My partner Terry Hill,bought his third boat, Sisu, a Rival 38A made in 1979 about 10 years ago from the South of England. We both live in the Isle of Man. Sisu is a sea going boat, & Terry bought her with the desire of sailing her further than the Irish Sea surrounding our Island. In 2013 he met me, Fiona Hill-Heaton,another adventurer, also equally as stubborn or perhaps more kindly, determined as he, once our minds are made up to do something, we do it! Terry told me of his plans, to sail from the Isle of Man to the Caribbean and further. I wanted to travel & to squeeze the most out of life. Losing Mum age 65 to Parkinson’s in 2009 together with having come through a “challenging” few years during 2006 to 2013 focussed my mind on “life ain’t a rehearsal”. Our children are now adults, we’re retired, so, the only people stopping us would be ourselves! Terry was looking for someone to share his journey, my Dad has always been involved with the sea & both my Grandfathers were also seafarers. I was brought up next to the sea, & on boats, it’s in my blood! Through 2014 & 2015 we sailed through the Irish & Celtic Seas to Wales, Scotland, Hebrides & Ireland “trying me out” as it were, he said he knew I was his girl when on our first trip out I shouted “Yeeehaaaa!” during a lively, Force 6 Irish Sea!
Onto the next stage of our sailing life. I’ve never written a blog, having been asked to by our family & friends to do so, here goes! Learning by doing, as Terry says. Our blog will be about preparing Sisu for our journey, and our travels thereafter!
We have our good friends Tim & Gayle, of Wild Bird, both very experienced sailors, to thank for their support & advice in our preparation & planning.
sisu journey 