Your Charted Course to Shellphone Chronicles

Shellphone Chronicles is a collection of essays from SV Duende, our 80-foot aluminum expedition yacht.

Two people, one big boat, plenty of projects, and a commitment to a life of freedom exploring the ocean.

If you like real-world stories about open ocean sailing, remote anchorages, night watches, DIY yacht projects, and designing a life that most people only dream about, you’re in the right place.

To help you get started, we’ve put together this reading map. It will guide you through some of our most popular essays, and provide a few binge-worthy series suggestions. It’s a fun introduction to the themes that weave through our life of adventure on the deep blue sea.

If you’re new to the crew, read these first

These essays provide an immersive look at what got us started and what keeps us going in this life of ocean exploration. Dive in, there’s a lot to enjoy!

SV Duende Origin Story – Part 1 of 4 This post is the first essay of the Shellphone Chronicles publication – and answers the question, “Why such a big boat?”. Be sure to follow the threads at the end of this first post to Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of the Duende Origin Story. You’ll learn exactly what got us started on this big boat adventure.

Here Are (No) Dragons Why modern-day sailors are still attracted to sailing beyond the horizon to explore new and unfamiliar territory – just like the ancient mariners were.

Some Thoughts About Nomads Where is home if you are always on the move? Some of us have a home base somewhere, but some of us are home wherever we are in the world.

Ongoing Threads to Follow

Series 1: Big Seas and Night Watches

Stories about what it’s actually like to cross big water as a two-person crew on an 80-foot expedition yacht – from heavy weather to the star-stunned 3 a.m. shifts.

• A Big Ocean Passage from Wallis to Fiji - A wild 72-hour ride in big seas

• The Ocean After Dark - How we stay awake and on course through the night

• Sailing to Mata-Utu in Wallis and Futuna - A challenging double-handed passage to a remote archipelago

Series 2: The Wonder of It All

This series talks about the remote places we go and the astonishing things we see - things that take our breath away and make us appreciate this amazing life. So much. Every single day.

• Sailing in Unsurveyed Waters - Feeling like the only people on planet earth

• Astonished at Sea - The night sky is truly a wonder to behold

• Big Ocean, Small World - Connections and coincidences, in the middle of the ocean

Series 3: Below Decks - DIY Yacht Projects

This series shows the less than glamorous side of yachting - crawling into spaces not meant for humans, and what it takes to keep a large, complex boat happy when there’s no marina in sight.

• A Below Decks Glimpse of Life on an 80-foot DIY Sailing Yacht - We often have to get our hands dirty to keep Duende in top shape

• Big Boat, Small Crew - As DIY yacht owners, we can do almost anything

• SV Duende Origin Story - Part 3 of 4 - Details of the major refit stages on SV Duende from 2020 - 2025, in 600 words.

For Deeply Curious Crew Members

If you’d like to read the longer backstory – how we ended up on Duende, what we left behind on land, and why we keep choosing this life – you’ll find that on the About Shellphone Chronicles page.

If you prefer to wander and choose your own adventure, the full archive is always open. Drop in anywhere that catches your eye.

Thanks for reading! We are thrilled to have you aboard with us on SV Duende.