Do you dream of sailing tropical islands on an amazing boat with a stellar group of people, while running an innovative, nature-based education program?
We are a sailing cooperative called Green Coco. We have a 60 foot catamaran, hosting families and adventurers in 7-14 trips while we sail around the globe. We launched this Expedition in 2014, starting in the Seychelles Islands, as a world schooling voyage. We are a family of 4 with twins age 6 (very soon!)
We operate like a world schooling hub at sea: with a liveaboard teacher (3-6 month contract) we host co-op members and visiting families and kids. The focus range for teaching purposes is 5-9 years old, but we welcome guests of all ages.
We have space for a teacher in the Caribbean through the Panama Canal to Galapagos (November 2026 through March 2027) and then in Hawaii (April 2027 through July 2027). See our Rough Gameplan.
Interested in coming aboard as a guest? Have kids? Please check out our pricing options for guests in this post.
THE POSITION: EXPEDITION TEACHER
We are looking for a teacher who is:
passionate & enthusiastic, dynamic and is excited to turn travel experiences into teachable moments.
Emotionally attuned and very present
Has experience with kids aged 4-10, and embraces a whole child approach (à la Montessori, Waldorf, experiential learning style)
Loves the outdoors and teaching using the natural world
Preference for native speakers of French, Spanish and English.
Email to expedition@greencoco.org a simple intro video about yourself (casual selfie is fine, 2 min max) and a basic resume (list of your relevant jobs, education, experiences, references).
Read below for more details on the positions, and check out all the posts from all our previous teachers.
Our Caribbean schedule has been fully booked for ages… but some cancellations just occurred! This is a rare opportunity for families who dream of visiting these super expensive islands, at a fraction of the retail cost.
Dates Available
March 11-17, 2026. Virgin Islands
March 20-26, 2026. Virgin Islands
May 17-23, 2026. Bahamas
You might be wondering: “how much are charters usually“?
Retail Rate: $25,000. That’s the approximate retail price for a fully inclusive, specialty charter trip in the Virgin Islands or Bahamas for 7 day trip with captain & chef on a 55-60ft catamaran for 6-7 people, in the high season (Dec-Apr). Not including alcoholic drinks, park & mooring fees, airport transfers. This is at the upper end of the spectrum. See moorings.com for comparisons.
Green Coco: affordable & authentic options
Similar trip as above (except we are way more real than charter operations!) for 6-7 people for 7 days.
Public rate: $16-19K. Our public rate is around 25% less than the Retail Rate — we’re able to do this by keeping our overhead low. Booking available immediately.
NewMember rate: $12-15K (save $4,000). Our new member rate is 30% less than our public rate. Requires membership application and video chat, takes ~10 days and $400 one time fee, then booking is available. Options for increasing discounts, shared cooking, work trade.
Investor rate: $6-9K (save $10,000). This is our best deal: 1/3 the retail charter cost! Plus investor perks, free passages, last minute discounts. Process takes 2-3 weeks and involves contract, then booking is available. Limited availability. See this post for options.
BOOK OR INQUIRE: send us an email to expedition@greencoco.org
We’ve run authentic cooperative sailing voyages for over 11 years in more than 13 countries and 3 oceans! We just sailed from East Africa (starting in Seychelles) to the Caribbean and we’re heading to the Pacific in late 2026. See the gameplan here.
The Expedition is a learning voyage by sailboat, with 15 years planned as we circumnavigate with an onboard teacher and visiting guests, who join for 1-2 weeks at a time. Captain Kristian & First Mate Sabrina welcome you aboard with their twin girls (age 6 very soon!).
Visiting families are welcome to integrate with our kids learning activities led by onboard teacher.
Guests are invited to explore one of our workshops:
Sailing 101 for Cruising the World
Breathwork for Free Diving & Heart Health
RIE parenting for empowering kids and harmony at home
NVC communication for empathy and effective problem solving
Cooking Off Grid for deliciously easy DIY bread, yogurt, sushi + more
In the Naturalist style of 18th century explorers… we send physical letters filled with art & wonder to families around the world. Check out our Expedition Letters and subscribe, support this educational project bringing inspiration to kids!!
And don’t forget to check out our latest blog posts here:
We heard about this surf-rich zone in Madagascar… and we decided to find out for ourselves…!
When we first launched Green Coconut Run in 2015 we were a bunch of surf-hungry adventurers.
We wanted to sail though Central America and across the Pacific to the South Seas in search of waves. And that we did!
Although our focus has shifted over the years to sharing the Cruising Life — ie. visiting dreamy islands, paradise beaches, snorkeling, wind & watersports — it was very exciting to reconnect with our surf exploration roots during this Madagascar leg.
Enjoy this vid — we have hopes to make this experience available to others in the future. Stay tuned!
Have you ever seen a coconut that could sink a small boat?? Just kidding, but… it is big.
Welcome to Praslin Island, home of the Coco de Mer—a palm tree with serious attitude and a nut that’s part seed, part sea monster legend, and part forbidden treasure.
See our latest episode where we visit this phenomenon of nature!
For centuries, this enormous coconut was a mystery. It floated around the Indian Ocean, showing up on beaches from the Maldives to Malaysia with no visible tree in sight. Naturally, people assumed it came from mythical underwater forests. Or was dropped by a giant bird. Or maybe both.
One legend warned sailors to steer clear or risk being attacked by beasts guarding these magical groves. Another tale tells of the Sultan of Bantam gifting just one Coco de Mer to a Dutch admiral—a gesture worth so much, that nut was later sold to the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II for 4,000 gold florins. (That’s the 1600s version of “this thing’s priceless.”)
But in the end, no monsters, just mystery.
That is, until French mariners stumbled across Ile de Palme, now called Praslin, and found the source of the nut: giant, otherworldly palm trees with leaves stretching 15 feet across, and coconuts that can weigh up to 90 pounds. These trees now grow naturally in just two places: Praslin and tiny Curieuse Island—both in the Seychelles.
Into the Valley of the Nuts
On our shakedown cruise, we sailed our catamaran Nesi into Praslin, with one mission in mind: to meet this legendary nut in the flesh. And we did, deep in the heart of the Vallée de Mai, a prehistoric-looking palm forest and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here’s the thing about the Coco de Mer: it’s slow, dramatic, and a little mysterious. Kind of like that neighbor who only emerges once every 15 years.
That’s how long the tree waits before even starting to grow a trunk. Then it takes decades to mature. But once it’s up, it’s up—living for up to 800 years. The leaves are so massive they throw their own ecosystem-level shade. The nut, even without the husk, is like cradling two toddlers in your arms. (Yes, we tried.)
Romance in the Canopy
Now here’s where it gets truly wild. These palms are dioecious, which is a fancy way of saying: male tree over here, female tree over there.. Somehow—thanks to the wind, curious insects, slugs, and even one determined little gecko—the male’s long, catkin-shaped pollen finds its way to the female’s round fruit. Nature’s weird. And amazing.
A male Coco de Mer palm (as you might have guessed)
Why It Matters
The Coco de Mer isn’t just big and bizarre. It’s endangered, extremely rare, and completely unique. For reasons nobody fully understands, no one’s been able to grow them successfully outside Praslin and Curieuse. These islands are their entire world.
Visiting them felt like time-traveling. And while we hiked the trails and ducked under massive leaves, it became crystal clear: these trees are survivors. But they won’t make it without us looking out for them.
We ended our island visit with a surprise goodbye from a manta ray (no big deal), and a good rinse from a tropical rain shower. Back on Nesi, engines were moody and the alternator needed love. But that’s just boat life—beautiful and broken all at once.
The Takeaway?
If you ever get the chance to stand beneath a Coco de Mer tree, do it.
It’s not just a tree—it’s living myth, tropical time capsule, and botanical oddball, all rolled into one. And it might just remind you why protecting wild places still matters, even in a world full of noise.
Interested in joining us in the Caribbean? Off the beaten path in Venezuela or Colombia? The indigenous San Blas islands enroute to the Panama Canal? The Galapagos? Or Hawaii and Alaska?? Read on … !
[Boat Shares are available for a limited time — this is the most affordable and best way to get involved in the Expedition. Read more here. Most Green Coco trips are 5-14 days with up to 3 cabins available]
Nesi in Atins, a kitesurfing paradise on the north coast of Brazil.
Celebrating this victory
Friends, first we need to celebrate the slight miracle of Nesi arriving in the Caribbean, after just a year and a half. Since early 2024, we voyaged thousands of miles around Africa, while hosting dozens of guests, doing repairs & improvements to the boat underway. It was non-stop, full-on for 18 months. We are so happy & proud that we succeeded in this huge goal.
From our starting point in the Seychelles we went south via Madagascar, South Africa, north thru Namibia, west across the Atlantic to Brazil, and then up to Trinidad in the Caribbean… a long way, with a lot of different conditions, awesome experiences & challenges to overcome.
What’s up ahead ?
Our next phase in the Expedition is very exciting. Caribbean in 2026. Then the vast Pacific in 2027, from north to south. Check the details below.
Caribbean
Starting in November 2025 (which marks the end of the Hurricane season in the Atlantic) we will start cruising up the Caribbean chain of the Antilles islands — from Trinidad, Grenada, Martinique, Guadalupe, Antigua, St. Martin, to Virgin Islands.
Until April 2026, here are available cabins:
1 CABIN AVAILABLE. BVIs roundtrip. February 19-25, 2026 (7 days) Highlights: Snorkeling, island hopping, kitesurfing
1 CABIN AVAILABLE. BVIs ➜ Guadeloupe. April 7–18, 2026 (12 days) Highlights: Snorkeling, kiting, island cruising, visit French friends in Guadeloupe
After May 2026, we have a few open trips available:
3 CABINS AVAILABLE/PRIVATE BOAT. St. Vincent ➜ Grenadines. May 17–23, 2026 (7 days). Highlights: Snorkeling, Grenadines cays, kite surfing, island variety
This is going to be an exciting exploration of off-the-beaten path locations in the southern part of the Caribbean. We’ll also visit some well known spots like Bonaire & Curacao for diving.
Here are the available trips in Venezuela/Colombia (see complete schedule):
3 CABINS AVAILABLE/PRIVATE BOAT: Trinidad ➜ Bonaire. Oct 1-14, 2026 (14 days). Highlights: Remote Venezuelan islands, coral reefs, diving, fishing, island exploration, kitesurfing. Difficulty: Black Diamond Run(overnight sail 3x)
3 CABINS AVAILABLE/PRIVATE BOAT: Bonaire ➜ Curaçao. Oct 19–24, 2026 (7 days). Highlights: Great diving, Dutch island life, kitesurfing. Difficulty: Blue/Green Run(easy calm conditions with 1 five hour sail)
3 CABINS AVAILABLE/PRIVATE BOAT: Cabo Vela, Colombia. Nov 8-14, 2026 (7days). Highlights: Kitesurfing trip to remote Colombia coast of Bahia Hondita, desert cultures.Difficulty: Green Run(easy calm conditions)
Famous among sailors as one of their favorite destinations in the whole world — due to the mix of indigenous culture, paradise beauty, and amazing snorkeling and kiting.
Here are the available trips in San Blas, Panama (see complete schedule):
2 CABINS AVAILABLE: Cartagena ➜ San Blas (Panama). Nov 24–Dec 5, 2026 (12 days) Highlights: UNESCO sites, diving & snorkeling, island hopping, indigenous island cultures. Difficulty: Blue/Black Diamond Run (only 1 overnight sail).
3 CABINS AVAILABLE/PRIVATE BOAT: San Blas roundtrip (Panama). Dec 7-11, 2026 (5 days) Highlights: San Blas diving & kiting, remote exploration. Difficulty: Green Run(easy calm conditions)
3 CABINS AVAILABLE/PRIVATE BOAT: San Blas ➜ Colon (Panama) Dec 13-21, 2026 (7 days) Highlights: San Blas diving & kiting, remote exploration. Difficulty: Blue Run(5-6hr daysailing)
This world-renown location will be a memorable experience! The transit is reportedly beautiful as it crosses a fresh water lake and traverses through rivers, in between the many locks that make the Canal possible.
3 CABINS AVAILABLE/ PRIVATE BOAT: Panama Canal Transit (Colón ➜ Panama City). Dec 23-29, 2026 (6 days).Highlights: Panama Canal transit. Difficulty: Green Run (easy calm conditions – requires line handling athleticism)
3 CABINS AVAILABLE/ PRIVATE BOAT: Panama ➜ Galapagos. Dec 31, 2026 – Jan 13, 2027 (14 days). Highlights: Las Perlas Islands, potential stop at Malpelo. Difficulty: Black Diamond Run (4 night passage)
This is one of the most remarkable naturalist destinations in the world. Rarely have we felt more “intimate” with animals as we’ve been during our previous visits to Galapagos. We look forward to exploring these wild islands together.
PORT STAY. 3 CABINS AVAILABLE/ PRIVATE BOAT: San Cristobal, Galapagos. Jan 17-20, 2027 (4 days). No sailing. Nesi is moored in harbor, acts as home base.
PORT STAY. 3 CABINS AVAILABLE/ PRIVATE BOAT: San Cristobal, Galapagos. Jan 23-26, 2027 (4 days). No sailing. Nesi is moored in harbor, acts as home base.
PORT STAY. 3 CABINS AVAILABLE/ PRIVATE BOAT: San Cristobal, Galapagos. Jan 30-Feb 2, 2027 (4 days). No sailing. Nesi is moored in harbor, acts as home base.
CRUISING TRIP. 3 CABINS AVAILABLE/ PRIVATE BOAT. San Cristobal ➜ Isabella Island, Galapagos Feb 6-14th, 2027 (9 days). Special permits required at additional cost, please inquire. Dates subject to change.
CRUISING TRIP. 3 CABINS AVAILABLE/ PRIVATE BOAT: Isabella Island ➜ Santa Cruz, Galapagos. Feb 19-28, 2027 (10 days). Special permits required at additional cost, please inquire. Dates subject to change.
PASSAGE. 3 CABINS AVAILABLE/ PRIVATE BOAT Galapagos ➜ Hawaii. Mar 6-Apr 3, 2027 (30 days). This will be a remarkable 4000 nm passage with generally favorable winds, normally fast sailing!
This will be an opportunity to see the Hawaiian Islands in a whole new way: from the ocean, Green Coco style! We’ll explore the anchorages, live among the sea creatures, visit land for hikes and cultural visits.
Trip Schedule to be determined. Contact us if interested.
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Alaska – British Columbia – Channel Islands
Wait, Alaska? Here’s the thing. Our aim has always been to bring Nesi to California for a season. We studied the pilot charts and couldn’t find great options from Panama Canal going up the coast of Mexico — it’s upwind 2500 nautical miles, with the Baja Bash being the crux. So we decided to follow the wind… even though it’s a BIT out of the way, haha…
The more we looked into it, the more excited we got… Alaska looks like such an amazing place to visit by boat (in the summertime!)
If the plan holds, here are the potential stops we’ll do in Alaska & British Columbia:
Yukutat
Glacier Bay
Sitka
Petersberg
Ketchikan
Haida Gwaii
Shearwater
Tofino
Trip Schedule to be determined. Contact us if interested.
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After California our plan is head back south towards French Polynesia and the South Seas enroute to New Zealand. But that’s further down the road!
Here’s the upcoming route map:
We encourage you to check out our Boat Share opportunity, available for a little time: Read more here.
After a two night passage (250nm) from Recife, we dropped anchor in Fernando de Noronha — a volcanic island rising straight out of the Atlantic. We arrived at the beginning of July and spent a week exploring what makes this place legendary: its underwater world.
After 5 days in Noronha with our co-op crew (Taylor + family, Dan) we had another 5 days to consolidate our new crew members, who arrived by plane for the passage along north Brasil to the Caribbean.
Wind in the corner of Brasil is STIFF and predictable. Once we left Noronha, we got 25-30 knots from SE as we headed around Cabo San Roque towards Galinhos. Nesi going WSW course, this was a good broad reach, blasting along at 8-10 knots of boat speed.
Sharks & Dolphins of Noronha:
I was diving under Nesi when WHOA! A pod of dolphins cruised right by. What a sight! But not so surprising, because these dolphins visited us every day for our 9 day stop in Noronha… we also had spectacular moments with sea turtles, nurse sharks, octopus, and more.
Fish of Noronha:
This is one of the reasons why we love living on our boat: jump off the stern and swim with fish in clear water. Below Nesi there were Sergeant Major , Atlantic Chubs, Barracuda. By the shipwreck at the port we dove with French Grunts and sea turtles.
From Noronha to Galinhos:
Such a cool village! We were concerned about the rivermouth so we hired a pilot to lead Nesi into the river. But it wasn’t a big deal. Loved being anchored in this remote corner of Brasil that nobody has ever heard about.
Galinhos Village:
Galinhos is from another Era! We loved exploring this rugged zone.
Galinhos deeper in the river:
Going deeper into Galinhos river, kiting & sand boarding the dunes, and visiting villages.
A few Expedition investors are selling their boatshares. This is a rare and limited opportunity. If you’re interested in coming aboard Green Coco (affordably) somewhere in the globe, read on!
PurchaseBoat Shares: $5K for 20 days or $8K for 40 days
Boat Shares are the best value for sailing with Green Coco Expedition.
Not only do you get credits for cabins — you also get investor perks:
free passages (no cabin fees)
last minute super deals
much lower change fees
ability to re-load credits at low rates after trips
chance to stoke out your friends with cheap rates
Your credits (ie. 20 days or 40 days) can be used to cover your cabin fees. 1 credit gets you 1 cabin/day on the boat up to 2 people. You can mix & match your credits.
For a private boat, reserve 3 cabins. Otherwise it is a shared boat.
Food fees are additional, and co-op membership is optional. See MoreDetailsbelow.
Background on Boat Shares
With 13 years experience in community expedition sailing, Green Coco is the specialist in this field. Starting in 2012, we hosted hundreds of people throughout California, Central America, and the South Seas, while operating both a classic 42ft trimaran (1968) and a modern 46ft catamaran (2000).
In 2023, we launched Green Coco Expedition , a world schooling circumnavigation. To acquire Nesi, the 60ft catamaran for the voyage, we used a community financing approach: 80 investors bought boat shares.
Curious? Request the Investment Proposal & Community Agreement: Email expedition@greencoco.org
During the last 2 years, we accomplished huge milestones. We purchased Nesi and moved aboard in Seychelles. We retrofitted her for off-grid sailing (a giant ongoing job), and successfully navigated the challenging route from East Africa across the Atlantic to the Caribbean — all while hosting families and guests and onboard teachers for the kids.
Between 2024 & 2025: we ran ~30 different trips with ~ 100 guests throughout Seychelles, Madagascar, South Africa, Namibia, and Brazil. Trips are 7-14 days segments along the voyage. We mostly host investors & members, with a handful of public trips. It’s been an amazing experience for all!! (Check all the action on this blog or our instagram)
Purchasing boat shares now represents a fantastic value as the project is significantly more developed.
We’re excited to welcome new Green Coco members to experience this transformative lifestyle.
2026: We’ll sail the Caribbean (see the schedule for available trips) from Virgin Islands, Grenadines, all the way to Bonaire, San Blas, and Panama Canal.
2027: We’re visiting Galapagos, then Hawaii, and then summertime in Alaska & British Columbia, ending the year in California. Yep — we’re gonna have to install a heater system aboard Nesi.
2028 onwards: Channel Islands of Santa Barbara, Baja’s Sea of Cortez, French Polynesia, then heading west across the South Seas… our goal is to go as far as Indonesia’s Coral Triangle and then re-evaluate…
If you’re interested in joining us in any of these destinations over the years, we encourage you to consider purchasing boat shares in the expedition.
Where is Nesi right now, you’re wondering? What’s life aboard like?? Since our Atlantic Crossing in January we’ve been in Brazil 🇧🇷 .
We spent nearly 3 months in the Rio de Janeiro & Angra do Reis region running co-op trips with 5 groups of members. It was a blast!
Then we started a 1,500 nautical miles, 1.5 month passage up from Rio’s bustling city to the crown jewel of Fernando de Noronha. Here’s the Map Overview:
We left in mid-May and had to ride burly cold fronts with their blustery & rainy south winds, in order to head north against the predominant winds (which blow NE in this stretch of coast). This is considered a good time of year to head north, because the cold fronts bring south wind during Brazil’s fall & winter (May to September).
Atlantic Crossing via St. Helena & Martin Vaz in January (read posts); landfall in Rio de Janeiro by mid February; then heading north by mid-May.
Below are a series of Reels showing the journey. They are 1-2 minute vertical videos best for phone viewing. If the Reels don’t sure, open the blog post in the browser.
Rio to Abrolhos: 3 day passage, 450nm
This passage was technically very difficult ! Timing the cold fronts is quite challenging — pick one that is strong enough to sail, but not too strong and chaotic… We did ok, motoring ahead of a cold front for 12hrs in total calm, then riding the frontside of the front for 1 day of beautiful sailing, before the low pressure caught up to us. Then it was wild & wooly with rain, gusty winds, and confused seas for 2 days, nevertheless, pushing us in the right direction. Complicating factors were the contrary currents off Cabo São Tomé , and the hundred oil rigs and oil supply boats in that coast that act like a minefield. We arrived in Abrolhos sailing with 15-20kts of SE wind and sunny weather — ready for a rest!
Abrolhos: 5 days in this marine national park
The Abrolhos National Park in Brazil is the kind of place sailors like us love to visit. Boat access only, way offshore (almost 40nm), with lots of marine life and historical significance. We spent 5 days exploring the archipelago. Since it is highly regulated, we were allowed to anchor in 3 places: the Ilha Santa Barbara north & south sides, and between Ilha Siriba and Redonda. All the anchorages were rolly and exposed. Snorkeling was good with large fish — but the most amazing were the birds!
Itacare: grooviest surf town in Brazil!
After a light wind 2 day + 1 night passage, we entered our first rivermouth: Itacaré. It is hair raising to go through sandbars with waves breaking on either side — happily we had a fisherman pilot us in. We LOVED our time in Itacaré , dancing to samba, eating açai, and met up with our friend Carola (who sailed on Selaví in Fakarava with us 2 years ago!), who sailed north with us to Maraú.
Peninsula de Maraú: the dreamiest spot on Brazil mainland
Our goal was to arrive in time to celebrate Sam’s birthday (Kristian’s sister). We also managed to accomplish this in Mazunte, Mexico on Aldebaran in 2015, visiting Sam for her bday there! It was a special time, spent with the Beadle family in their beach side house. Our new boat school teacher Meggane from France also came aboard. Bienvenue!
Sailing to Recife: 3 nights of glory and pain
This next stretch 3 day passage to Recife, in north east Brazil, also proved challenging. We did exactly the same technique as when we left Rio — ride a cold front with southerly winds up the coast. The first two days were glorious. Then it was rough and wet! 25-30kts of beam wind, sideways rain. Worse, we discovered that our starboard engine had a MAJOR issue — the massive bracket that holds an alternator sheared off. So we couldn’t use the engine, and had fingers crossed that we would fix it in Recife.
Sailing to Fernando de Noronha: with co-op families
This was a super memorable trip! Taylor and family from Santa Cruz came back, they joined us last year in Madagascar and now were ready for an overnight passage to Brazil’s most famous island. First time visitor Dan from San Diego is also a co-op member with lots of sailing experience, which was a big plus. We visited Olinda’s colonial town, the super tricky river entrace of Maria Farinha, and then set sail 2 nights… bumpy, fast, and great weather. Taylor’s kids were troopers — they earned their offshore badges!
Next time: see the highlights from Noronha and our travels on the north coast of Brazil hunting for kitesurf spots and the biggest sanddunes next to the water’s edge we could find!
Seychelles, 2024. We left Bird Island before sunrise and headed back seven hours towards Praslin. Our next destination? A group of islands that don’t look real… and helped recharge our stoke-o-meter!
The granite islands of Seychelles are the kind of place that makes you squint twice. Big stone sculptures rising from glassy blue water, shaped like something out of a dream—or a high-budget sci-fi set. We were half convinced the whole thing was airbrushed styrofoam. But nope. It’s rock. Ancient, stubborn, very real granite rock.
Why Granite in the middle of the ocean?
Seychelles is home to the only oceanic granite islands in the entire world.
Normally, granite lives on continents. That’s because it forms deep underground from slowly cooled magma, which eventually pushes its way to the surface—like in Yosemite, back in California.
But these granite islands? They’re a fluke of epic geological proportions.
About 180 million years ago, Seychelles was part of the supercontinent Gondwana, locked in place next to Africa, India, and Madagascar. When Gondwana broke apart, tectonic plates shifted like giant puzzle pieces. India broke off and rammed into Asia (hi, Himalayas), while Seychelles and Madagascar drifted into the Indian Ocean—taking their granite roots with them.
And just like that, a chunk of ancient continental crust ended up marooned in the middle of the sea.
Granite Above, Magic Below
Underwater, the granite creates real special formations.
We snorkeled from St. Pierre to Coco Island National Park, weaving through reefs and carving paths through underwater granite tunnels. One second you’re squeezing through a crack in the rock; the next, you’re popping into open blue playgrounds.
It felt like swimming inside cathedrals of rock with encrusted coral. Then the best part? Sea turtles, rays, and fish come right up to us. The marine life is unperturbed by our presence. These are some of the benefits of protected areas! Check out the latest Green Coco episode on Youtube to see stunning shots of turtles and granite underwater formations.
Just Us and the Ocean
Diving in these tiny granite islands helped us forget the boat problems — the busted jib furler, the alternator issues — and enjoy the moment.
We were still in our first shakedown cruise, there would be tons and tons of work ahead, but for now we could enjoy and recharge.
So yeah, when you see a pile of rocks in the middle of the ocean, take a moment and ask yourself: “I wonder what’s below the surface…?” There might be some surprises from 180-million-years ago.
Thanks for following the voyage!
—The Green Coco Expedition Team
And don’t forget to check out our latest blog posts here:
We visit Bird Island and (you guessed it) see a million birds, who sometimes fly nonstop for years! We learned that giant tortoises are currently native ONLY in Seychelles and Galapagos. And why this island used to be called “Ile aux Vaches”, or Island of the Cows. Weird… Hmmmm…. Watch the episode below or read on:
After limping into remote Bird Island with some boat issues ( jib furler failing, alternator not working, watermaker still iffy ) we weren’t exactly brimming with confidence.
But here we were, floating off a speck of sand 3° south of the equator, surrounded by seabirds, curious kids, and a strange sense of magic.
Bird Island isn’t your average stopover. It’s wild in the best way. No cars, no roads—just a grassy airstrip and a few solar-powered lodges tucked between trees. But what it does have is birds. Lots of birds.
And one bird, in particular, makes this place truly iconic: the sooty tern.
The Ultimate Flyers
With up to 1.5 million sooty terns nesting here every year, the air hums with wings and sharp cries. These birds are legends—spending years aloft without landing, sleeping on the wing, sipping dinner from the sea surface. Yet once a year, they choose this very island to raise their young.
That’s no accident.
Back in the coconut plantation days of the 1800s, sooty tern numbers plummeted—trees replaced the native brush they needed to nest, and rats ate their eggs. But in the 1970s, a small conservation lodge was built and the island rewilded. Rats were removed. Native plants returned.
Within a decade, the colony grew from 60,000 to over a million.
The revival was so impressive it landed Bird Island a spot in David Attenborough’s Life of Birds—and rightly so. It’s one of the great seabird comebacks of our time.
Tortoise Encounters
But it wasn’t just the sky that caught our attention. It was the slow, lumbering shapes meandering through the bushes.
Giant tortoises—dozens of them—roaming freely like prehistoric lawn ornaments.
Unlike Galápagos, where the tortoises are usually tucked far away in breeding centers, here in Seychelles they just… hang out. We found them under trees, on trails, even nuzzling our toes for a scratch behind the ears (which they seem to love).
It felt like sharing space, not just observing from afar.
Sea Cows and the Mystery Name
We kept wondering: why is this island labeled Ile aux Vaches—Island of the Cows—on official charts? We didn’t see a single cow.
Turns out, they weren’t talking about land cows.
This whole island is surrounded by underwater meadows of seagrass—the favorite food of the dugong, a shy, gentle marine mammal. Also known as the sea cow.
Centuries ago, these waters teemed with dugongs. French sailors named the island after them. But over time, the dugongs disappeared. Habitat loss, hunting, and the usual human footprints. Today, not a single dugong remains.
A sobering reminder: abundance doesn’t guarantee permanence.
Farewell to the Island of Birds
Bird Island was unforgettable. A place where the sky never sits still, where tortoises blink slowly under palms, and where names hold echoes of animals long gone.
In our last post, we were still fixing, organizing, prepping for life aboard. Bird Island felt like the first real breath. A chance to see why we do this—why we live this weird, off-grid, salt-crusted life.
And now? Nesi is holding together (barely), the crew is sunburned but happy, and Madagascar looms on the horizon.
Let’s see what shakes loose next.
💚 —The Green Coco Expedition Team
PS. Wondering what happened in Episodes 8 and 9? We hustled to prepare Nesi for our Shakedown Cruise, to figure out what works and what doesn’t… enroute to Bird Island.
What’s it like to move aboard a new boat with your family in the Indian Ocean, prepare the boat, and get her ready to sail around the world as fast as possible?
When we moved aboard Nesi in Seychelles in 2024, we gave ourselves just three weeks to make her sailable for a shakedown cruise, and then another five weeks before departing into the big blue, heading south to Madagascar.
The first job was to find whatever was wrong with the boat – and fix it!
The second job, however, was to change Nesi from a “Marina Boat” into an “Offshore Cruising Boat”. What’s the difference, you ask?
A Marina Boat is dependent on electricity and water at the dock, and assumes access to repair technicians and spare parts.
An Offshore Cruising Boat is nearly self-sufficient – it is designed to live at sea and in remote anchorages for long periods of time, with all the tools and majority of spare parts required to keep up the systems.
Transforming a vessel so it’s ready for the sea is what sailors call “outfitting a boat”. We tried to do it as fast as possible!
Ep8. Outfitting Nesi at Record Speed. From Marina Princess to Offshore Queen.
About Episode 8. We spent a whole week just figuring out what we purchased! Digging into storage room (aka “Magic Room”) and trying to rapidly learn & troubleshoot Nesi’s systems. After a week, we left the dock for the first time. Almost lost the brand new dinghy, what a fumble!! Discovered that anchoring & docking a 60ft boat is a whole different ball of wax! Fix fix fix, organize organize organize. We haven’t worked this hard since aboard Aldebaran when we did emergency haul out repairs in Marquesas (coincidentally with Judy and Matt, the same guests that joined us for this Seychelles shakedown cruise!) Our rigger Ian is the cavalry that comes to save us. Getting ready, biting our nails.
Ep9: The Shakedown Cruise. ‘Shake It’ And See What Breaks?
About Episode 9. Judy & Matt join us as our first guests aboard Nesi on a 10 day trip around the inner islands of Seychelles. We aren’t ready, but we go! Head to North Island for a leisurely stop, then to the remote Bird Island, the northern most point in Seychelles. As expected, equipment starts failing: we have alternator issues, bilge pump trouble, and a damaged jib furler. But magical moments keep us energized and we push through, making the most of the start of this shakedown cruise.
From Shaky Beginnings to Steady Horizons
Transitions are like organized chaos! Just getting to Seychelles across the world from Tahiti was tough, as we shared in five episodes.
Now it was pedal to the metal. Full of friction, luck, stress, and unexpected beauty. Outfitting Nesi and testing her in the field!
We reminded ourselves, “don’t sweat the small stuff”. It’s not about perfection. It’s about making the boat safe and reliable. It’s about finding weakness before they turn into problems.
This task stretched us to our very edge. We tapped hard into our experience : our 10 years of expedition sailing experience and 4 boats owned since 2003. Everything in the past contributed to our know-how … to make this possible.
But let’s not forget – we were also in the Shakedown Cruise to have fun and learn! Our next episodes cover the cool things we discovered in the inner islands of Seychelles.
What are the Seychelles famous for? What did the Green Coco team discover there?
Learn in our Expedition Letter #3: Exploring Seychelles
How did GIANT TORTOISES survive here while others disappeared forever?
Is there really buried pirate treasure on Mahé Island?
What bird lays its eggs and then flies for years without landing?? Let’s go find out…
🏴☠️ Pirates + Unfound Treasure
Seychelles was completely uninhabited until the 1770s. That made it the perfect hideout for pirates — like the legendary “Buzzard,” who’s said to have stashed treasure somewhere on Mahé Island…
Still hasn’t been found. Not saying we’re looking. (But we’re definitely looking.)
Before humans, giant tortoises ruled these islands. No predators. No rush. Just 100-year-old chill vibes.
Then sailors came. The tortoises were hunted or loaded onto ships for long voyages — slow-moving snacks at sea. Populations crashed.
But one place held on: the Aldabra Atoll. Untouched by humans, it became a sanctuary. Today, over 100,000 Aldabran tortoises live wild there — a living example of what can survive when we just leave it alone.
🐦 BIRD ISLAND: THE CITY OF SOOTY TERNS
We sailed to a speck of land and found it surrounded by seagrass…
And then: the sky exploded. Thousands of sooty terns live here! These birds live most of their lives without landing… They fly non-stop, catching fish, even sleeping mid-air. They only land to mate, nest, and hatch their babies. Once a year, here on Bird Island. That’s it!
It’s LOUD. It’s amazing.
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Thank you for being on this voyage with us. There’s more to come.
Letter #4 is already on deck — as we were preparing the boat to leave Seychelles behind…
Stay curious. Stay salty. And keep following the stoke. ⛵️💫
— The Green Coco Expedition Team
Want to See More About Our Stay on the Seychelles? Check Out Our Episode About Our Shakedown Cruise:
And don’t forget to check out our latest blog posts here:
This was a monumental move with massive logistics. We took 5 episodes to explain how we moved from Tahiti (our old catamaran Selavi) to Seychelles (our new catamaran Nesi) and started getting her ready to sail south…
Ep3. Birth of a Dream: “a school at sea”
While living in the Tuamotus with our newborn twins, we wondered what would “school” be like for these girls? We dreamed up an audacious idea: what if we built a worldschooling voyage circumnavigating the globe? What if it was a community of boats?? We envisioned having a teacher aboard, families sailing together, with a 60ft catamaran. We called it the Green Coco Expedition.
We made the pitch, fundraised thru our cooperative, and flew halfway around the world. We found Nesi—our future boat—in the Seychelles.
Ep 4. Pitstop in San Francisco: pack the entire ocean into 15 Bags
Before heading out, we had to move out of Selavi. That meant 8 air-shipped boxes, 15 checked bags, two surfboard coffins—and about 900 pounds of stuff we weren’t sure we’d ever see again.
San Francisco was our pit stop—but the chaos followed us. Visa issues, carry-on drama, ear infections, and two very tired parents navigating customs with groggy kids and a mountain of gear.
We were lucky to land in the warm embrace of our friends Adam and Kendra. Big hugs. Hot showers. Tiny winter jackets!
Ep 5. Pitstop in Bear Valley: trade the tropics for the snow
We always dreamed of a snowy cabin week, and this was our moment.
Bear Valley was pure magic. No cars. Just sleds, skis, and snowmobiles. We skied to the lodge and back to our cabin. Tubed for hours. Rode snowcats. Read library books by the fire. Celebrated the girls’ 4th birthday in full mountain style—bedhead, candles, cake, and snow falling outside the windows.
It felt like a total reset. A week unplugged, in nature, doing something wildly different from our norm. The perfect breath before the next plunge.
Ep 6. Heading to Seychelles: monster travel begins
Then came the big haul: California → Dubai → Seychelles.
We braced ourselves for the worst—sleepless kids, baggage disasters, international meltdowns—but somehow, it was… smooth. Three planes. 30+ hours. Zero drama. Wow!!
When we landed in Mahe, it all felt surreal. This time, it wasn’t just one of us scouting boats—it was the whole tribe arriving together. Our bags made it. The kids held it together. Our new chapter was actually beginning.
Ep 7. Moving Aboard in Seychelles: from dream to reality
Nesi looked beautiful in the marina—but now we had to live on her.
We quickly realized this wasn’t just about unpacking—it was a full systems overhaul. She was still a marina princess, totally reliant on shore power. To go off-grid, we had to reconfigure nearly everything.
We organized parts, food, tools, toys—over 150 storage bins tucked into every hidden space. We dealt with oppressive heat, relentless rain, flaky vendors, and rookie mishaps (like nearly losing our brand-new dinghy on day one).
But then… things started to click. We anchored Nesi outside the marina. We brought in our trusted rigger, Ian. We started solving problems. We were turning a floating shell into a real offshore cruising boat.
This move tested every ounce of our patience and courage. But in between the airport chaos and boat repairs, there were snowy birthdays, epic memories, and wild dreams taking shape.
What’s Next?
And now? We’re sailing again! Next up will be our Shakedown Cruise. We can say this: you are NEVER ready for a shakedown cruise 😅 We braced ourselves… and kept going forward, as the deadline to sail south swiftly approached.
💚 —The Green Coco Expedition Team
PS. Wondering what happened in Episodes 1 and 2? We introduced the voyage, and described the whirlwind of finishing our time in French Polynesia (after living there nearly 7 years!)
I was the boat teacher on the Green Coco Expedition aboard catamaran Nesi this last April-May in Brazil.
A little about me… I’m Australian-American from Colorado, and spent my childhood summers on the Great Barrier Reef. I’ve always had a passion for swimming, diving, and marine life. I studied Psychology and Film in school and later earned my Master’s in Education. I taught first grade on the island of Kauai for two years before trading classroom life for travel.
🎥 –> Watch this short reel 👇
About my top 5 favorite activities during my time with Green Coco in Brazil!
How it all began
When I saw Green Coco’s teacher post, it sounded like the perfect opportunity to connect my passions of traveling and teaching.
From the moment I boarded Nesi, I was welcomed with open arms. I quickly became part of the crew and boat family.
Kristian motivated me to try new things and taught me lots about sailing. Sabrina brought a creative spark to the kitchen and was always a kind, peaceful presence in daily life. The girls were playful, curious, intelligent, inquisitive, and avid explorers. They brought so much light and joy to our days aboard Nesi.
Every day on Nesi is an adventure – from exploring the Brazilian coast to taking turns on night watch and experiencing the beauty and hard work of boat life. Watching the girls light up & engage with the world around them gave me a renewed sense of excitement for the wonders of this world.
As Nesi’s boat teacher, we enjoyed many educational activities at sea. We focused on foundational skills in reading, writing, and math but always took time to learn from and be inspired by our surroundings.
About my top 5 activities:
#1. Tadpole Discovery to Frog Lifecycle
While in Ilha Grande, we came across thousands of tadpoles. Sabrina brought a few back to the boat, and we watched seven of them transform into frogs. It was an exciting “experiment” for everyone aboard- kids, crew, and guests. We explored the frog life cycle, observed them under a microscope, and watched them evolve right before our eyes.
#2. Native Birds: From endemic species to the pirates of the sky
We studied Red-Billed Tropicbirds, Masked Boobies, and Frigatebirds. We observed them in their natural habitat, visited protected bird islands, and reflected on the experience through journaling and art.
#3. Wild Animal Encounters: Spinner Dolphin
While cruising with guests around the beautiful Ilha Grande, we came across a pod of spinner dolphins. This sparked lots of curiosity, so we paused our regular lessons to deep dive into learning about dolphins, countershading, and dolphin anatomy.
#4. Journaling from experience
Each place we visited was incredible, and journaling gave us a chance to slow down, reflect, write, and appreciate our surroundings. The girls observe mountains, cultural landmarks, and lighthouses- all from their back deck.
#5. Bingo with Shells
We have some young readers aboard! We made a simple reading activity more engaging by using shells collected from around the world to try to make their bingo. By using shells and a bingo format, the girls were able to read many new CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words!
Honestly, the girls have taught me a lot as well: how to be a good sister, how to share exciting moments with others, how to find joy in the little things, and how to always treat others with kindness.
Sailing up the coast of Brazil from Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Abrolhos, to Itacaré (in the state of Bahia) was truly incredible — what an array of different places and experiences. Excited to do it again in the future in whatever ocean Nesi is sailing through!
Until next time,
Tess
Captain K’s Notes:
The above map shows our route with Tess in Brazil (see our schedule here). Tess first met us in Paraty after we finished a series of trips with extended family there. We cruised around Ilhas Grande with a family group who just joined the co-op as new members (with twin girls too!) ; and then with another group in Angra dos Reis who have been onboard several times.
After hosting those families in super idyllic cruises, we had a series of tough passages going north to Rio de Janeiro with our crew mates Dophaise and Karim; a week of boatwork; then onward to Abrolhos archipelago for 3 nights at sea, where we spent several days exploring the bird & marine reserves.
Finally we did another 2 nights to arrive in the coastal surf-town of Itacaré, navigating through our first rivermouth in Brazil with a pilot, where we spent 5 days anchored, before visiting my family just up the coast in Peninsula de Maraú.
In Itacaré, Tess said farewell. She overlapped a day or two with our new boat teacher Meggane (who comes from France), and plans to sail with us until the Caribbean.
Thanks for everything Tess, you rock! The girls made a TON of progress with writing & reading with you. All of us will miss you!!
…. and here’s a quick plug for Tess’ Travel Journal, a super cool product that she made to help her travels, and now she sells this to other travel enthusiasts. Check it out:
As my love for travel has grown, I created a small business to share one of my favorite tools for exploration and reflection- a travel journal. It’s filled with interactive, travel themed content including journal prompts, trip planning pages, travel reflection, and maps. The journal is currently available on my website and on Amazon if you’d like to check it out!
Ahoy Explorers! Come to a Tiny Archipelago Near East Africa With Us to Learn:
Why are the world’s HUGEST coconuts only growing in 2 tiny islands in the whole world?
How come GIANT TORTOISES only exist in the wild in Galapagos… and Seychelles?
This little far-flung group of islands is where the GREEN COCO EXPEDITION began. Where is this place??
After searching around the world, we found our catamaran Nesi in this archipelago. This video tells the story of us moving there from Polynesia.
This is a remote place that had no international airport until 1972. Captain K’s dad visited these islands enroute from Tanzania to India by cargo ship in the mid-60s, it probably looked very different indeed. Probably like this:
Fun Facts about Seychelles
#1. It’s a Small Country with a LOT of islands spread over 800 nautical miles.
#2. It has the world’s largest coconut, only growing on Praslin and Cousin islands. It’s got a fascinating biology.
#3. It’s the only mid-ocean islands with GRANITE in the world.
This is the good stuff that we cover in our Expedition Letter #2 — sent by snail mail to subscribers around the world. [Subscribe for $10/month. Learn more about it here.]
What the Letters look like this in real person:
Thanks friends in Morro Bay, CA for sharing your stoke!
We also include some random fun stuff for the kids, like….
How to dive without being a fish:
These are the stories to we’re sharing with our kids and we want to share it with your family too. Little tales from the places we are blessed to visit around the world in this community world-schooling voyage!
Our Expedition teacher Joelie is the artist behind these beautiful letters — customs made works of art that you can touch and feel.
Every Expedition Letter is a chance to be surprise and learn something weird and wonderful.
The world is big. You’re part of it. And there’s still so much to explore.
How do we ride the ups and downs of a 15 year circumnavigation? The first year was a battle around Africa. Now in our second year, we are licking our wounds, enjoying the gold of Brazil’s calm & beautiful anchorages 😅🏝️
Read our newsletter about the Pirate history in Brazil and how we’re now reaping the rewards of this great cruising coastline… and preparing for the next phase in the Caribbean.
Highlights:
Our latest crew included another set of 4 year old identical twin girls (!), and all types of visitors young and old.
Don’t miss: your chance to win a FREE TRIP: subscribe to Expedition Letters.
The history of colonial Paraty’s wealth, downfall, and revival
While we were sailing through Madagascar last year with our onboard teacher Joelie, we thought:
“Wow how amazing to share with kids all these cool Lemurs & Chameleons & Zebus we are seeing — but geez why does EVERYTHING have to be online these days?? Imagine reading the hand-drawn notes of 18th century naturalists, what a different experience that was!”
Wait…
What if we could re-create that? After all, who doesn’t love receiving letters in the mail, with cool art and inspiration from Nature around the world?
Hence the idea of Expedition Letters was born — hand made, sent to your home every month by snail mail!!
We also want to BRING letters subscribers onboard, to experience actually sailing with us on Nesi!
So we’re giving away one boat trip, along with some fun souvenirs from our travels, available only to Expedition Letter subscribers. Plus, you can increase your odds of winning by purchasing additional raffle tickets for $20 each!
RAFFLE – DEADLINE MAY 15
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE OR LEARN MORE? See here, $10/month or $100/year.
All the proceeds go towards our production costs for the Letters.
The Artist behind the Letters
Joelie spent 4 months with us sailing from Seychelles to Madagascar. Read about her experience aboard Nesi teaching our kids here. She lives in Western Australia. Thanks Joelie for doing a great job with these beautiful creations!
Good luck to everyone ….
and thanks for supporting this Green Coco educational project!
Quick links
RAFFLE – DEADLINE MAY 15
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE OR LEARN MORE? See here, $10/month or $100/year.
We had an amazing crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The total time from Walvis Bay (Namibia) to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) was 32 days, with 7 days being anchored in islands of St. Helena, Trindade & Martim Vaz). Distance covered was 3500 nautical miles, which equals an average speed of 5.8 kts. Pretty great considering the wind was so light and mellow 🙂
Our arrival in Brazil was really, really special. I’ll have to write more about this soon! 🙂
Now we are preparing for our sail along the coast of Brazil and then onwards to the Caribbean. We’ve had a lot of issues with customs & immigration in Brazil (it’s easy to stay 3 months, hard to stay longer); so we only got 5 months permit for Nesi in the country. As such we had to change our itinerary, and we update it in our newsletter below (or see our schedule here).
Check out the latest newsletter on this link. If you’d like to subscribe to receive our future newsletters, click here.
If you’re interested in joining our trips, check out our schedule here.
During the last 6 months we had a stellar teacher aboard Nesi: Ian Bacon from Chicago (UCSB recent grad- go gauchos!!). He was aboard during the toughest sailing stretch we’re likely to have for a loooong time. We knew this was the case, so we wanted to find a super amazing person for the role… And guess what? We got very lucky 🙂
Here’s the story — and read at bottom for Ian’s impressions of life aboard & his favorite teaching activities with the girls.
Our goal: to SWIM across the Prime Meridian, in the middle of the ocean!! The prime meridian is the imaginary line of 0 degree Longitude, which divides Western and Eastern Hemispheres.
Haha this is admittedly a very random goal, but such things happen a week into a passage, I guess 🙂 There’s plenty of traditions about crossing the Equator, but not for the Prime Meridian… until now!
It deserves credit…. after all, the story of Longitude is fascinating. Longitude was a monumental problem that vexed navigators for centuries.
Latitude was relatively “easy” to calculate using a sextant, which measures the angle between celestial bodies (sun, stars).
However, Longitude calculations were basically guesswork. This caused countless shipwrecks , since vessels found themselves dozens of miles from where they presumed to be.
The invention of chronometer watches in 18th century finally gave navigators the tool to calculate Longitude reliably – by seeing the exact difference between their time and Prime Meridian time. This requires very precise astronomical observations. And guess who was at the forefront of this? The Royal Greenwich Observatory in London.
Hence it was no big surprise when delegates of 25 nations in 1884 agreed to establish the Prime Meridian as Greenwich, which had the most reliable data in the world at the time (the French disagreed and used Paris as the prime meridian until 1911 when they finally joined the rest of the world).
This supremacy in navigation technology helped the British become the largest empire the world has ever seen, and helped English surpass French as the world’s diplomatic & commercial language.
We crossed the Prime Meridian — this deeply important yet curiously arbitrary line — with our swim, in perfectly calm conditions, with Nesi adrift. And of course, followed by a cup of English black tea 🙂
DAY 7. Mahi Mahi transcendence.
The end to an amazing day… the breeze returned, we were cruising all day under spinnaker going 6.5kts, grilled burgers & pineapple in the outdoor BBQ … then at sunset we got a double hook up of mahi mahi…! Jumping and sparkling yellow- green-golden, skittered above the waves, what fighters! What fish! What an honor to land one and make get excited about a fantastic meal.
Day 9. Arriving by Sea: St Helena Island
After 9 days of open ocean & sky it is a delight to see land. Slowly she comes closer into detail. First just rocky shapes , then colors, then trees! This slow unveiling is like a brilliant wine, savored, unhurried. There’s nothing like making landfall by sailboat. St Helena island, mid Atlantic.
Nesi
DAY 10. Jamestown, St. Helena
Known as Napoleon’s final exile & deathbed. But this large island in the middle of the Atlantic is full of surprises.
It was protected tooth and nail by the British, as a critical reprovision station on the clipper route from Europe around Africa to India.
The island’s perimeter is absurdly dry, but the interior valleys are surprisingly lush. Ultra steep volcanic rock everywhere. The few landing places had massive fortifications built of stone into cliffs to ward off enemy ships.
Like a countryside English town plopped into a tropical island. The stone buildings are stout and charming, built into the narrow slots between the steep slopes. British pounds are accepted, no credit cards or ATMs . A feeling of stepping back into time.
DAY 11. Napoleon’s Tomb
Napoleon – the famous Emperor who navigated France out of the post revolution chaos, was wildly successful, then lost it all with one terrible decision – marching into the Russian winter and losing nearly 1/2 million men.
Then he was exiled to St Helena Island, this little mid Atlantic rock we are visiting, under close British supervision until his death.
What a story of hubris, ambition, and over reach. Amazing to walk down history lane and see his tomb and home-in-exile with our own eyes
DAY 12. Freediving St. Helena waters
40ft down in Saint Helena island 🏝️ 🇸🇭 with a wreck of a 1911 ship that was enroute from England to Australia and caught on fire so the captain ran her aground and there she lays to this day in shallow water
DAY 13. Catching a Nice Wahoo
Wahoooooo! Final gift from St Helena. Every day here I feel a kinship to the sailors from clipper ships who used this island to provision in centuries past. We are walking in their footsteps. Provisioning with blessings from the sea, ready to embark on the next leg of the journey… to Brazil 🇧🇷 !!!
Our Expedition Letters are about to ship
Sabrina is in Brazil with the twins getting our Letters project up & running. We hear that they’re going to arrive in mailboxes next week. Support our artist Joelie and support the Green Coco video productions: $10/month for custom hand made awesome educational materials from around the globe, delivered to your home. Learn more here: www.greencoco.org/#letters
Would you like to sail the world, explore beautiful islands, live on an amazing community boat, while helping create an innovative program?
We are a sailing cooperative called Green Coco with catamarans run by sailing families. We have space for a teacher and videographer in Brazil and Caribbean 2025 & 2026 aboard 60ft Nesi (with Kristian & Sabrina) and in French Polynesia aboard 46ft Selavi (with David & Eleanor).
We are looking for:
TEACHER. A passionate & enthusiastic teacher for kids age 4-10, who embraces a whole child approach. Preference for native speakers of French, Portuguese, and English. Duration: 1-6 months.
VIDEOGRAPHER OR SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT. Someone who loves capturing and editing videos, and/or has social media skills. Duration 1-6 months.
Email to expedition@greencoco.org a simple intro video about yourself (casual selfie is fine, 2 min max) and a basic resume (list of your relevant jobs, education, experiences, if you have a career mission statement). Videographers/social media experts: please share a portfolio or similar. We will also need 2 references, which you can supply later, don’t get bottlenecked with this.
Read below for more details on the positions, and check out all the posts from all our previous teachers.
In February 2024, we moved aboard our 60ft catamaran Nesi in the Seychelles with the help of Zoe (read her post here)
We worked non-stop, full-throttle for 2 months, suffering with the summer equatorial heat, running two very eventful “shakedown trips” with co-op members, and doing a million repairs & projects on the boat.
Joelie arrived in April 2024, just as we frenetically prepared to leave the protected waters of Seychelles. No time to waste… when she arrived, I gave her a drill and screwdriver and we started installing solar panels.
Catch our daily updates on our Community site (free enrollment required) or on @greencocosailing
Preparation: Kids depart, Last Minute Repairs, Provisions
We had 3 weeks in Walvis Bay, Namibia to prepare for the Atlantic Crossing but it just is never enough. The girls & Sabrina said farewell to Nesi and flew back to Brasil with Grandma & sister Sammy — we had an awesome road trip which we’ll share later.
Upon my return, it was non-stop hustle to do repairs on the boat. The diesel fuel tank had a leak; major job. The starboard engine was still giving us alignment issues; major job. The new lithium battery banks needed more protection; major job. And endless minor jobs.
Our deckhand & electrician Dophaise played a key role, as he has done in the last 4 months. He has been a massive help, but we had to say good-bye as his time with us came to an end. He got a work-exchange job at a local farm near Windhoek, Namibia’s capital. His journey to find work abroad continues!
Provisioning is a HUGELY time consuming. This is a task that Sabrina does so well, and without her, our steward & first mate Ian Bacon and I would now have to figure it out. It took us multiple days to shop & pack the boat with multiple shopping carts worth of food, for 5 people aboard 33 days across the Atlantic (assuming we won’t provision in St. Helena Island, in the mid-ocean).
DAY 1: Our Atlantic Crossing begins!!!
Such a frenzy to prepare the boat this last week- repairs, provisions, documents.
Yet we managed to leave on the 13th of Jan with our co-op guests Kim and friend Shawn, plus my dad Bob and our first mate Ian.
Riding a South wind into the SE trade winds, heading to St Helena island, 1200nm (9 days) to arrival.
We’ve been FLYING ever since leaving Walvis Bay, averaging 8kts.
DAY 2: Towards the horizon
I won’t lie – heading into 3000nm of ocean is intimidating and scary… takes some trust and faith in all our hard work on the boat & experience.
I thank these dolphins for leading us into the big sea with their playful joy 🙂
We did 200nm on the first 24hrs- over 8kt average. Nesi is flying. 1000nm left for St Helena island.
Night watches were 3 hrs each. Captain K sleeping in the cockpit close at hand, as we wove between some cargo ships and fishing vessels, showing up on radar and AIS.
Full moon popped up thru the clouds to illuminate the ocean.
We are so HERE !
DAY 3: This is what trade wind dreams are made of!
Gentle downwind sailing. Perfection all around. 15kts breeze from ESE. Sailing WNW.
Yesterday was a little nuts with wind shifts and spinnaker tear; gotta pay the dues. Today repaired the small rip (caught on spreaders while furling).
I’d like to report to my land-bound wife @sabby_sirena that although our cabin is still utter mess from our departure chaos, we did clean the bathrooms and galley and are keeping a hawk’s eye on food spoiling. Make you proud honey.
We’ve already gone 1/3 of the way to St Helena— less than 800nm to go. yeww!!
Day 4: Flipping eggs!
This is how we keep 360 eggs unrefrigerated during our trip 🙂
Managing food is a major part of a passage or expedition. Try making wholesome healthy food for 5 people for 34 days without going to the grocery store! Here’s how we’re trying do it:
Fresh Food. In Walvis Bay Namibia, we filled 4 shopping carts worth of fruits & vegetables, meats & cheeses, dairy & eggs. Divided this into 10 baskets, 3 fridges, and 3 freezers. Produce is ideally fresh from a farmer’s market, unrefrigerated, which lasts much longer. However, the Namibian desert isn’t exactly a farmer’s paradise, a lot is imported from S. Africa, so we had an extra challenge with that.
Provisioning. There’s the equivalent of about 15 shopping carts of food packed into Nesi’s cupboards & bilges; these require shelves and plastic bins with labels and easy access. About 3 months worth of food. There’s stuff from every country in there: Seychelles, Madagascar, South Africa, Namibia. Try to keep track!
Food Management. The worst is to let food go bad. Each food category needs careful attention. Heard of the saying “one bad apple spoils the bunch”? The superstition that bananas are bad luck aboard? Nope, it’s not true, but there’s a reason for all of this!
How to deal with each of these food categories is in itself a fascinating story. Ever since our first days on Aldebaran crossing the Pacific from Galapagos to Pitcairn (21 days, 4 people, with just 1 mini fridge!) we’ve learned a lot.
In our modern world of refrigeration and ready access to groceries 24/7, we’ve lost the knowledge of food storage & preservation needed for off-grid living. We like bringing it back little by little, because it’s super cool, and hey, might be good to know someday.
Day 5… Broken Oven, Slow Spinnaker
We are going so slow its like we are walking across the ocean … it’s very relaxing haha .
3-4kt boat speed today with spinnaker just barely staying in the air. With zero wind yesterday we even stopped the motor for a quick swim which was delightful, the water is getting warmer, entering the tropics properly!!
Our power is ample with 2.5kw of solar ☀️ and new 800ah lithium batteries 🪫. This is fortunate because the gas burner in the oven is malfunctioning, so we are using the electric backup (which mows thru power. The oven thermocouple disconnected from the wire, i fixed it, not sure why it still is broken.)
No surprises here, everyday something breaks, usually small things… it almost seems like a law of boating. We are bobbing along. We had a massive egg & bacon breakfast to keep the crew morale up 🙂
Catch our daily updates on our Community site (free enrollment required for Public Updates; co-op membership required for Private Member site) or on @greencocosailing
Don’t forget!
Deadline for our Expedition Letters Launch is January 20, 2025 — you’ll receive a raffle ticket for a FREE boat trip (if you’re one of the 50 first subscribers); and option to nominate a teacher to receive the letters. These our monthly delivered by snail mail to your house, ideal for families, kids, and schools.
Greetings from the mid Atlantic!! We left Walvis Bay, Namibia, and we’re heading to St. Helena Island then Brazil.. It’s going to be a 30+ day trip. Hard to believe we are plunging into this vast ocean with 3000 miles ahead. More news on this tomorrow, stay posted 🙂
But first — we’ve been working hard to bring the NEW Expedition Letters to share with kids & families. Please subscribe and spread the word (deadline January 20th), read more & sign up on this link.
Just $10/month for awesome handmade 4 page letters full of beautiful art, delivered by snail mail to your home!! Digital PDF only version also available. Subscribe here.
BIG BONUS: the first 50 subscribers get a free raffle ticket for a chance to win a boat trip 🙂
REFER YOUR FRIENDS: you’ll get an extra raffle ticket for each person you refer who signs up. So spread the word and boost your chances of winning.
PLUS: sign up by January 20, and you can nominate a teacher to get a FREE subscription for 1 year. Stoke out school kids with adventure travel stories they can touch and feel.
Read more about the artist behind the Expedition Letters – Joelie Russel from Western Australia. How did this come about? Learn here. Your subscription helps support her art & work.
Be sure to subscribe to our channel, and if you’re a family with kids, sign up for Expedition Letters here. These are awesome (screen-free) complements to our video series, you’ll love ’em. If you sign up by January 20, you’ll get a chance to nominate a teacher to receive our monthly Letters for free! Plus a chance to win a free boat trip.
