Swiss Family Robinson.... Oops. Pinut.
Mom, Dad, dog, and 6 young kids, ages 15 years to 16 months. I heard them on the radio morning net asking if anyone else was headed to Bermuda. They are from Switzerland and headed out to Bermuda, then the Azores and finally Georgia in Southern Russia, on the Black Sea.
Laundry Day on Pinut
I watched them pull anchor and sail away, thinking i had missed them.
But, they're back! Pinut came back to anchor nearby.
"The winds are not right, now, to make a try for Bermuda."
So they wait and watch the weather. Pinut is pronounced: Pin-oot. (a mountain near their old home in Switzerland) Plus Michael is worried about a 'strange noise' his autopilot pump is making. Imagine starting a trip of ten days non-stop, in the Atlantic Ocean, worried that your steering might go out. Then another 20 days from Bermuda to the Azores.
Corina and Michael Berndonner
Note: after taking the departure photos i notice that they ALL had their tongues sticking out when working. I guess it's a Swiss thing? Also notice that the kids are working. I saw them daily doing chores and helping with the boat. I saw the daughter Rahel, age 12 take her younger brother Jonas age 8 and infant baby brother to shore alone in the dinghy to go shopping. She carried the baby, but when she set him down into the dinghy, he climbed right up onto a seat and sat perfectly still and behaved. (it was as though he were in a car seat, when in reality he was balanced on a bench.) He is a little Pirate! They could not have been any cuter.
Jonas, age 8, washing solar panels. (He can only charge his Ipad when the Watt output of the panels is high enough. So he washes the panels to increase their level.)
Sailing Yacht PINUT (-click the link to read their blog)
They have been living aboard and cruising full time for 6 years. Starting in Portugal, then south through 'every island in the Canaries.' Next Africa and across to Venezuela, then the ABC's and to Columbia where they stayed a year and loved it. Finally back to Jamaica and the Bahamas. Andri, age 16 months, was born in Trinidad - ABOARD. (a true pirate and stowaway) Mom, Corina said that Andri was climbing out of the dinghy yesterday and miss-judged the distance and got caught half in and half out hanging onto the boat. (My father Bill says, "you cant raise them all.") Little Andri 'looks like' the dancing baby of 20 years ago... Dad, Michael, said they will pull the boat out of water in Georgia for a few years of work and then start the second leg of their trip around the world.
Currently there are only 5 kids aboard, as the oldest, Saskia age 15, is back in Switzerland for a few months studying French. The kids aboard are: Seraina 14, Rahel 12, Ursina 11, Jonas 8, and Andri 16 months.
While i was visiting with them they got a phone call from a German television station who want to meet them in the Azores to do a documentary on the family and their 6 years of travel. They will do very well on TV with their striking good looks and every child's great poise and discipline.
- lazy internet reporter Skip
Every one of them is a fearless little Spider Monkey!
PS. i spent a few hours with them today helping. They are trying to get a spare auto pilot pressure pump, for their hydraulic ram. (raymarine M81120) the plan is to have it shipped to Texas for tomorrow at Cam's daughters house for Cam to hand carry down here on Friday. More on that later... Fingers crossed!
