It had never occurred to me people lived on boats until I met Mike McLinn. And like anyone that opens your eyes to a new and exciting possibility that resonates with your interest and desires…… he became a kind of mentor. He also happened to become my climbing buddy, hiking friend, boyfriend, and, in due course, my husband.

We have been living on our 424 Pearson (42ft LOA (length overall) for over two years. Her name is Gaia and make no mistake, a slight against Gaia is slander against a good friend.

Over the last five years in sailing Gaia, I learned a few things from Mike, experience, and comparing her to other sailboats. Gaia is a ketch rig, so, double the fun with masts! It makes her interesting to sail and balance out the mizzen (smallest sail- in back) with the genoa (our largest sail that’s in front on the forestay). Jibbing with a ketch is also a bit more interesting because the mizzen sail can act against you in crossing the wind (if you’re not tactful enough). Ketch rigs tend to be heavier and more seaworthy, ideal for long distant passages in my mind. 424 Pearsons (ketch as opposed to the cutter/sloop design) also have a lower mast (51 feet), intended to fit under bridges “easily”. Another perk is our keel; it’s a modified full keel so our draft is only 5 feet for a 42 foot vessel (not too shabby). And did I mention how much water we can carry….. 170 gallons of water…. Let’s review: low mast, shallow keel, seaworthy vessel, with lots of water storage.

Over time, I realized something…. This boat was not meant to sail circles in Boston harbor.

It was then I began to appreciate the 3 large solar panels mounted on the davets and wind generator for power. I began to love that Gaia never smacked into forceful bounding sea swells the way that faster boats did with a flatter haul design. I enjoyed taking down the main sail just to see how Gaia would sail with just the geny and mizzen. At some point in those five years, I became a salty sailor.