When we founded the YCA, our goal was to bring like-minded people together in one place where they could find others to hang out with. Through this, we discovered that a common thread within this community is cruising with kids.
It's not easy. Sometimes it makes you question whether you're doing it right, why you're doing it, and if you should be doing this at all. Is it the best thing for the kids? Is it everything I dreamed it would be?
Last month, we hosted a seminar at the Annapolis Boat Show that addressed the ups and downs of cruising with kids and attempted to help answer some of those questions. Below, you’ll find a recap from one of the speakers, and when you’re ready to dive deeper into the topic, there’s a link at the bottom to watch the full seminar.
Sarah & Will Curry are active YCA Members, owners of Hydrovane (YCA members get 10% off!), they’re preparing to cross the Atlantic in a couple of weeks and they have two five year old twin boys to navigate it all with! They have truly embraced the “sunshine and strains” of life aboard a sailboat, proving that family cruising can be a fulfilling and worthwhile adventure.
Sarah and Will spent nearly a decade exploring some of the world's most beautiful coasts, from the South Pacific, throughout Mexico and in the Canary Islands. They’ve learned to adapt as life evolved, moving from smaller boats to a spacious Leopard 46 as their family grew.
In their seminar presentation, they shared the struggles of keeping up with boat projects, simplifying rigging to better accommodate single-handed passages and creating safe spaces to contain their growing boys through it all.
“It’s actually my worst nightmare. I’m not going to lie. While we were in San Diego installing a water maker, I just remember having the two boys there and their pillows propped up with their bottles, and we were running off of like three hours of sleep. And I looked at Sarah, I’m like, why are we doing this? This is ridiculous. But then we got down to Baja and it was amazing. But yeah, it’s challenging.”
Sarah & Will Curry presenting on Cruising with Kids at the Annapolis Boat Show in October, 2024
Outnumbering the Kids
One of the biggest tips they offered during this presentation was the success they’ve found in outnumbering the kids! The odds were stacked against them with twin boys, but bring an au pair onboard has transformed their experience, allowing them more time to focus on running a business remotely, educating the boys, and parenting while enjoying the cruising lifestyle.
“I had the idea because when I was 20, I worked in France as an au pair, and I thought, you know what, let’s find someone to come with us. I’m a private person; I like my personal space, so it was one of those situations where I had to say, okay, we’re on a monohull and we’re going to have another person living with us in our space for the next eight months. But we did it, and we found this wonderful girl who joined us. I don’t think we’ve been without an au pair since because it completely changed our work life, our enjoyment of boat life, and you know what? The kids are happier.
I know that’s a big deal; it’s like bringing a crew member on board. I always say that I don’t actually care that much about your sailing skills; it’s more about whether you have a sense of humor and can handle things when they break. Having Jo with us has just been incredible. She’s actually doing the Atlantic crossing with us, so we’re super lucky.”
Community and Connection
The sunshine in this life tend to outweigh the strains, and for Will & Sarah, the strong sense of community and the connections they’ve fostered with other cruising families has enriched their children’s lives in ways life on land never could.
Sarah & Will shared how the friendships and connections they’ve build along the way has encouraged their children to learn and play with kids of all ages. The boys are given opportunity to interact with other kids, not only creating bonds that transcend age and background, but normalizing the lifestyle they’ve chosen!
A Life of Adventure Awaits
Will and Sarah are gearing up now for their next big adventure: crossing the Atlantic with the ARC Rally, along with 37 other kids. Join us in cheering this family along on the SeaPeople app!
For Sarah and Will, cruising isn’t just about the destinations—it’s about the journey, the laughter, and the bonds they’re building as a family.
“If you’re not already out there with your kids, get out there as soon as you can. It’s magical, it’s hard, it’s not easy but it is absolutely a magical experience.”
Join the Conversation!
Curious to learn more about cruising with kids and how to make it possible for your family? Don’t miss out on the full seminar where Sarah, Will, and other speakers dive deeper into their experiences and share valuable insights. Watch the entire seminar here!
Full Seminar Presentation on Cruising with Kids from the Annapolis Boat Show in 2024, featuring Will & Sarah Curry and Alex & Taylor Berg.