We just returned from a magical weekend in the normally prohibited island of Mai’ao (where tourists are NOT welcome). You have to be invited, and we took a local boy that hadn’t visited his home for 3 years! Needless to say we got a warm welcome. We felt like members of the family. We found the famous Polynesian welcome once again. What a memory. We even took a pregnant woman and her family back to the big island for a doctor checkup. It is always a treat to introduce people to sailing.
Author Archives: Kim
Humboldt Current Crossing – Cruising Ecuador (Ep. 59)
This video was taken in Ecuador, when we were beginning to explore the coast and the islands of that beautiful country.
The crew sails 60 miles to a beautiful island, only to be told we CAN’T swim there?! Cruising on a sailboat in Ecuador is harder than you think, there’s all kinds of paperwork, permissions and regulations you need to abide by, but the rewards are amazing!
Actually, in this episode we end up not seeing much and instead scrub the bottom for three days straight, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. Somebody has to do the dirty work.
I hope You enjoy!
Sending You love from Mo’orea (in the middle of the Pacific)
James & Kim
No more fridge on Zingaro – Ep. 57
He had it coming. He was such a bugger… Very difficult to live with, constantly complaining, a real nightmare. So, we did the only thing two sane people living on a boat together can do: we got rid of the problem! Who needs cold beer? 😀
The rest of this video is pretty fun as well, we’re refitting our catamaran to go across the Pacific in Ecuador – a place that is very difficult to refit a boat.
Hope you like.
Kim
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Cruising is Working on Your Boat in Exotic Places – Ep. 56
Here is an episode about when we arrived in Ecuador. That was already a year ago! Whoa, how time flies! We had tons of work to do on the boat and Ecuador was really a great place to do that. Not too hot to work during the day and a low cost of living (we ate out on a daily basis because we were too tired to cook!).
The only problem was getting parts, because the cruising scene is basically non-existent there. 5200? Can’t find that. New anchor rode? Gotta turn the whole country inside-out to find it! A new 5hp two stroke outboard? Forget it!
It took a lot of running around for us to get things done, but luckily we don’t get frustrated too quickly 😀 and, very important, we speak Spanish! Ecuadorians are very helpful and relaxed people that will take their time to help You, but barely anybody we met spoke English. You can always do the hands and feet dance, but speaking their language makes communication way more efficient 🙂
Anyways, working is part of this life and that’s ok. As long as You don’t forget to have a little fun as well!
Lots of love
Kim
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Equator Crossing – Our Promise to Neptune (Ep. 55)
Episode number 55 covers the sail from the Coco Island, entering the South Pacific and arriving to Ecuador.
When we arrived the first time we had no idea how much we were going to see and how long we were going to stay. That country is so diverse: You have the coast, the mountains, the Amazon and Galapagos Island. Truly a destination for anybody that’s interested in anything! 😀
The next couple Episodes are going to be about us sailing all over the coast and even exploring the inland with their worldclass bus system. So cheap and so reliable, it’s amazing.
As You can tell, we loved Ecuador. I’m sure You’ll love it too!
Kim
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Stories from the Boatyard | Sailing Zingaro – Ep 48
In this episode we talk about plywood catamaran problems and what work you can expect.
After sailing 700nm we finally find a boatyard to haul out Zingaro. Repairs, refit, bottom paint, and lots of fiberglass await.
When we got Zingaro on the hard all hell started breaking loose. We could see numerous dripping spots on the bottom (indication of delaminated fiberglass and water intrusion).
Luckily our boat is all Airex Foam and the water had nowhere to go. But on a few places it seeped up inside the glass layers and I had to remove big pieces. We had purchased 3 gallons worth of West System Epoxy to do the entire bottom in an epoxy/copper mix, but with this new dilemma we were forced to use 1 entire gallon on the bottom repairs.
We even removed an old through-hole that was filled with cabosil (not the correct way to fix that). All in all there were 7 big patches, and a lot more work than we though it would be.
-James & Kim
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Hello from the Gambier Islands!
After Easter Island we spent 3 weeks going around the Pitcairn Island Group:
- Ducie – The most southern atoll in the world!
- Henderson – The most untouched by humans island in the world!
- Pitcairn – Home of the Bounty mutineers (and so welcoming).
- Oeno – The most beautiful, coolest, and northernmost atoll in the group.
We have behind the scenes videos complete for you guys, and tons of pictures, BUT the internet here is so slow. Like… crazy slow. We had to bribe the cafe’s owner to keep our computer for the night to upload our new episode.
Our plan now is to stay here and see this isalnd group for two weeks until the supply ship comes, then purchase 30gal of diesel directly from the ship (at $6/gal instead of $8/gal in the store here).
Then we’re headed to Hao Island in the Tuamotos. Apparently they have cell service there, and we can use our cell phone to upload all the awesome stuff we’re waiting to show you. Cool?
Much love
James & Kim
Our dirtiest day on Easter Island
What started of as a harmless afternoon hike, soon became the dirtiest adventure of our lives. I didn’t look as bad as James, but I was just as dirty! Good thing we were able to wash off well. Thanks to our sponsor Spectra Watermakers ❤
Sailing Zingaro | Pretty dirty and happy hikers on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Sailing Zingaro | True adventurers need to be muddy
Our friend Valentina send us into the ‘Cave of Virgins’ and waited for us at the entrance, because she ‘had seen it before’ 😂. We had no clue what was awaiting us!
It took us around 2h round trip, crawling through this lava tunnel with puddles and openings in the stone sometimes as small as 30cm (~1ft).
We’re off!
Adios Rapa Nui – see You in Pitcairn, amigos!
We Made it to Rapa Nui!
It took us 18 days to sail to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) from Ecuador.
The only fish we caught were flying fish, but luckily James is getting really good at making Pizza, so we were cared for. Our autopilot broke and we had to steer Zingaro with bungee cords for 1800nm. Bummer, but we made it and couldn’t be happier!
We arrived Wednesday, March 27th, and needed to wait for the authorities to give us clearance to step foot on the island.
The next day we got the officials on the boat, but by the time we were done it was 4:00 and there was nobody around to help us get in… The surf here in Hanga Roa is crazy, and the waves (called El Cruz) break over the entrance to the harbor. We need someone to guide us this first time.
So, we’ve got some awesome footage to show you guys. A teaser reel is already done (next episode is coming soon).
Finally, on Friday, we set foot on land for the first time in 3 weeks. It was exciting! You know what’s the craziest thing that stands out in my mind? The SMELL of land after 19 days. I’ll never forget that.
So we celebrated our arrival, we met our new friend Martha and danced for hours… 💃💃🕺
Cruising to Easter Island was great
The wind came over the beam for the most part of the journey, but its strength was very variable. While we didn’t have barely any wind the first three days, we were FLYING the 10 days after that. Reefed down to the bare minimum and still surfing these waves like there was no tomorrow. Then again we were becalmed or with little wind for the last 350nm. We had some opportunities to fly the spinnaker.
So much for the wind. Now to the things that broke: Astonishingly little! Only the autopilot did, which sucked, but it doesn’t sink the boat after all, so I give it a 2 on the drama scale.
We were prepared well this time (for the first time ever, probably), we checked halyards and sheets for chafing, provisioned well… It helps to be aware of the things that could go wrong, even though I could have done with out learning that the hard way!
Over all, we loved the trip and I believe it was our best one so far.
Kim
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Reality Cruising: This Couple is sailing around the World | Ep. 37
So much action in this episode! Spearfishing, shark fishing, storm sailing, and sweet sweet sailing. If you’ve got the itch to cut the lines and head offshore, this episode will do it for you.
We’re coming at you from the Seca Islands, Panama, one of our secret spots on the world. If you all get a chance, go there. Seriously.
We really enjoyed this episode, making it and editing it. Hope you enjoy watching it. We are uploading it from some sketchy hostel, because this is the only place with internet in Puerto López (Ecuador) at night!
See You soon,
James and Kimmi
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Beautiful Ecuador – the big surprise
Of all the countries we visited so far, Ecuador was by far the biggest positive surprise.
We wanted to come down here just to jump of to French Polynesia, but we ended up extending our visas and staying for four months to explore the whole country. We had 15kn of wind from the southwest every day and lonely islands to spend the night at. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Only a few days left in Ecuador – then we will set sail for Easter Island. Our next big cruising adventure… ⛵️
Provisioning for Easter Island | Sailing Zingaro
Here’s a little peek into how we are provisioning for Easter Island. We are filling 10L/20L containers with rice, beans, quinoa, flour, lentils and popcorn. Then we put them into our buddy’s freezer for 3 days to kill any bugs/eggs (big problem here is weevils). Then we store them down in the hulls, and… pizza for months!
It’s pretty cheap this way. All of these containers were filled with various things for about $100. Yay team Z!
As we are getting ready for our longest trip we have been very busy. We will update you all on everything we’ve been doing, but first, check this vid out.
Much love! Thank you all! We cannot wait to take you to EASTER ISLAND with us!!!
James & Kim
Sailing North after the Panama Canal | Sailing Zingaro – Ep 32
Close your eyes and hold on! Shipping lane crossing at night, no fresh food, no water.
On our search for a boatyard we spend seven days sailing the southern Coast of Panama. The wind was in our favor most of the time and we had a blast. But our range without a farm and a watermaker on the boat is limited, so we had to eventually end our trip in Boca Chica.
Season 1 FINALE | Sailing Zingaro Ep 29
The girls take the catamaran through the Panama Canal! We get some new linehandlers, struggle to get diesel, and finally get through the canal to the Pacific! What an adventure it has been so far.
As we say goodbye to the Caribbean ocean, we reflect on the memories we’ve made, the troubles, trials, and friendships. It’s hard to say goodbye, but exiting to start a new adventure in the biggest ocean on the Planet: Season 2 – PACIFIC.
Making this episode and looking back on the TWO YEARS we have spent cruising has touched us deeply.
Hope you guys love this episode as much as we do!
Transiting the Panama Canal (pt. I) | Sailing Zingaro Ep29
What to expect and how to prepare … We cover anchoring in the flats, form 4405-I, scheduling to get measured, and the river Chagres! It’s a cool how-to with a bit of how-it-was.
Cruising Ecuador
After a lot of work we decided to go back to what we do best: Sailing! In the last few days we found a bunch of great spots on the Ecuadorian coast. We’re very much in love with this part of the world!
Sailing Zingaro | Kim is hoisting the Ecuadorian flag
Crazy sailing to mainland Panama | Sailing Zingaro Ep27
This episode we finish our charter, say goodbye to our new friends, and explore mainland Panama. We really liked it here, and stayed for quite awhile.
When we left the beautiful San Blas, we got caught in some serious weather on our passage to Puerto Lindo.
We’re running out of food, fuel, and sanity on this most difficult passage… Continue reading
One day in San Blas | Sailing Zingaro Ep26
We continue our journey to Panama, but not alone! With five guests we explore the San Blas Islands. A grounded ferry, coconuts en mass & scary storms: That’s what you are going to get with the 26th Episode of s/v Zingaro!
¡Adios Cartagena! | Sailing Zingaro – Episode 25
Dancing, with tears in our eyes… ¡Adios Cartagena! We’re leaving this dirty, cheap & wonderful place. But not without cruising the streets at night one last time.
Of all the places we have been on our journey so far, Cartegena stands out. So much culture offer during the day & the night and so many young people that build up their life just the way we do in Berlin or California, withstanding the troubled past and presence of their country.
So proud and so free.
