Year: 2014

I’ve never really written about health onboard because I’ve always been quite healthy for the most part.

I did have a battle with malaria in Colombia a few years back but aside from the occasional flu, and dealing with my asthma in a moldy environment (rain forest humidity on a boat) life has been pretty good to me.

I am turning 50 next year and think its a good time to start addressing health aboard a full time sailing yacht.

The first thing I want to say is prevention and healthy-living is the best form of health care.

Its often hard for me to find ways to exercise aside from spear-fishing. I haven’t been able to find time for it lately given the plethora of boat projects facing me at the moment, real bummer! 

I am planning to start surfing on a regular basis next season which is a fantastic and fun way to get a good work out. However the best thing I’ve done for my health lately is to retire, for the most part, my inflatable dinghy and outboard motor.

I’m rowing my dyer midget full time these days and by just going to shore or visiting a friends boat I get a great workout. Not to mention the fact I have a much more versatile dinghy. I can sail it to shore on windy days, however rowing is my preference. I could also put a small outboard on it but it is something I choose not to do, truthfully I just don’t need the headache or expense.

Just FYI, we painted our dinghy black, this is our baby in both pictures.

living a green life is important to Carla and I so natural methods of propulsion are what we prefer. A proper ships tender is vital for extended voyaging. Our sailing dinghy never deflates and numerous methods of propulsion (sail, row, motor) are always available to us.

Rowing an inflatable is an awful experience. I am a big fan of having a proper rowing and sailing dinghy, however I do keep an Achilles RIB and Yamaha 9.9 outboard onboard for charter guests who often don’t have the agility for a hard dinghy.

Unfortunately health has been an issue for me lately.

About 6 weeks ago I was bitten by something on my leg. I gather it was a brown recluse spider that was hiding in the bilge of a boat I was installing an autopilot on. As you can see from the photo the bite really went awry and the infection/necrosis was quite bad.

I spent the better part of a month on antibiotics and saw 6 different doctors during that time. I don’t feel myself yet and think I’m still battling some infection in my body. I went to see another doctor (#7 within two months) and he did some specialized blood work.

My blood test revealed a very low DHEA  level. This provides a good explanation why my energy has been in the toilet lately. He gave me a hormone injection but after doing some reading I don’t think i will go back for boosters. There are natural ways to stimulate adrenal activity that I’m much more interested in and comfortable with.

We are what we eat, and onboard Splendid Carla and I eat very well. We make our own foods from scratch and hardly ever eat anything from a tin or box. Home made hummus and whole grain flat bread is a staple aboard our floating home.

I also consume mass amounts of oats, nuts, dried & fresh fruit, garlic, fish, and veggies. I love red meat and foul but its impossible to find meat that are not contaminated by antibiotics and hormones here in Panama.

Antibiotics and hormones in meat and dairy products are most likely the cause of my adrenal gland taking a break from producing the proper balance of DHEA in my body. I’ve done my homework.

I take my health quite seriously. My mother passed at age 42 from lung cancer (she didn’t smoke), and my father had prostate or colon cancer however he did survive.

It really does amaze me how poorly most western people eat. Sugar, sugar, sugar, coffee, coffee, energy drinks, copious amounts of fat & chemicals, starch, soda, and carbs.

I used to love coca cola but have given it up entirely along with a sugar and alcohol laden diet. These things should all be considered poison, or at the very least occasional treats. I read on Facebook once that one of my friends actually said he didn’t like the taste of water and preferred Gatorade G2, WTF, really? Did you ever see the film Idiocracy ?

Good food consists of hormone and antibiotic free meat (not
consumed daily or with every meal), fish, whole grains (not genetically modified), nuts, fresh fruit and vegetables.

If you don’t have access to fresh foods, like living on a sailboat in remote locations, dried is the next best thing. I’m in the process of building a large stainless solar drier for the back deck with a 12v backup for nighttime and rainy day production. Food driers onboard are a great way to preserve fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables.

One should also have the equipment onboard for home canning. Canned lobster, fish, home made pate, low sugar jams and chutney are all welcome friends aboard Splendid.

Onboard splendid we make wine, bread, cheese, pasta, tofu, yoghurt, and lots of other goodies. I also make my own flour from rice, oat, almonds, and other beans and grains.

last year we installed a new Dickenson Mediterranean 3 burned stove and oven. As far as I’m concerned this is the Rolls Royce of ships cookers and one of the most important pieces of voyaging gear. A vitamix (blender on steroids) is also an essential part of our galley for milling grains to flour and making hummus, not to mention the occasional margarita.

As soon as I can afford one I will buy a soymilk machine on eBay. This will make tofu production very easy, as well as provide us with very inexpensive almond, soy, and other nut and bean milks.

As far as drinks go a clean source of water is imperative. last year I built a water maker (18 GPH) and it is my sole source of hydration. Carla loves to make tea and fruit infused sweet waters and I enjoy them without the sugar. My favorite thing to drink however is room temperature water, and consume a few liters a day.

I’ve also replaced my coffee intake with green tea, and only enjoy coffee as an occasional luxury or midnight pickup before a sailing shift.

Many of you have been with me for the last decade on my travels and I’m sure your ageing along with me. Now that I’m about to turn 50 my intention is to enter the second half of my life a healthy and fit sailor!

Love, health, and happiness are the most important things in life and we must cherish, respect, and nurture them. Nothing should take precedence, and living a healthy life aboard a sailing yacht is the most magical way I could ever imagine living.

Health insurance is something I’ve never had. However as I’m getting older something id like to consider, but given my financial situation it isn’t really a reality. If I ever become really sick I can fly to Argentina (my wife’s nationality) to receive free health care.

In Argentina the hospitals are teamed with highly educated and talented doctors, however the lines are long and care is given on a priority basis. The civilized thing about health care in Argentina is they do not ask for identification in order to administer care, you just need to be a human being.

For those of you who can afford healthcare and are traveling by boat go to one of the many international travel health insurance companies and choose the countries you wish to have health coverage in. If you deselect the United States you will be amazed at the drop in price. Truthfully I would rater be covered for health-care in Europe or Cuba anyway as I prefer the philosophy of “care” to that of the one in the United States.

Well that’s it for today guys.

Carla is visiting her father in Miami for his 80th birthday and sailing down the ICW today on her brothers new boat. I’m chilling and trying to get my strength back.

Peace.

Sail far and live slowly.

– Alex