Welcome to Oceans of Hope! Inspired by a friend who made a part of the journey, Craig Ruding, and also motivated by my lovely wife, Wendy, who knows how much I like the water and adventure – here I am. She got me signed up and did a lot of the legwork to get me onboard Oceans of Hope.

I made a career of working on the water for more than 40 years, and so I am used to the physical challenges of being onboard a boat, but never before with MS – other than day sailing at home. This boat, Oceans of Hope, is a strong, seaworthy boat, but it is not designed for passengers. It is designed for racing. It is a specialty boat. Therefore, accommodations are less than desirable for people with disabilities and it takes special motivation to operate a race boat as it is not designed for comfort. One head, nine people. Especially when four of them are not exactly salty – that is non-seafaring people.

Bring a bottle of whiskey – be prepared for things you do not expect, as is also the case with MS. I did not plan my retirement this way. In some ways, it is like the definition of MS – no two people have the same symptoms and that goes for sailing too – one day is not the same as the next. Be prepared to be bruised. And be prepared to have fun. Challenges are good, overcoming challenges is better. I’ll drink to that! May the wind always be on your back, and the sun upon your face.

This lifetime I have navigated the earth, next lifetime I want to navigate the stars.

Report from Bosun Bertram
From Fraser Island to Mackay and now to Hamilton Island. We left our nice anchorage west of Fraser Island a couple of days ago with 280 nautical miles to Percy Islands – however, halfway to our destination we realised that the large north easterly swells would be too rough for us to anchor in the uncovered bays of Percy Isles. Instead we went for the port of Mackay, where we spent a day and a night resting before leaving this morning for Hamilton Island. A leg of 45 miles spent in beautiful sunny weather with occasional rainy squalls. A great day of sailing arriving on a pretty island, where apparently tonight they are throwing a party to celebrate their local regatta. We might as well participate!

Local time onboard is 17:45 and our current position is 20,20.78S , 148,56.92E