FIRST YOU THINK IT, THEN YOU DO IT
During Gulf War One, we were hunkered down in Saudi Arabia playing Riyadh roulette.
Nearly every night after the sun went down, the air raid sirens would sound, and Scud missiles came into Riyadh.
We would head for our "safe room" just in case one of the scuds hit nearby.
The first scud that came into Riyadh made the windows in our house rattle, and that was enough motivation for us to take a six week vacation from the war. After eleven nights of scuds, we were evacuated out of Riyadh to Torrejon, Spain by military aircraft. From Torrejon, we flew on commercial aircraft back to the USA.
Things have a way of working out in my life. I explain it to people like this: it's as if I fall through a trap door backward and blindfolded with my hands tied behind my back, and I land on my feet and keep on walking. That's exactly what happened to us when we arrived in the USA. We took a war and converted it into a family adventure. It was time for the Miami Boat Show, and we made tracks to Miami Beach to troop the docks.
We checked out the multihulls at the boat show, and we found a spacious Privilege 39 catamaran. We inspected every nook and cranny on board and immediately sensed that we were on the threshold of a new adventure. This sea going catamaran looked totally bullet proof, it was certified for offshore voyaging, and we knew that it was up to the task of taking a family of four around the world.
When we left the boat show, I had a clear picture in my mind of us sailing around the world in a Privilege 39 catamaran. I had never sailed on multihulls before, so I chartered a Privilege 39 in the British Virgin Islands to see what it would be like to cruise on a cat. For an entire week, we sailed through the BVI, shooting video and taking photos of our short adventure.
When we returned to Riyadh, I looked at that video footage hundreds of times visualizing what it would be like to circumnavigate in a Privilege 39. I finally took a leap of faith and ordered a new Privilege 39 from the factory in France. I committed myself to step out in the direction of my dreams regardless of the consequences.
After I ordered the catamaran, I continued working in Riyadh for another year to finish paying it off. Then I quit my job and set sail on the ocean of my dreams.
First I thought about buying a catamaran, and then I did it. First I thought about sailing around the world, and then I did it.
That's the way adventures happen. First you think it, and then you do it.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip, the crew shot 200 hours of video with professional cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features including an Instructional Video on Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at sea.
And don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues", and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike.
Join Team Maxingout as they sail through Pirate Alley and up the Red Sea
See what it's like to cruise on a catamaran before you spend a bazillion dollars purchasing one
After watching the Red Sea Chronicles you will be able to see yourself sailing on the ocean of your dreams
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
