The Voyagers

Dwayne grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and began sailing out of the Milwaukee Yacht Club at age 12. His first exposure to sailing was on an International 210 (30 foot racing sloop).

When not crewing on larger boats, Dwayne skippered and raced a Penguin (11-1/2 foot, cat rigged dinghy). Dwayne sailed with MYC until he traded in his tiller for a steering wheel and set of car keys at age 16.

He began sailing again in 2008. Dwayne completed the American Sailing Association 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing, 103 Basic Coastal Cruising, 104 Bareboat Cruising and 105 Coastal Navigation courses.

Carla grew up on the Mississippi River in Keokuk, Iowa. She was a power boater and a member of the Keokuk Yacht Club. Her last boat was a 24 foot Cutty which she sold in 1994. Carla first set foot aboard a sailboat in 2008. While on vacation in Saint Martin, Dwayne convinced Carla to experience sailing.



She was a convert by the end of her first outing. Sailing was fun – especially when your first exposure is match racing on a 12 Meter in the Caribbean. Carla completed the American Sailing Association 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing and 103 Basic Coastal Cruising courses.

Dwayne and Carla bought Illusion, a 1983 Johnson C Scow in November, 2008 and joined the Jacomo Sailing Club in Kansas City, Missouri, National C Scow Sailing Association and Inland Lake Sailing Association. They raced Illusion in local and national regattas on Midwestern lakes. The rules of the boat were very simple: start and finish the race, have fun, learn something and “don’t go swimming” (capsize). In most regattas, Illusion was the oldest boat racing and sailed by the oldest skipper and crew.

In December, 2010 Dwayne and Carla bought Lucky Ones, a Catalina 27 and joined the Perry Yacht Club, Kansas. Carla wanted a boat which was less physically demanding, could be sailed without fear of capsizing and would serve as a “cottage on the lake”. Dwayne wanted to continue racing but felt it would be great to have a cruiser so the entire family could enjoy sailing.

Lucky Ones was more of a project boat than anticipated. She was finally launched in 2013 after extensive refitting to include new standing rigging, running rigging and lifelines. The refit seemed to go on forever and provided much experience in working with epoxy, fiberglass, marine paints, polishes, waxes, as well as, hardware and tools not used by the average person. The refit was a once in a life-time learning experience not to be repeated. Lucky Ones is currently laid up and will remain so until our sabbatical voyage is over.

Both Carla and Dwayne love to sail and travel. Cruising on a sailboat was very appealing and it was mutually agreed that an extended voyage was in their future. A larger, more seaworthy boat than Lucky Ones was needed for comfort and safety. After extensive research, the Catalina 380, Foreign Affair was purchased in August, 2014. This website is a chronicle of our latest vessel and our travels aboard her.



Links to specs and photos:
Penguin
International 210
Catalina 27