2/6 Come Sail Away
When Sandy and I first met, she actively sailed on a racing sailboat. She had been crewing on a forty foot sailboat for many years and had participated in the famed Port Huron to Mackinac race. She asked me if I was interested in joining their crew. Well of course I am. Who wouldn’t want to spend every Saturday of a Michigan Summer sailing on around the Great Lakes? I joined their crew and we spent all summer sailing, sunning and drinking Malibu rum. That was more than ten years ago.
We love to be on the water and we especially love to sail. We seek out boats to rent on almost every vacation we embark on. Imagine my astonishment when I found a company called Vegan Sailing..Eat, Love, Sail in the Virgin Islands. It is a seven day trip on a fifty three foot sailboat complete with cocktails and vegan food. I almost fell out of my chair. The owner of the boat, Captain Dave is a newly converted 2011 vegan and has one of those stories that we keep hearing over and over. He was diagnosed with coronary artery disease which motivated him to seek out ways to prevent further disease while reversing what he had. He adopted a plant based diet and has been the vegan sailor ever since.
The meals are prepared by Gail Isaacs, former chef to the tall ships sailing the east and west coasts. Here is a sample menu pulled from their site.
BREAKFAST: fresh fruit, whole grain cereals, pancakes, oatmeal, home baked whole grain breads, fabulous smoothies
LUNCH: veggie wraps, black bean burgers, delicious soups and tropical salads
DINNER: fabulous stir frys with a variety of whole grains including brown rice, quinoa; southwestern vegetable stews/chili; currys; stuffed peppers; whole wheat pasta
Snacks: hummus, pita bread, Thai spring rolls, mango salsa, homemade corn tortillas.
Can you imagine enjoying such delicacies on the deck of a magnificent sailboat? I can. I see myself there lathered in sunscreen, cocktail in one hand and spring roll in the other, crying a tear of vegan traveler joy. If Captain Dave and Gail would like, Sandy and I would gladly sail with them for a week and write a full travel review on their behalf. I would do that for them. I’ll let you know when Captain Dave extends that offer and how that pans out.
Stay warm and have a delicious weekend.
Tags: compassionate eating, going veg, plant based diet, vegan experience, vegan travel, vegan travel tips, vegan wannabe
