This is my fifth year with over 100 days on the water. 2024 started with a boat ride to islands off the coast of Panama. Spring brought a sunset sail in the Ocracoke inlet in North Carolina. Spring, Summer, and Fall mornings started with paddle boarding from EYC. Labor Day weekend included a ride on Lake Austin to Ski Shores, a dock bar that has been around since 1954. There were plenty of fun summer days cruising around Annapolis with friends and the midshipmen. September brought ferry rides in Ireland, and the year ended on the Judges' board for the Lights Parade. Looking forward to a busy 2025 on the water.
Century Club: Stephanie Sams
Monday, January 1, 2024 to Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Number of days:
108 days
Achudud Dummad, Pananma
Sunday, January 1, 2023 to Sunday, December 31, 2023
Number of days:
120 days
Glow Worm Caves, Waitomo New Zealand
Boarding the Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith Scotland
I made it! 110 days on the water and 10 workdays. The challenge to consistently get on the water was hampered by the need to be in the office more by myself and my friends. Work getting in the way of my water time resulted in grabbing a day on the water in any way possible. As such, 2023 was a mixed bag of experiences on the water.
Day 1- Waitomo, New Zealand – Tour glowworm caves via a raft on an underground river.
Day 2 - Tongariro National Park New Zealand – Touring Volcanoes via boat on the crater lake.
Day 3 was supposed to be a ride on an America’s Cup boat in Auckland, but a wicked Nor’easter canceled that. The consolation prize was touring the maritime museum that houses the hull of Black Magic and a replica of the America's Cup.
Boating season in Annapolis began in March and continued until November. As usual, days on the water consisted of paddle boarding, sailing, and acting as a tour boat operator for my midshipmen.
But that was not enough this year to get in my 100 days. Other days on the water included paddle boarding in South Padre Island, Texas, whale watching in the Azores off Pico Island, riding the ferry from Pico to Madalena Island, Azores, paddle boarding on a volcanic crater lake on San Miquel Island, Azores, an evening cruise on the Pride of Baltimore, a gondola ride at the Venetian in Las Vegas, ferry rides to and from Ocracoke Island NC, and boarding in the Atlantic in Ocracoke.
My 110th and last day on the water was December 31, 2023. I toured the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith, Scotland. Although it may seem like an unlikely activity for a day on the water, it was the ideal way to end my voyage in 2023.
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Number of days:
112 days
As of today, I have had 112 days on the water. The greatest challenge this year was returning to work 2 days a week, and that was 2 days of not paddling. This year many days included SUP, sailing, power, and surfing. But the year is not up, and I leave for New Zealand on the 25th and expect to have a few more water adventures before the 31st!
Friday, April 15, 2022 to Saturday, April 16, 2022
Number of days:
2 days
Friday APril 15 I had the opportunity to sail on the Pride of Baltimore as guest crew. It was a beautiful day with the wind building to 18 knots by late afternoon. We got her up to 10 knots (hull speed is 14) with rails in the water. The Pride's crew is wonderful and I learned lots about how you trim (pull strings), tack, and that it takes 6 people to pull the anchor with the help of a capstan. We got a front row seat watching the containers being taken off the Ever Forard and enjoyed an almost full moon over downtown Balimore.
Friday, April 15, 2022 to Saturday, April 16, 2022
Number of days:
2 days
Friday APril 15 I had the opportunity to sail on the Pride of Baltimore as guest crew. It was a beautiful day with the wind building to 18 knots by late afternoon. We got her up to 10 knots (hull speed is 14) with rails in the water. The Pride's crew is wonderful and I learned lots about how you trim (pull strings), tack, and that it takes 6 people to pull the anchor with the help of a capstan. We got a front row seat watching the containers being taken off the Ever Forard and enjoyed an almost full moon over downtown Balimore.
Saturday, March 27, 2021 to Monday, November 22, 2021
Number of days:
106 days
It's November and I'm at 106 days on the water.
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Number of days:
26 days
The weather slowed us down but we made it to 100 on Monday
Monday, May 25, 2020 to Thursday, August 20, 2020
Number of days:
75 days
Day 1
Day 73 August 17
My journey started on Memorial Day. Since then, I have SUP'ed every morning, surfed and sailed. Now that the days are getting shorter the race is on to get the next 25 !