Andrew and his wife, Jill, are passionate sailors and full-time, live-aboard cruisers. They share their passion with their two small boys aboard Yahtzee, a Grand Soleil 39. This year was their third Summer Sailstice, and their third Sailstice sailing grounds - the Broughton Archipelago on the eastern side of Vancouver Island in the Pacific Northwest.
‘Being fairly far north, we had long days of sunshine and got to sail both Yahtzee and the little Quartermaster 8 that we restored and named Hornpipe.’
Hornpipe is the little boat that has won this adventurous family a range of prizes, including a hardcover book, Keeping the Tradition Alive, from Maine Windjammer Cruises, a set of Dock Lines from New England Ropes, a superb polish compound from Peek Polish, a pair of Chafe Guards from Spirolls, and a 1-year subscription to Good Old Boat Magazine.
Andrew’s decision to restore Hornpipe is undoubtedly due largely to his early introduction to sailboats; it seems he was born a sailor. His love for the wind powered vessels began in Michigan aboard an array of family sailboats, including a Grunman canoe bought by his great grandfather, complete with sailing rig and lee boards.
‘Every summer of my life has included this lake, sailboats and time spent with family and friends. My siblings and I grew up racing with our dad and uncles in the sailing club that my great grandfather founded and as we got older, we’ve kept sailing.’
When Andrew and Jill began sailing together, soon after they’d finished college, it was the beginning of a life-long journey resulting in the pair living out their cruising dream.
‘Cruising as a family is an incredible experience that we cherish everyday…’
The couple are members of the Seattle Yacht Club and the British Columbia based, Bluewater Cruising Association.
And their thoughts on Summer Sailstice?
‘I love that the goal of Summer Sailstice is plain and simple, to get people out on the water enjoying sailing,’ Andrew said.
If you want to read more about the Cross’s sailing life, check out their blog, ‘Rollin' With Yahtzee’
As fall approaches look around for a boat to restore this winter, take some pictures of the process and make sure she's ready to enter next year's 'Restore a Small Boat' contest and sail in Summer Sailstice 2017 on the weekend of June 24/25. There are just too many small boats like Hornpipe sitting idle which could be taking the next generation sailing soon.