“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” –Dr. Seuss


After 2 years of preparation, I sailed my 40’ sailboat, Swell, south from Santa Barbara in October of 2005. I have since traveled through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Isla del Coco, Galapagos, French Polynesia, and the Line Islands.

Swell is a Cal 40 built in 1966. We travel at a pace not much faster than you can run. The weather, swell, and tides dictate my days. I enjoy traveling alone and living close to nature. I try to live simply, use less, and want less. Solar and wind power provide 90% of my electricity. I fish, spearfish, dive for shellfish, collect edible seaweed, sprout beans, and dry fruit and fish. I catch rainwater. I try to learn the local languages. I try to listen to my gut. I practice yoga and meditation. I love freedom, music, tea, non-fiction books, LAMP, poetry, writing, photography, dancing, rainbows, turquoise lagoons, coconuts, carrot juice, tools, and of course, riding waves.

This mode of travel requires knowing a little about a lot: navigation, weather, sail repair, mechanics, electrical, wood working, medical, knots, plumbing, fiberglassing, rigging, and all kinds of assorted shipwright work. Whether it's freeing my anchor chain from the rocks at 60 feet deep, scraping algae from the hull, battling lightning storms and squalls, navigating narrow reef passes, solving a broken equipment mystery, sewing a ripped sail underway, riding out bad weather, or running out of basic supplies in a remote place, traveling the world aboard Swell constantly offers me new challenges, lessons, and chances to learn. But alongside these come unfathomable rewards.

I believe in the preservation of exploration. I don’t exploit the waves I find, so that someday you might enjoy the same fulfillment of adventure when you arrive. This is not a surf guide to sailing around the world. I intend only to inspire you to believe in the power of your dreams. With hard work, the right tool, a loving heart, and a positive attitude, I have found that almost anything is possible.

Love and gratitude...and enjoy! --Liz