we ate very well, thanks to our master chefs, Jenny and Gabriel! As the fresh produce and fruit ran out, our meals became creative involving lots of frozen veggies, shrimp, pastas, and made up sauces. Snacks were limited to popcorn and some nuts.

Meals on the last week were slim pickings for sure. We ran out of coffee, breakfast was limited to oatmeal, lunch was typically skipped, and dinners were light.

We were all so excited to once again have fresh fruit and vegetables, and of course an ice cold beer!

We once joked about consuming one another. Jenny was voted number 1 as the grass-fed, “healthy” option. Gabriel was voted number 2: the spicy, flavorful option. And I was number 3, a little bit of both!

Sighting Land:

The moment we spotted land, tears of joy were felt but also tears of sadness. It all became so surreal.

The joy we felt on the dock being able to RUN, with solid ground under our feet, back and forth, was overwhelming. To have fresh water and to eat fresh food ( I was especially excited for lettuce and fruit!) was amazing!

If anyone has ever heard of land sickness...it is a a real thing! We were a very hearty crew and never once encountered seasickness. However, arriving back on land brought nausea and made us dance (we would sway as if at sea).

Captain Raquel, Captain Jenny and Chief Engineer Gabriel.

Today

I am so blessed to be home and surround by loved ones, but I find a piece of me still out there on the water. That is where my heart is. If you asked me tomorrow to do it again, I would say YES in a heartbeat! We all shared such wonder and beauty, we were exceedingly challenged and actively learning in hopes to share our stories to inspire and teach others. I am eternally grateful for this experience and especially for Captain Jenny and Chief Engineer Gabriel. I could not have done this without them. We are the Trilogy V dream team, I love them both dearly.