I’d like to start by thanking the four people who have made donations through this website for a total of $280. Two of them are friends, one a relative, and one a fan. It is very appreciated and your funding contributed to keeping Sampaguita’s navigation lights on. She appreciates it. This voyage is her biggest, and possibly, “last hurrah.” Thank you.

I will be losing the data plan from my phone in a few days. I knew this day would come. Internet connectivity will become more challenging, time consuming, and costly hence forth. Since this website takes both time and internet to maintain, I will be reducing my involvement with it. I have internet at Club Cruceros, but that requires me to come to their clubhouse, so no internet on the boat soon. I’ve got my head down and focused on the journey ahead. While I appreciate the few people’s interest, it is unsustainable for now.

The days of the honor system are long gone. I remember in rural Central New York when people sold their extra garden produce on a table at the end of the road and passers-by would stop and put payment in the coffee can. And people wouldn’t steal the money. It’s not that world anymore. I looked into Patreon at one point, which would gate access to only paying subscribers. It was in part created by someone who was getting millions of YouTube views but only making a few hundred dollars. In contrast, I average about 13,500 views per year. Patreon takes a pretty big cut, it would require an upgraded WordPress plan, plus the resources to provide content for the subscribers. Gauged on interest, I deemed it unsustainable. I recognized a long time ago that I lack the social charisma to be successful in those forums.   

This is not going to change who I am, how I think, how I do things, or how I interpret the world. It will likely only strengthen my resolve in those matters. I just won’t be able to allocate the resources to express it via this website. Lucky world! When I played music and did a show with four paying people in the audience, I knew I wasn’t going to play that place with that band again. It was unsustainable(for the third time) for everyone involved.

The Sailing With Josh website isn’t going anywhere for a while. The domain name is paid up through 2025 and the WordPress subscription, through 2027, so it will clutter the internet for at least a couple more years. If I can sell articles to publishers, I will still likely promote them when I can. I’ll likely post the rejects too when resources allow. For now, the Garmin inReach will still be updated through the “Where In the World Is Sampaguita” post. I will still write. I like to do it and it helps me think. Much of it gets deleted as absolute crap.

My departure date for Marquesas is not set in stone. Likely in March sometime. I expect the voyage to take about six weeks. But there are no guarantees. Other than the inReach, I will be disconnected from the outside world. I look forward to it. Once in the trade winds, there will be no turning back and at a 3 knot average, no running from anything. It will be what it will be. The thrill of old school sailing. I recently re-watched a YouTube movie about Robin Knox-Johnston and the original Golden Globe Race. Back when men were men. Now, with all the electronic handholding, anyone can go cruising. It’s no wonder French Polynesia and Mexico are swamped with yachties. And they’re taking it to the bank.

I am submitting my online French Polynesia Entry/Exit form and sussing the required health insurance options. My Irish citizenship long stay angle still seems viable. I have changed my voyage plans slightly due to a conversation with a couple of veteran cruisers. I am intending to go over and around the Tuamotus and looping back to Gambier rather than the challenge and risk of trying to go east of them. This will also give me something to do while awaiting the season to head to Chile. Tahiti is still of no interest to me, but I may be forced to Papeete for provisioning. I’ll have to wait and see. The Society Islands themselves have lost all allure to me, but some folks still seem to be caught up in yesteryear’s mystique. The Austral’s might still offer something. I’m hoping so.

Your contributions are still welcome. La Paz is more expensive than a Mexican town should be and French Polynesia will be even worse. If not for me, then do it for Sampaguita.

PayPal or Zelle: wheelersf@hotmail.com

To those four people who have contributed, you have my personal contact information and you are welcome to drop me a line anytime. It may take a while to respond, but your consideration will not be forgotten.