Sailing the Oceanaire

Renee has become an expert at finding all the cool creatures under water.

Renee captured some fantastic Octopus pics. Her post on IG is here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTw63dfDi_l/?img_index=7&igsh=NG0zMGR2emx3Zmtl

Our first dive in Bequia had crazy strong current and tons of debris in the water, so while I was glad to be back blowing bubbles, I didn’t get any good photos. Then we did a little snorkel around the corner. I always search the shallow for octopus, scorpionfish, sea hares, cool shells….and I came across this octopus pair mating! It took me a minute to make out what the blob was. Even though they were out in the open, their camouflage was great — rock / coral colors and textures. We watched for about 15 minutes. The dude was trying to get away but she wasn’t having it. In octo life, the female very often kills the male after mating. Then she takes him home to munch on while she sits on her brood. I really wanted to rescue him, but it wouldn’t be right to play god in their world. When we left, she was sitting on top of him while he was kind of stuffed into a hole. ☀️ ⛵️ 🌊 🐠 #irwin52 #irwinyachts #stsomewhere #svoceanaire #liveaboardsailboat

If you haven’t heard our medevac saga of 2025 and would like to listen in, we’re about to talk to Captain Tinsley on the Salty Podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTgRbd1gPNw/?igsh=eHVrcDg5eWxlMHV6

🚨 IT’S TONIGHT 🚨⛵ When sailing turns serious, experience takes over. This one dives into real-world seamanship and the moments that test you offshore. 🕕 LIVE TONIGHT — Wed Jan 14 | 6pm CT / 7pm ET 🎙️ PODLINK: https://saltyabandon.com/SaltyPodcast87 Could you handle this situation at sea? 👀⚓ #SaltyAbandon #SaltyPodcast #Sailing

Good morning from The Oceanaire! Hey folks we are in Bequia and so so glad to be here. This is the place where we left in a hurry last year (check my fb page for deets if you haven’t heard the tale).

Boat jobs galore! Being away was hard and re-entry was especially hard. But we have prevailed! Watermaker is making nearly perfect water (much better than tap), generator runs on command, refrigeration is working, washing machine is doing its job, the heads are flushing, and the autopilot is again steering the boat. All these things were sketchy on our return and required repairs and love. There were also 100 other little jobs.

We want to thank our posse for their patience with us, and especially thank Earl Meggison for his tenacity and deep experience helping with the electrical bits. We would likely still be using a bucket if not for Earl.

I hope you have a friend like this guy. The dude makes a huge difference in my life. Thank you Earl!

After 3 months, 2 days and about 18 hours we are getting back together. Renee is at the airport in Tahiti about to depart:

Flight 1 of 3 | 4200 miles
Tahiti to Los Angeles
9 hours

Flight 2 of 3 | 2100 miles
Los Angeles to Atlanta
4.5 hours

Flight 3 of 3 | 250 miles
Atlanta to Brunswick
1 hour

Drive to Jax and pick me up!!!
14.5 hours flight time, 24 hours with layovers.

Can’t wait to see you Renee! So
Glad you had this opportunity but damn I’ve missed ya.

It has been a fantastic year at home with our people. Having a grandchild is indeed magical. Our sailing isn’t complete however; this girl is returning to sea.

Life’s short. Do the thing! ☀️ ⛵️ 🌊 🐠 #irwin52 #irwinyachts #svoceanaire #liveaboardsailboat #liveaboardlife #saltinmysoul #optoutside #getlost #saltlife #sailinginstagram #wanderlust #justgo #sailing #adventuretravel #ratracerebellion #wanderfolk #cruisingcouples #longrangecruising #cruisingsailboats #travelphotography #mothermotherocean

https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/hold-fast/

This is a story that hits home for us.

If you wonder why we do what we do, listen to the quote by Bernard Moitessier at about 9:45 in this documentary. Better yet, read his book “The Long Way”

Hold Fast Moxie Marlinspike, in association with the Anarchist Yacht Club, is the filmmaker behind this "hastily made on a computer with a 14-day return policy"...

We’ve been home for a year this week. One of the major objectives was to catch up on Oceanaire maintenance. Before we left in 2020 we had the boat ship-shape and that served us really well with very few issues and repairs while sailing.

3 years at sea does take a toll and she needed a lot of love. Here’s our list that we are racing to finish in the next 2 months:

✅Forward head remodel
Genset: replace starter and full cooling system maintenance
Caulk under toe rail
✅Caulk eyebrow
✅Anchor chain swap/repaint
✅Wire starlink to DC
✅Clean engine room
✅Refresh sump box
Whisker pole mount
✅Re-bed prism
Rebed 4 large coach roof windows
Replace 3 small coachroof window
Varnish coachroof window trim
✅Replace sump pump
Program multiplus
*Replace zippers (3) on bimini
✅Fix lazerette lock
Install new stereo
✅Aft Head remodel
✅Install new radar dome
✅400w new solar
✅Replace outdoor speakers
✅Repair TV lift
✅Replace inverter remote panel
✅Repair head pressure tank leak
✅Refresh medical kit
✅Teak oil on rub rail
✅Replace aft cabin fan
Repair bow thruster
✅Make new coachroof window covers
✅refresh Racor Fuel filters
✅Make lion fish keeper
✅Electrical: ABYC inspection letter
✅2 year rigging inspection
✅Tighten latches under oven
✅Patch dinghy chaps
Replace windex
✅Head trim boards
varnish ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
✅refresh trim light bezels
✅Fix pedestal (the Andy repair)
✅Refresh electric panel
Wax masts and booms
✅Sew new companionway covers
✅Test throwable rope
Inventory spares
✅Install new radar
✅Install new autopilot ram
✅Jenny oil change
✅Fix rub rail
✅Tung oil on rub rail
✅replace oven thermocouple
✅oven weld rail
Oven: add insulation
Paint head cabinet insides
Paint cubbies in cockpit
Polish ez2cy
✅Service perky
✅Refresh throttle control
L**e throttle cables
L**e steering
✅Replace seized sheave
✅Refresh light fixtures ⭐️
✅Caulk aft head
✅Service outboard -
✅service Lower unit
✅free and l**e hinge
✅replace Zinc
✅replace Impeller
✅Redo cowl
✅replace Cowl bracket
✅Replace dinghy fuel filter
✅Replace dinghy lift lines and blocks
✅Paint bezels lights/throttle bits
✅Replace salon spotlights
✅Clean out bunk room
✅Fwd wallpaper
✅Finish head trim varnish
✅Wallpaper in both heads
✅Run perky and change oil
✅Reconnect aft head pump out
✅Fwd head pump cap
✅service clock
✅Perkins fuel lines replacement
✅Perkins injectors replacement
✅Perkins lift pump replacement
✅Perky valve adjustment
Paint perky
✅Rebuild drive shaft
✅Perkins raw water pump replacement
Wire in new batteries
Refresh Trim on cockpit cubbies
Paint bilge
✅polish dolphin striker
✅service dive gear
✅replace Renee dive computer
Replace chris dive goggles
Paint ends of spreaders
New running rigging: Mizzen halyards and furling, main halyard, genoa sheets
✅Clean bilge
✅Wax Hull
✅Replace mid and aft AC units
Haul and Survey (Jan 21-22 STA)

After 32 years Renee and I are splitting up. I’ll be taking Oceanaire to the Caribbean without her and have secured crew for the passage.

Renee has decided to go another way, and is moving aboard another boat.

As crew. Temporarily. 😇

She has her dream assignment and is heading to Panama to crew on a passage to The Galapagos and then on to the Marquesas. She’ll be heading west while I’m heading east. We should be back together in the islands after a couple of months apart.

It’ll be weird on a passage without my co-captain. She’s my rock and my constant companion. She knows Oceanaire inside and out and can handle her in any weather. She also keeps me in check when my tendency to push comes out.

Thankfully, I have outstanding crew joining me for the voyage. Earl Meggison, Doug Hobbs, and Don Taylor will be aboard from Brunswick to Bermuda and both Earl and Doug will continue on with me to St Martin. I really appreciate these guys making room for this passage as it will allow us to maintain our plan of getting Oceanaire back to the islands this year.

To all of you on land: we will not be gone as long again. We will definitely be back stateside during Hurricane season and also whenever our family needs us home. So keep a couple cold Budweisers in your fridge for us.

The next couple months are going to be crazy busy with boat prep along with a couple very important deliveries for great customers. Also Christmas with our family in ATL.

A special shoutout to Baylor who will become a college graduate later this week. Well done Beans.

Dockhands. The unsung heroes of the marine industry. I’m surprised how many folks don’t tip this profession. We get asked to tip everyone these days including those putting goods in a bag (which drives this sailor nuts).

The dockhand actually works hard to help you on and off the dock, fuel your boat, get your ice, etc. They’ve often provided us with great local knowledge and are generally reliant on tips for their hard work.

Tip your dockhand! I’m in the $5-$10 camp with an occasional $20 for going above and beyond. Just sayin’

Ok friends, we are open. Please check out our page and give us a comment or a like or a follow. Thanks much!

Oceanaire Yacht Delivery is Open for Business! We are available to move your boat with an owner’s care, or assist as you prepare to go cruising. We both have a lifetime of experience and look forward to hearing from you.