CREW
PETER
Captain Pete is from San Diego, CA and has been surfing and fishing since he was a little boy. He has skippered fishing boats out of Ensenada, Baja and San Diego, CA and has experience in real estate and the restaurant industry. Peter has traveled extensively to Oahu, Maui, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mainland Mexico, all of Baja California, Canary Islands, Spain, Indonesia (Bali, Java, Timor).
Born to be on the water, he knew he would one day live on a boat and travel to far off lands surfing and fishing every day. Although he began this adventure with little sailing experience, Peter is a quick learner and had no trouble obtaining his U.S.C.G. Master 100 Ton Captain’s License with endorsements for Auxiliary Sail, Commercial Towing, STCW and BVI Boatmaster License.
JODY
First Mate, The Boss.
Jody is originally from Washington State, living in Bellevue, Issaquah, Bellingham and Blaine. Fate brought her down to Orange County, CA, and then San Diego, CA where she met Peter in April of 2011. She was more than ready to leave the rat race of the corporate world behind and pursue a passion for adventure and the tropics. For Jody, its a lifestyle change, not just a change of scenery.
“A place for everything and everything in its place” – OCD tendancies sometimes get the best of her. Back on land it was more hassle than it was worth, but now that she lives on a boat its the best annoying habit ever! Ship Shape isn’t just about being clean, its about safety and efficiency as well. Jody is LOVING all the tips and tricks she has learned from her own experience as well as other cruising blogs about how to make life easier on a boat. She also began with zero sailing experience, but just a few times of cutting the engine and catching wind in the sails had her hooked!!
BABY PIESCHEL
We’ve got a new crew member on the way! The guess date for his arrival is June 25, 2017 :) Stay tuned!
BETSY
Betsy is now 10 years old and about 45lbs. She is a Boxer/Pitbull mix. She LOVES our boat and is extremely easy-going. She adapts to any situation and loves everybody!! If you meet her, be prepared to get licked. There is no escaping her tongue!
Otherwise known as: Betsy Jo, Sue, SueBear, JoBear, Jo, Jose, Pretty Girl, Monkey
Favorite things: Kisses, high-fives, lizzard hunting, cuddling, swimming, sqeaker toys, playing with other doggies, chasing kitties on the dock, fresh fish
GUNNER
Gunner, our Weimaraner, started this journey with us but we sadly lost him to old age in 2015. He made it to almost 15 years old – more than we could’ve hoped for. He had an amazing retirement on a yacht in the Caribbean and a day doesn’t go by that our hearts don’t ache.
Otherwise known as: Mister, Stinky Butt, Sweet Boy
Favorite things: Sleeping on the bed, sniffing, chasing all small things that move (even in his sleep!), getting into the garbage, people food, protecting his home and family, steak
Be sure to check out our Facebook Page for lots more photos of our CREW and fun tidbits from our adventures that may not get posted on our website. Hit the LIKE button on Facebook to make sure you receive updates in your newsfeed and to show your support!
A friend for Gunner to spend the last years of his life with is the very best thing that could have happened. They are the best of friends. So cute and it warms my heart.
(looks like Pete didn’t do to bad either.)
This blog is my favorite new read! Bless you both as you travel God’s paradise.
Kristin, So glad you enjoy the blog :) We truly are in paradise and are so blessed to be able to do what we are doing. Hugs!
Oh my gosh – I stumbled upon you via LinkedIn – I know folks at LPA – and my boyfriend and I are ready to pack it up and do what you are doing too!
We have 2 boats – 2 cats…. I have 2 kids (grown) – and… we are ready to be free and sail the seas… we are inspired! thank you – hope to meet you some day –
Hi Kim!! I’m so glad you found our website!! It was the best decision I ever made, to leave the concrete jungle behind and follow my dreams. Peter and I couldn’t be happier. It’s a LOT of hard work but we live in paradise. Watch our Facebook page for most of the updates. I hope we can meet up someday too!! Keep in touch and let me know when you set sail!!
Hey Jody! Got your message on our blog. Thanks so much! I certainly love doing it! Blogging. It can be so much fun, most of the time. Sometimes it’s a chore (“I have GOT to get a blog post out today”), sometimes a slight addiction (“how many views did that get?”) and even – on occasion – a little bit of a sore spot (“you didn’t even mention the sea state”). The sea what? Ha! I’m kidding. But isn’t everything worth doing (particularly those things worth selling all of your belongings and shoving off TO DO) like that? The ultimate source of joy, frustration, worry, and complete happiness. So glad to see another young couple out there going for it (and writing about it!), and thrilled to have you guys following us along, albeit to closer shores. We will definitely do the same. Have fun out there!
– Annie
s/v Plaintiff’s Rest
http://www.havewindwilltravel.com
Annie, Too funny :) And very true. Glad to hear back from you!!
Always curious … how do you handle the “business needs” of the dog while on-the-water?
Hi Rich,
Our dogs are trained to use a piece of astro-turf we lay on the aft deck. After about three days, they both knew that was ‘the spot’. It works pretty well! Also, because Gunner is older and can’t hold it long enough to go to shore in a dinghy or walk all the way down a dock, it’s nice having a place to take him that is such short distance from where he wakes up in the morning.
Good info …
Thanks for the reply!
I guess this works pretty well at sea too! You just rinse off the grassy knoll and move on, right?
Richard, yep! :)
Hello! My husband and I love your blog! We are looking at doing a similar thing ourselves and we’ve learned a lot from this! We did have one question. We have 2 dogs, one is around 90lbs. How do you get your dogs below deck? Do you have a ramp?
Hi Danah! It definitely depends on the boat you get and the layout of your companionways. We have a center cockpit with two companionways, one on either side. Our ladders are both 5′ tall and very vertical. We modified the aft ladder to suspend down onto the bed where the dogs run up the back side (covered with outdoor carpet and nonskid stick-on pads) up into the cockpit. They don’t mind it at all took to it quickly. I still need to do a post about it with photos and video :)
We would loooove that post! Thank you!
Where’s my hunky sailing man? I need one!