The Journey

Half Moon at Sea - a voyage to Self Actualization





The Caribbean is littered with boats that are for sale by people who failed to maintain their relationship as a couple while sailing these waters. Break ups are common. It's usually the female in the relationship that storms off the boat and buys herself a one way ticket back home.

My story is one of many which ended up this way. But my story is also one of a Journey into Self Actualization.

This Journey started from Beaufort NC. I had bought a Pearson 424 sloop, and had just retired from 35 years in the Chemical Industry. I had done well in my career, but was far from experienced enough to embark on a life at sea. I knew a lot about Plastics, not much about sailing, though I had previously owned a 41' motor yacht and had done the Power Squadron course.

It ended 2 years later when my "first mate" got a one way ticket back to the US, back to her family.
Now I am alone, living on Half Moon. That's the name of my sailboat. I'm in Falmouth Harbor, Antigua, at anchor.


Self Actualization has been my goal since adolescence. I have studied the works of Abraham Maslow and I've experienced moments where I truly felt Self Actualized. But these were just fleeting moments. I hoped that with retirement, and the freedom to do as I pleased, I would be able to find that state which is Self Actualization, and not only find it but be able to live it continuously.

My first task was to understand all the obstacles to acheiving Self Actualization. Then to come up with a working process to overcome these obstacles and achieve my goal.