Course Introduction
I wanted to share my personal story of how our family ended up on this crazy adventure. Maybe your story looks something like mine, or you have a different “origin story!”
“I miss camping!”
I had grown up camping. My husband, Chris, was not a fan of camping, but it was a family ritual I missed from childhood.
I was starting to dream about buying a small trailer to make camping with small kids easier than regular tent camping.
During a visit with some friends who had moved to Chicago, they shared how they had been enjoying a sailing club they had joined and were debating between buying a camper or getting a sailboat. This conversation was our revelation that purchasing a small, older boat could be in our budget, and we started looking into learning a new activity as a family.
Setting Sail: Early Adventures
Our boating journey began with a humble 1977 Catalina 22, a vessel we affectionately called Pickerel Rush. We could hop into this bare-bones trailer-sailor and learn how to sail with a very low investment.
Weekends on Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan became our training ground. Despite stressful boat launches (which also involved raising the mast in the parking lot) and the challenges of two little kids on board, we confirmed we wanted to keep doing this.
Fika's Genesis: Catalina 22 to Catalina 30
Upgrading to a 1980 Catalina 22, our first Fika marked a step toward a more comfortable camping experience. Trailering over Mackinac Bridge, we enjoyed our first extended boat sleeping experience at Mackinac Island. We didn't have power, water, or an onboard bathroom, but we could sleep on the boat, enjoy much of our time outdoors, and wander the island.
The transition to a 1983 Catalina 30 introduced us to new systems and extended Lake Michigan voyages. This boat gave us experience with amenities we didn’t have before:
galley (kitchen)
head (bathroom)
batteries
electricity
water system
TV screen!
We enjoyed traveling in this boat from Holland, MI, to Grand Haven, MI, during one summer and a more extended voyage further north in Lake Michigan the following summer in 2022.
Dreaming Big:
The Beneteau 423
Despite our love for the Catalina 30, we realized we needed more space for the Great Loop (an adventure we were committed to launching in 2023).
Our quest led us to a 2005 Beneteau 423 in Virginia, a boat that checked all our boxes. A 13-hour road trip confirmed our decision – this would be our full-time home for exploring the Great Loop.
Sailing Vessel Fika:
More Than a Boat
Our sailboat, SV Fika, embodies a Swedish concept – an intentional moment for togetherness with friends, coffee, tea, and snacks. Fika represents a coffee break and a time to relax with others.
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