European hitchhikers, Luisa and Jules boarded Traveler in Panama’s Shelter Bay Marina on February 27 and have been reliable and enjoyable crew members for the past six weeks. They will now be boarding another boat to make their way back home.

Luisa offers parting words and an accompanying video.

Fair Winds to Luisa and Jules!

I think I finally got the hang of it. ⛵️👇🏼

I’ve been on my first ever sailing trip since the end of January and it’s been a wild ride. 🎢

Call it bad timing - but until last week my sailing happened in mostly not so ideal conditions: high waves against us, wind from the front and a constant feeling of slight seasickness. 🥴

Since I managed to still do my watches and have human interactions I thought I must be somehow good enough to continue sailing. I wasn’t throwing up constantly so I thought maybe that’s as good as it gets? 🤷🏻‍♀️

But then a week ago, the day before pulling into Jamaica, I had my best sailing day yet. Great sideways wind, the waves felt like surfing, fluffy clouds to protect us from the crazy heat and steering was a walk in the park. 🤯🏄🏽‍♀️

I was standing outside stunned by these new impressions thought: is that what it’s actually like? Is that the magic of sailing everyone is talking about? ⛵️

I guess it’s both - hard days where all you do is lay flat in your cabin and good days where you jump around on deck and sailing feels like a fresh morning breeze. 🌊

But I would like to have a better good day vs bad day ratio if possible please! 🙏🏼😅great sail up to Maine

Thanks to Tim & Ned for taking us along on this adventure
and for all the beautiful experiences on S/V Traveler!

We wish you a great sail up to Maine ⛵️

Always fair winds,
Luisa & Jules

Blaine2Maine

Sailor Luisa bids farewell!