The Crew
Meet Herb and Maddie Benavent! They have been living the cruising life since July 2017 when they left Baltimore, MD and ventured off into the great blue world we call Earth.
They set off doing the impossible, cruising full time with an electric motor and synthetic rigging, showing how it can be done to allow you to sail sustainably as far as your heart desires! Their voyage started in Baltimore, MD and 18,000nm later they have sailed to:
The Bahamas
Bermuda
The Azores
Portugal
Spain
Gibraltar
Morocco
Madeira
Cape Verde
Suriname
USVI
Puerto Rico
and Currently: back to the East Coast of the United States
Herb Benavent
Herb moved aboard as soon as he graduated from dental school in Baltimore, Maryland. He purchased "Wisdom", a project boat, and began working on her to bring her up to speed. After re-rigging, re-powering, re-painting, and upgrading the systems on the boat, they are ready to go cruising. Herb works as a dentist and a rigger.
Maddie Benavent
Maddie moved aboard shortly after meeting Herb. Their first date went very well and she moved in with him shortly there after. Adjusting to living on a sailboat took some time and effort, especially since she had never been on a sailboat before. She has since learned how to sail very well and can single hand Wisdom. Maddie worked as a highschool art teacher, but now uses her artistic talents to create lovely paintings and all the videos you guys love and enjoy on our YouTube Channel.
Morty
Morty was born in 2013, and has only known boat life. He was raised on the boat since he was a puppy and he loves the sailboat life!
Gerry
Having one macaw on a sailboat isn’t enough fun, so we picked up Gerry, a Blue and Gold Macaw, who joined the crew in Florida.
Charlie
Charlie is a Green Wing Macaw and joined the crew in the Caribbean. She was born in February 2020 and has adapted very well to the cruising life!
The Boats
Wisdom
Most importantly, our 1968 Morgan 45. She has been rebuilt in preparation for our journey. Purchased by Herb in 2012 from the original owner with the plans to go on a Trans-Atlantic journey. She was completely re-rigged with synthetic standing rigging, along with a full suit of sails, and an electric engine.
Brad
Our main dinghy is 100% electric! Powered by an Aquos Electric Outboard and a DIY Lithium Battery Bank. Brad carries us back and forth to shore needing to be charged about once a week.
Σοφία (Sofia)
Our inflatable dinghy, Sofia (Σοφία), is our handy dinghy for getting to shore in the ICW. She is great as a little cargo carrying barge when we have large packages, grocery runs, or bikes to get back and forth between Wisdom and Shore.
Other Boats
Windpuff
Windpuff is a 1966 Alberg 30 and is our day sailor. He has no engine and is propelled by sail or sculling oar. Once we get back into the Chesapeake, we will begin refitting Windpuff and turn him into a proper cruising yacht using everything we have learned from these past 5 years of cruising. Windpuff will allow us to explore shallower waters that we had to skip with Wisdom, thanks to his shallower draft.
