{"id":396,"date":"2019-02-21T15:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T15:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/?p=396"},"modified":"2023-02-03T13:56:22","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T18:56:22","slug":"expedition-elcie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/marine\/expedition-elcie\/","title":{"rendered":"All Aboard Elcie: A Family Affair"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anyone with experience on the subject could tell you that raising a family is never an easy task. But raising a family on a boat in the middle of the ocean? Definitely tricky. That is exactly what Jessica Rice Johnson has been doing for almost a decade. Jessica and her husband, Richard, have always shared a love for sailing and now live aboard their custom 62-foot aluminum catamaran, Elcie, along with their two daughters. They\u2019re quite familiar with the self-reliance and ingenuity that is required to thrive on the open seas.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a tale about sailors, our story naturally begins on the water. Jessica met Richard while working on a sailing school ship in Maine. Sharing a love of the sea, they completed a circumnavigation on a refurbished boat between the years of 1997-2001. They returned home with their first daughter, Emma, and two years later welcomed their second daughter, Molly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jessica, Emma, Molly and Richard in Haiti last Christmas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe wanted to share our sailing life with them and so we worked with a designer to create a boat that would have room for us but also room to carry expense-sharing crew. That boat would become a means of travel but also a source of income for us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer was simple: New Zealand. While it was a big decision, the family moved to kiwi country to seek out the level of craftsmanship needed to create their dream boat. During their stay, Richard worked in a shipyard alongside the builders and both girls were able to attend primary school overlooking Tasman Bay. \u201cWhen we sailed out of New Zealand on Elcie, she was still a work in progress. All the systems were in place but some of the interior was unfinished. The girls were 7 and 9 when we headed across the Southern Ocean along with two friends as crew.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The process of building Elcie in New Zealand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was early into their voyage that Jessica realized they would need a robust sewing machine to tackle all of the projects that Elcie required. She had always enjoyed sewing and, at first, carried a School Model Singer. While it worked fine, she noticed that it could never sew through several layers of canvas or leather, which was limiting for her future DIY projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every year the Johnsons would attend the Annapolis Boat Show in Maryland and peruse the Sailrite\u00ae booth, watching demonstrations and speaking with staff. \u201cMany factors helped me decide the Ultrafeed\u00ae LSZ was the right machine \u2014 the walking foot, the monster wheel, the heavy-duty nature of the machine \u2014 but it was also knowing that I would have help along the way if I needed it. I believe Sailrite is a very service-oriented company and their helpful videos and written instructions gave me the confidence to tackle projects I would not have tried to do otherwise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jessica and the Ultrafeed LSZ in Norfolk, Virginia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After gaining an Ultrafeed, the whole family has been busy creating useful projects aboard Elcie. For Jessica, some of the most enjoyable projects have been making the curtains, pillows and small items for her daughters to keep their room organized. Sail covers and dinghy chaps were some of the more challenging projects, while adding insect screens on all the doors and hatches was one of the most important (especially sailing in areas where malaria is prevalent). She\u2019s also created an ingenious \u201cCable Tamer,\u201d designed to keep all her computer and charger cords and various cables organized using materials from Sailrite.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jessica’s plethora of projects (clockwise from top left): Lure holder, bedroom organizer, the ingenious cable tamer and new cockpit cushions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s safe to say that sailing and sewing have become a family affair. Jessica\u2019s daughters have both created small projects with the Ultrafeed, like making Christmas gifts, stitching a pillow purchased in the San Blas Islands in Panama, and sewing courtesy flags for the countries they visit. They\u2019ve learned valuable lessons during their stay aboard Elcie, and Jessica explained that raising two children aboard a boat is simultaneously the most challenging and most rewarding part of their lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that our daughters share our independent spirit. I also believe they are learning many necessary life skills while sailing. I feel that skills like sewing, cooking from scratch, fishing, navigating and just entertaining oneself have become less important in this age of electronic devices. I\u2019m glad they have had the opportunity to realize the importance of learning these skills and I hope it will encourage them to keep using them later in life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As the girls are getting older and closer to attending college, Jessica is savoring every moment with them. She explained that, of course, it was difficult for them to leave friends and forgo a regular school. Sailing aboard Elcie was a huge decision for them as they must conduct all their schooling (and tackle imminent college applications) aboard the ship.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Johnsons and their floating home, Elcie.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWhile their education has been somewhat nonconventional, both girls have managed to stay on track and even are ahead of many of their classmates at home when they have spent time in traditional high schools. It’s my hope that just through the travel, they are receiving a well-rounded education and broader worldview.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2010, Jessica and her family have sailed over 75,000 nautical miles, including three Pacific crossings with many island stops along the way. It\u2019s even possible for others to join them on their adventures! Elcie can accommodate a crew of 10 in five double cabins and has solar panels to accommodate the necessities. The Johnsons have detailed sailing itineraries and encourage guests to join them on thoroughly planned adventures filled with enriching opportunities. Their current route has taken them from the East Coast of the United States all the way through the Bahamas, Africa, South America, Polynesia and many more exotic locations.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to learn more about this incredible group of sailors and see more of Elcie, visit their website: <\/span>https:\/\/www.elcieexpeditions.com\/<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who We Are<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Sailrite is your one-stop DIY shop! We are a passionate crew of do-it-yourselfers who strive to equip you with the supplies and how-to knowledge you need to tackle your next project. Do you want to learn upholstery, leatherwork, canvaswork, hobby sewing, bag making or more? We have the fabric, tools, hardware, sewing machines and notions you need to master any DIY. And even if you’ve never sewn before, our tutorials and how-to videos are designed for beginners and experienced crafters alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start your DIY journey today: www.sailrite.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Anyone with experience on the subject could tell you that raising a family is never an easy task. But raising a family on a boat in the middle of the ocean? Definitely tricky. That is exactly what Jessica Rice Johnson has been doing for almost a decade. Jessica and her husband, Richard, have always shared … Continue reading All Aboard Elcie: A Family Affair<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[2],"tags":[27,29,23,22,28,19,20,37,70],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/padSoq-6o","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1880,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/marine\/boat-bengal-andrew-jazz-captain\/","url_meta":{"origin":396,"position":0},"title":"Boat Bengal: Andrew, Jazz & Captain","date":"December 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"We all love our pets, and we often wish we could take them everywhere. But can you imagine taking them along to circumnavigate the open ocean? Andrew and Jazz might seem like your average sailing couple, but they have a unique sailing companion \u2014 their Bengal cat, Captain! The two\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marine"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/IMG_20200912_181156-scaled-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":459,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/marine\/sailing-pets\/","url_meta":{"origin":396,"position":1},"title":"Sailing With Pets: How to Cat-Proof Your Boat","date":"March 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"After marrying in 2008, Luisa Mixon and her husband, Seth, set their eyes to the sea. Like many Sailrite\u00ae customers, their dream was to buy a sailboat, learn to sail, and eventually gain enough experience to live completely on board. When they envision their retirement years, they see themselves sailing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marine"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/20180923_072825.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2123,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/marine\/canvaswork-sewing-ultrafeed\/","url_meta":{"origin":396,"position":2},"title":"Marina Sewing Adventures With Lynn Ringseis","date":"August 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"What do you do when a global pandemic halts your international travel plans and you're forced to remain stateside? You tackle the sewing project of your DIY career, of course! That's exactly what Lynn Ringseis did. She spent summer 2020 on a friend's Westsail 42-foot sailboat in Poulsbo, Washington, riding\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marine"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/enclosure.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":802,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/marine\/seeking-the-blue-tales-of-a-lifelong-sailor\/","url_meta":{"origin":396,"position":3},"title":"Seeking the Blue: Tales of a Lifelong Sailor","date":"June 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Sailing, sand and sun have been a part of Sailrite\u00ae customer Marina Batham\u2019s life from the very beginning. Born on Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, Marina grew up \u201cin the life\u201d \u2014 the sailing life, that is. Learn how Marina\u2019s two favorite hobbies, sailing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marine"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/seeking-the-blue-boat.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":859,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/marine\/sailing-sewing-raising-family\/","url_meta":{"origin":396,"position":4},"title":"Baby on Board: Sailing, Sewing & Raising a Family","date":"August 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Jon and Leah Kruger have been enjoying the liveaboard lifestyle since 2011. They both grew up in sailing families \u2014 Jon sailed on traditional wooden sailboats in Maine, and Leah spent seven years of her childhood aboard her parents\u2019 Frasier 41 named \u201cSynchronicity.\u201d She spent four of those years circumnavigating\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marine"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/brio-at-dusk.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":108,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/marine\/kelly-girl-waterhouse-discovering-her-dream\/","url_meta":{"origin":396,"position":5},"title":"Kelly Girl Waterhouse: Discovering Her Dream","date":"December 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"As a girl growing up in Minnesota, Kelly \u201cKelly Girl\u201d Waterhouse never dreamed of sailing around the world. In fact, she didn\u2019t even know how to sail. But if you ask her today about the four years she spent circumnavigating the globe with her husband, she\u2019ll gush about her boat,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Marine"","img":{"alt_text":"Kelly-Girl-Collage","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/kelly-girl-collage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2800,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396\/revisions\/2800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}