The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/836118
On one occasion, the Johnsons were leaving from Miami on their way to the Azores, an archipelago off the coast of Portugal and 3,000 miles away from where they were when a storm hit. They were traveling north along the coast of Florida in 10 knots of wind from the south when a horrendous thunderstorm unexpectedly hit. "We were instantly struck with 60 knots of wind from the north and were momentarily put on our side," they told me. The force of the wind was so strong that they had to release their headsail into the wind and tear it before they could get it back on deck. For the next two hours, they attempted to change their course and travel south to sustain the 45 knots of wind at their back. Although all their sails were pulled in and the engine was off, they managed enough force to push through the Gulf Stream at a speed of only two knots. Although the hectic circumstances of weather can throw them off their course, the Johnsons are currently planning their schedule for the next few years. The first leg of their journey will cross them through to Ireland, the UK, Norway, the Baltics, Brazil, Argentina, Cape Horn, and the channels of Chile. Although the future is unpredictable, they hope to stick to their scheduled itinerary as best they can. The Johnsons have also stripped down a 37-foot aluminum sailboat to its metal framing, installed all new instru- ments, rigging, plumbing, and electrical work, and designed a new interior that better suits their lifestyle. Every day they come closer to being able to set their new boat into the water and once the resto- ration is complete, they plan to sail to the Bahamas for a two-month vacation before hurricane season fully sets in. Switching out the corporate tie for a sail and a pair of sunglasses is a freeing experience, and for a couple that met at the age of 17, the Johnsons have learned that communication is the key to both relationships and life at sea. If there is anything to learn from their experience, it is that they have discovered so much about themselves and their outlook on life. They believe that if one can dream it, one can do it. And while it takes a lot of hard work and persistence, the only person that can stop one from living their dream is themselves. VUE ON LIFESTYLE V U E N J . C O M 34