Sail the World with the Martin Family

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The Martin Chronicles

Dave and Jaja Martin are vastly experienced cruisers, having circumnavigated aboard a Cal 25 in the late 80s and early 90s. The Martins write with a wonderful sense of whimsy, and we're sure you'll enjoy reading their reports as much as we do. Most recently they spent several years north of the Acrtic Circle with their three children on a hard chine 33-foot sloop (this adventure was immortalized the classic narrative Into the Light). The Martin family now resides in Maine, where they've built a little cabin in the woods, their first home on land.

To view logs select a title below:

Upcoming Events	Opportunities to meet Dave and Jaja, see their slides and hear their stories in person.
Bio	An introduction to the Martin family.
Cruising with Kids	A SetSailor asks Jaja about the optimal age for taking his kids cruising - and the ideal places to go.
Toddler Crew	Advice for cruising with toddlers. (photos)
More Mistakes	We asked all the SetSail writers to share some of their own biggest cruising blunders.
New Cruiser Mistakes	The five most common mistakes that the Martins see cruisers making.
Safety at Sea	Dave and Jaja's philosophy is that "Safety at Sea" goes much deeper than just installing devices that will help you in abandoning your boat.
A New Year's to Remember, Part 2	Dave and Jaja witness a bizarre storm of locusts in the Cape Verdes.
Leaving the Boat	If you're considering leaving the boat for land travel, the Martins share some tips learned the hard way.
A New Year's to Remember	A close call in the Cape Verdes.
Jibs	We asked Dave and Jaja to write about what jibs they carry aboard. Their answer reflects their sailing philosophy.
The Telephone Call	Staying in touch with loved ones while cruising can be like an extreme sport.
Romance at Sea	In honor of Valentine's Day, Jaja and Dave recall their colorful wedding on Barbados. (photos)
Round Pond	How the Martins chose Round Pond, Maine as their new home.
Where are you from?	A common question can lead to an identity crisis.
Hung up on Hangers	A lifetime of sailing has made Dave a master of coat hanger repairs. (photos)
Locals	Teiga wants to know what their family is "native" of.
The Coast of Christmas Past	Jaja and Dave reflect on spending their first Christmas at sea, then nearly having a run-in with a Cape Verde shoreline.
More Than a Winter in Maine	Are the Martins putting down roots? (photos)
Welcome Home, Part 3	The challenge of laundry and provisions.
Welcome Home, Part 2	Getting acclimated to civilization in Rockland, Maine.
Welcome Home, Part 1	Sailing into affluent Northeast Harbor, Maine, was an eye-opener for the Martin family this past summer.
Another Farewell	Saying good-bye to Corner Brook, Newfoundland, DRIVER'S home for the past year.
Up on Blocks	Tales of some colorful characters they met in Newfoundland.
Mail Forwarding	Advice for getting mail when you're cruising in remote (and not so remote) areas.
Maine	Searching for secluded anchorages in Maine.
Sailing with Small Kids	Someone planning to sail with a toddler from Seattle to Hawaii asks Dave and Jaja for advice.
Advice	What to look for in a boat for long-term cruising.
Propane	Ideas for refilling your propane around the world.
Cruising Pregnant	A SetSailor is planning to go cruising, and just found out she's pregnant. She writes to Jaja for advice.
Dodger	Dodgers.
Heating	How do the Martins keep DRIVER heated?
Solar Panels	Dave answers a reader's question: How did they mount DRIVER's solar panels?
Modifying Production Boats	Dave answers a reader's questions: What modifications did he make to his Cal-25 DIRECTION to prepare it for a circumnavigation? What thought processes were involved in his decisions? In a general sense, what should a prudent mariner look for when modifying a stock production boat for offshore sailing?
Summer Migration South	Going ashore at Jan Moyen, a long-sought goal. The Martins are rewarded with an incredible display of driftwood extending 2 miles inland. Plus, the family system for beaching the dinghy w/o getting wet in 45-degree surf.
Summer Migration South	Going aground at Jan Moyen Island (71 degrees N).
Breathless in Samoa	Dave's 1st experience SCUBA diving, in the "hot chocolate" waters of Pago Pago.
A Summer Migration South, Leg 1	Dave and Jaja recount their adventures sailing from Northern Norway to Newfoundland this summer. In this week's episode, the depth finder dies and leads to tense moments near Jan Moyen Island.
Radio Weather Forecasts	Jaja and Dave answer a reader's questions about ways to get weather data via radio.
Newfoundland	Why you haven't heard much from the Martins lately.
Newfoundland	Riding out Hurricane Gustav, and starting the kids in school in Newfoundland.
Martin update	We haven't heard from the Martins this week, but here's some info on their book excerpts, reviews, and interviews that are out right now.
Julienahab	Waiting patiently for a 5-day weather window to sail to Newfoundland.
W. Coast Greenland	Tricky navigating down Greenland's fjords in dense fog.
E. Coast Greenland	Giant bergs and friendly meteorologists near Prins Christian Sund.
Akureyri and Flateyri	Bidding a tearful farewell to Akureyri, and visiting dear friends in the tiny village of Flateyri.
Onward to Reykjavik	The Martins backtrack, re-visiting the Arctic towns they grew to love while writing Into the Light. This week they leave Akureyri, Iceland (where they once wintered aboard) and head for Reykjavik.
Made it to Iceland	Made it to Iceland!
Returning to Norway	Dave and Jaja write about the flight back to Norway, and the adventure of trying to check a gun (for protection against polar bears in Greenland) in their luggage.
Writing Articles	One way to subsidize the cruising lifestyle is to write articles about your experiences. Dave and Jaja are veterans of dozens of articles; here are some tips for getting published.
Cook's Time	Following the shadow of Captain Cook.
Cruising World Write-Up	This week we're running the review that appears in the June 2002 issue of Cruising World magazine. Interesting background info on the Martin family!
The Martins Have Landed, Part 5	After nine months ashore, the Martins are getting ready to return to DRIVER and more high-latitude adventuers.
Interview	Read the interview with Dave and Jaja that ran recently in the Vail Daily. (And you can say you knew them when!)
Money and the Cruising Lifestyle	The Martins' advice on how you can afford to go cruising.
The Martins Have Landed, Part 4	Braving pirates and fierce storms in Colorado.
Medical Supplies	How "closet cruisers" can sometimes help you save money on your medical kit. Also, warnings about carrying morphine.
Pregnancy Afloat	Jaja shares her experience of bearing three children while sailing around the world.
The Martins Have Landed, Part 3	Living on board is a natural, constant workout.
Electronics	In answering SetSail's questions on electronics, the Martins show restrained praise.
Safety Harnesses	Paranoia or cheap life insurance? Dave and Jaja feel that, for the money, harnesses buy more freedom than any other piece of gear aboard.
The Martins Have Landed, Part 2	An adventure with customs in Barbados.
Crew Overboard	Dave and Jaja have put a lot of thought into how they would handle a man-overboard situation. Here they offer some interesting strategies.
The Martins Have Landed, Part 1	A new adventure for Dave, Jaja, and family.
Roots of a Voyage, Part 8	Cleaning DRIVER's fuel tank.
Roots of a Voyage, Part 7	Why Dave and Jaja think refrigeration is for the birds.
Life Rafts	How the Martins plan to keep their feet dry.
Roots of a Voyage, Part 6	Dave and Jaja review the compromises that made 25-foot DIRECTION's interior livable, and make plans to refit DRIVER.
Roots of a Voyage, Part 5	After the Hurricane.
Roots of a Voyage, Part 4	The Purchase.
Roots of a Voyage, Part 3	The Martins buy not the biggest boat they can afford, but the smallest boat they can fit into...Sizing up DRIVER's interior.
Roots of a Voyage, Part 2	Finding DRIVER.
Roots of a Voyage, Part 1	Dave and Jaja talk about the philosophy that guided them when back when they were boat-shopping.
DRIVER'S Engine	Dave answers a reader's questions about DRIVER'S engine.
Engine Repair, Part 2	Ghosts of repairs past.
Engine Repair, Part 1	Dave's "negative approach" to engine repair.
Our Bermuda Experience, Part 4	Final reflections on Bermuda, and what it felt like to finally set sail for Iceland.
Our Bermuda Experience, Part 3	A near-collision with a ferry gives Dave cold feet about their upcoming passage to Iceland.
Sail Reefing Systems	This week the Martins share their perspective on reefing systems.
Our Bermuda Experience, Part 2	When the Martins go sightseeing in Bermuda, the experience is a bit different than you might expect.
Our Bermuda Experience, Part 1	Exhausted from the passage, Dave embarrasses himself in the St. Georges customs office.
Spring Break, Part 9	The Ghosts of Easters past and present visit DRIVER.
Spring Break, Part 8	"If dreams were easy to follow, we'd spend most of our time standing in line." The Martin family's Spring Break in an arctic paradise draws to a close.
Spring Break, Part 7	The Martin family pulls together in a crisis. When howling winds blow DRIVER precariously close to the rocks, the clear-thinking kids help to save the day.
Spring Break, Part 6	The anchor drags.
Spring Break, Part 5	One of the few times the Martins wished they had an outboard motor on the dinghy: Sudden white-out winds cut short a day of skiing with the kids, and the family needs to get back to DRIVER in a hurry.
Roller-Furling Sails	This week we've asked all the SetSail contributors to share their thoughts on roller furling. The Martins write about why they still use hank-on sails.
Spring Break, Part 4	The weather settles down and the Martin family moves back aboard. Then, taking the kids to a commercial fishing trade show in Kablevag turns into another story you won't want to miss.
Spring Break, Part 3	After working through the cold-related problems and getting DRIVER to the Svolvaertown dock, Dave observes how it's the small details that pay off in the long run.
Spring Break, Part 2	Another Martin adventure...Launching DRIVER in a 30-knot gale with whiteout snow, a dropping tide, and many of the systems affected by the cold.
Dealing with Piracy	This week we've asked all the SetSail contributors to share their thoughts on cruising security. Are you worried about encountering pirates? How do you minimize the risks? do you carry weapons aboard?
Spring Break, Part 1	After wintering in a small uninsulated cabin in Norway, the Martins put DRIVER back in the water for the kids' Spring Break. In the coming weeks they'll be writing about their spring sailing adventures.
Archives 1	Logs from the Martins' earlier adventures.
Archives 2	More logs from the Martins' earlier adventures.