Bob & Judi

Hi! We have been living aboard 'Long Passages' since 1988 and cruising her around the world since 1992. Professionals in our prior lives, we have discovered we were novices at long distance sailing.

Probably everyone who changes from a fixed-abode land life to the liveaboard or cruising life has a different story, but most fit in one the following categories:

Retired and going sailing
Young and looking for an exciting lifestyle
Stressed and want to get away for a while
Work/career become less important so want to try something new

We fit into the last category.

Judi Nester

Judi has been sailing since a tender age in the early 1970's. She has crewed aboard several Swans, the 40' 'Bachelor' from Annapolis to Bermuda several times and the Swan 46' 'Sharone', also to Bermuda and during coastal delivery trips. Crewing was good, but sharing the tribulations of ownership led her to buy her Catalina, 'Quite Nice,' which she sailed on the Chesapeake Bay for several years, while harboring plans for a break from work and a quick trip to Australia.

Bob Burns

Bob has been sailing since 1963 - when he got lost returning to Connecticut from Long Island aboard a 25' 'Dutch Treat'. Future adventures included ownership of another 'Dutch Treat', a Columbia 24', Hunter 27' and finally 'Long Passages', the Shannon 38' which has served so well since 1988.

Fate intervened and Judi and Bob met in Annapolis in 1987, exchanged sailing aspirations, and were soon roaming Want Ads and boatyards looking for the ideal off-shore cruiser. By June 1988, 'Long Passages' had been selected, spruced up, and they set off to deliver her to Annapolis with friends. Bob and Judi have been liveaboards now for more than 16 years. Wedding vows were exchanged in New Zealand in 2000. See the rest of the 'get ready' story in Preparations.