Sailing to Jessica - Kelly Watts

Sailing to Jessica

By Kelly Watts

  • Release Date: 2012-11-14
  • Genre: Specialty Travel
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 7 Ratings

Description

At 35-years old, Kelly and Paul Watts sold their home in a golf-club community and quit their jobs to sail around the world, without any sailing experience. Two days after purchasing their forty-two-foot sloop, they got caught in a forty-knot gale off the coast of Cape Fear, NC.  Their sails ripped; the engine overheated; the GPS broke; they suffered hypothermia and severe seasickness.  And yet they persevered on their journey, discovering the playful sea lions of the Galapagos, the seductive dance of the Polynesian girls, and the primitive beat of Tuvaluan music, all while learning how to sail and repair their boat. They narrowly avoided a shark attack in Suwarrow, fled from suspected pirates off the coast of Ecuador, and hit a submerged container – the fear of all sailors - near Midway Island.  

What started as a search to find meaning to “life without children,” only strengthened their desire to have a family.  After fertility attempts failed in America and New Zealand, they unexpectedly adopted a two-month old baby in Kiribati.  And so began the adventure of raising a baby on a boat in the middle of the Pacific, battling Dengue Fever and an epidemic of e-coli., almost losing their lives in a 60-knot westerly gale and navigating through the maze of international adoption paperwork.  

Told from Kelly’s conversational point of view, “Sailing to Jessica” will inspire anyone who is searching for meaning in their life to get up and find it.

Tania Aebi, author of "Maiden Voyage," said: "...The details of Paul and Kelly's journey will bring the reader aboard the roller coaster ups and downs of the cruising life, the seemingly endless frustrations mitigated by unforgettable friendships, joy and awe that make it all so worthwhile, an experience of a lifetime. Here is an inspirational couple who recognized an opening in their lives and seized a moment leading to the kinds of memories that only a life at sea can bring . . . with the ultimate reward being the realization of the elusive dream that motivated them to leave in the first place - two beautiful children of their own. Thank you for sharing this happy story."

Reviews

  • Wonderful read....

    5
    By Rakkestad
    This is a terrific summer read with a huge adventure told against a heartwarming personal story. While we all might think of quitting our jobs to sail around the world, Kelly, Paul her husband, and their cat just did it. It was crazy because they really had no experience... it all turns out to be quite an amazing, well written story. Highly recommended.
  • Sailing the stormy and unpredictable seas

    5
    By Hendricks Down Under
    Sailing to Jessica is an inspired commentary on the strength of the human spirit, a testimony to love, and the joy of exploration. For anyone who wants to grab life with both hands, leap out of their comfort zone, and imagine the possibilities out there; this wonderful debut novel ticks every box. It is part memoir, part exceptional travel adventure (with amazing detail), part love story. After reading this, don't be surprise if you feel just a little tempted to jump on a sailboat and sail the stormy seas to the nearest tropical island.
  • Dreamer, Adventurer, Traveler, Sailor? You'll love this book.

    5
    By FrL16
    Sailors of the virtual or actual kind, or anyone who has ever dreamed of abandoning real life for a wild and crazy dream will love this fast-paced book about a couple of inexperienced sailors who decide to sail around the world. In that tricky life stage where middle age is approaching and carefree youth is gone, this couple was exhausted by fertility problems and stressful jobs, and chucked it all for one grand trip. As one might expect of novice sailors with a big new boat, there are harrowing experiences while they get the hang of it all. But this is more than an adventure story--it's a travel log of the exotic islands they visited, and a touching tale of the ways the trip changed their lives in completely unexpected ways. Prepare to be amazed at the way the journey ends for the couple and their boat. Anyone with a bit of wanderlust will love this book.