From App to Crew: How Amish Found a Once-in-a-Lifetime Voyage on SeaPeople
Community
May 14, 2025
One message. One match. One unforgettable journey.
SeaPeople was built for moments like this — when two adventurers cross paths at exactly the right time. For Amish, a newcomer to sailing, a single connection on the app led to a transformative experience: crewing aboard a 50-foot sailboat in support of a traditional indigenous canoe voyage across the Pacific. The following story was adapted from Amish’s personal logbook — his first-ever sailing experience, and one he’ll never forget.
Discovery Through SeaPeople
While exploring SeaPeople, Amish connected with Greg, a sailor who’s spent the last eight years living aboard his 50-foot Gulfstar. What began as a conversation about crewing on an 8-day passage from Guam to Okinawa quickly turned into something more. Greg extended an unexpected invitation: arrive a week early and join a chase crew for a traditional canoe sail from Guam to Saipan, part of the annual Flame Tree Festival.
“So, we volunteered to be a chase boat for the traditional indigenous canoe sail from Guam to Saipan for the annual flame tree festival, oh and needless to say this was my first ever sailing experience.”
Setting Off in Support of Tradition
With no prior sailing experience, Amish stepped aboard Greg’s boat and joined the rest of the crew. Their mission was to serve as a chase vessel for Ilawol, a traditional Chamorro canoe making the same crossing. The Gulfstar crew was responsible for supporting the voyage — preparing meals and transferring them via tender at sea.
“We set off in the morning with the rest of the crew onboard and the traditional canoe called Ilawol already out at sea… We had to go slow as we were making food for the canoe and using our tender to transfer it to them.”
Rocking, Rolling, and Retching
The first stretch of the journey was rough — not because of weather, but because of pace. To stay in sync with Ilawol, they motored along slowly, a speed that made the boat lurch with the Pacific swell. For Amish, the motion sickness was intense but instructive.
“We were motoring for the first day and a half, had to go really slow at about 2.5kt which made the boat rock… a lot! Every now and then I’d spew the bit of the water I had tried to get down, or the crackers I nibbled on.”
“Those transfers were awesome, felt like being a part of some sort of seal team on a zodiac boat, being closer to the water also meant less sea sickness for me.”
Engine Out, Spirit Up
On day two, just as Amish began to get comfortable at sea, everything changed. The engine stopped without warning. It was a moment that could have caused panic — instead, it ignited teamwork and transformation.
“Then in the middle of the second day as we were cruising along and I was at the helm, moments after finally getting my sea legs and regaining the ability to consume solids again… Poof, silence… Engine stopped working.”
“Straight away we all sprung into action, I’m proud to say I now know exactly how furl/unfurl the genoa, take a reef or raise the mizzen — we were finally sailing!!! This is what I came for!”
Letting the Wind Take Over
With the motor down, Amish and the crew switched fully to sail. The winds were sometimes perfect, sometimes problematic — but every moment offered something to learn.
“At times [the wind was] strong enough and at the right angle that we were cruising at a cool 5.5kt, but sometimes at an angle that made us lose power and spin out once. Eventually we got into our rhythm.”
Landfall Under Moonlight
After days of improvisation, sail handling, and building trust as a crew, they approached the shores of Saipan just before dawn.
“Around 3 am we made our approach for the shores of Saipan, hitched our tender to the side of the boat and used its power to slowly coast in. With our eye on the depth reader and slowly coasting in, we dropped anchor. We made it.”
The Chapter That Changed Everything
Looking back, Amish doesn’t hesitate when asked what the best part of the voyage was. It wasn’t the arrival, or even the traditional event they supported — it was the unexpected challenge that turned him into a real crew member.
“Best part of the voyage in my opinion? That whole chapter after losing the engine, it really brought us all together and taught me so much in such a short amount of time — and yeah, waaay more comfortable to be sailing than motoring in the open sea 😂”
Inspired to take your first voyage — or offer a spot aboard?
SeaPeople connects sailors, dreamers, and curious souls every day. Whether you’re a seasoned skipper or an eager first-timer like Amish, opportunities for adventure are just a message away.
