LIFE ABOARD AS A FAMILY
It has been two months since Laurent, Bérengère and their two children cast off aboard their sailboat, Zanzibar, a Sun Shine 36. Here is an update upon their arrival in Spanish territory. To take on this adventure as a family is to adapt to a new way of life, to find a new equilibrium, a new rhythm, and this is true for each family member.
A SLICE OF LIFE IN THE RAIN
It is Sunday, May 14th, and it has now been six days that we have endured the more than capricious weather, with winds between 15 and 30 knots, grey clouds from morning ‘til night that barely let us glimpse the blue sky, showers, and even some persistent driving rain and storms… The barometer jumped about, changing in just 48 hours from 1025 to 990 hPa!! Some days, it has been impossible for us to leave the boat....
“The hardest part remains occupying the children on the interior of the boat, since it was not possible to play on the deck. On the agenda: games, colouring, collages, origami, projects with dad, cartoons, making cookies, decorating their cabin. It is in these moments, we must maintain our calm and rely on our imagination to avoid mutiny on board!
CHILDREN ADAPTING TO LIFE ON BOARD
The children continue to surprise us with the speed in which they are adapting to a new environment. Blanche quickly found her bearings: playing at the foot of the mast, knowing just how and where to hold on when the boat moves, how to climb into the tender, the play mat in the saloon…. Meanwhile, even without having any memory of our previous vacations on board, Gabin did not have any more trouble adapting than Blanche. Being at an age where he reveres his sister and attempts to copy everything she does, he very quickly developed the same automatic responses.
BETWEEN SCHOOL AND OTHER DISCOVERIES
With Blanche, we have also begun to teach lessons on board. She is constantly asking to “do school.” For the moment, we have not imposed a rhythm to our lessons, but we are taking advantage of calm moments on board to get our schoolwork done.
PARENTS ON BOARD
Each of us has their tasks on board: as for me, I see to the cooking, getting the children to bed, dressing and undressing, laundry, maintaining food supplies, and serving as crew member while under way.
“Laurent sees to the trip planning, management of technical details on board (tender, water, fuel), dishes, taking photos. Laurent is also amazingly calm and relaxed since our departure, in spite of the fact that he quit smoking on the day we set sail, and that he is the one with the most responsibility on board.
“I admit that I am a bit more stressed, in particular by all the stunts pulled by Gabin. And I assure you that he never runs out of ideas.
Bérangère
More adventures to come at the next stopover… !
