Preview: A Boat in the Family, A Good Way to Grow up – Aboard the Philip Rhodes Ketch SAONA
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June 15, 2017
Email this Video to a FriendAfter emigrating from England to Australia, Ben built a boat for his young family. They all set to exploring together and have never stopped. It’s been a marvelous journey so far and now there are grandkids learning the ropes.
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27 Responses So Far to “A Boat in the Family, A Good Way to Grow up – Aboard the Philip Rhodes Ketch SAONA”
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Pat O'Neal says:
Wonderful Stuff I just get Lost in it!!!
David and Margaret Tew says:
Another great ‘family afloat’ video here is ‘”Schooner MAGIC, A Family Goes Cruising”.
ron godwin says:
Fortunate family,
Wanting to do it,enjoying it, and the company.
All my children sailed with varying commitment. My eldest (60 next year!!) has raced with me in dinghies for almost 50 years and I am just plain grateful, even on the odd occasion each may have wanted to jump overboard!
That video says it all Thank You
Robert Byers says:
Such a good place to be !!,!
Well done……well said
patrick beale says:
this tale strikes a bell note! thank you!
Joseph Wl Haley III says:
From my pram at 9 yrs old, my next boat was also a Rhodes. A RHODES Bantam. Then the Gulf Fish Class ( not the Cape Cod) . Ended up as crew (unpapered) 3rd officer on 120 schooner down south Caribbean. Now 82 and back to a 16′ Falcon, last boat. Just sold her. Sad ! I get my salt watching this site. Thanks !!!
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Burke Horner says:
Oh, the envy of having family and friends over the years to enjoy such a beautiful pastime! I really enjoy seeing the admission of accepting one’s longevity and passing a beautiful ship on to your children. Congratulations!
Brent Williams says:
Great video, thanks for sharing. I grew up in South Florida where my parents had a Owens cabin cruiser. I have many great childhood memories of spending weekends in the Keys or the Bahamas. It Is a incredible way to grow up, you learn so many lessons. My older brother and I still carry that passion with us today. What’s awesome about the life style is seeing his kids take forward the same passion as they are boat owners sharing the same dreams with their kids.
Captain Keith Korporaal says:
Thank you very much for showing this again. Beautifully done!
Arthur Winer says:
“…a heart’s ease at being on the water.” Beautiful! Captures why we sail in a simple phrase. Thanks for another wonderful video!
Peter Thomas says:
This is such a lesson on being present with yourself and those you love, our lives are so full of everything convenient and immediate but never do we take the time to reflect and acknowledge. I am so struck by the lesson this silent and sturdy vessel offers when we hoist the sails feel the wind in our face and appreciate the pace of life offered by the natural elements around us.
The lesson was always there but l seem to have skipped class a few times.
Happy Father’s Day to all.
Morgan says:
The most beautiful video I have seen. Filled with warmth and love. What a wonderful way to grow up. Thank you.
Dr. Paul F. Jacobs says:
What a perfect Father’s Day video. The late Sir Winston Churchill once said “A hobby is something that makes the clock stop”. For him it was painting. For me, for over 60 years it has been sailing. I could go on for many pages attempting to express all the joy that simply moving with the wind over the ocean has brought me. Not only have I had “the moment” myriad times, but I am doubly blessed to have Nancy to share it with me each and every time. I agree with others, the only shortcoming of this absolutely splendid little film is that it ends far too soon.
steve johnson says:
Yes by all means the film needs more time .. more footage. I thirsting to step below, for I just know as an old boat,and a family cruiser.. my eyes will be enormously treated .Please !!
Ian Parry says:
She is beautiful ! We sail from the same port in a William Atkin ketch …sister to Robin Knox Johnson Suhalia…..saw you leaving on Wednesday evening to race in no wind…!
Arthur Winer says:
Yes, “that moment” all sailors know so well. Send us more of these beautiful and moving stories.
Paul Follansbee says:
Beautifully filmed and felt…
Mike Commander says:
Beautiful looking boat and the family story behind it is truly inspiring. I now have grandchildren of my own and although my own children have grown up around racing dinghies I never would have guessed how magical a big boat could be. Now got me thinking of a move toward this type of cruiser. Great story. Thanks for sharing!
dave lathrop says:
beautiful all round… what a treasure to have a shared experience with your kids like this…
Kevin Brennan says:
Knowing that your sons want to take on the boat after your has got to be such a huge relief of not having to face the day of having to part with her. Thanks for sharing.
Steven Wallace says:
Yes, that moment! Love it.
Michael S. Ellegood says:
What a great piece especially on Fathers Day weekend. He describes “the moment” precisely! Every time my wife and I took our wooden ketch out of Shelter Island, hoisted sail and shut the iron genny off, peace reigned supreme.
Jack McCullough says:
Ahh…that moment! Every sailor knows it, but Ben described it as perfectly as I have ever heard!
Anthony Croome says:
Ben, ,,,,, your short but sincere piece, inspires us all to take those we love with us on this fabulous journey on the sea.
In doing so, we will keep the love of the ocean and wooden boats alive forever.
On the good ship Gypsy, we encourage our kids, “apprentices” to discover the ‘years of moments’ we have enjoyed and now forever cherish.
Long live Saona.
Conbert Benneck says:
I worked in Europe for 17 years and during that time we moved several times at Company request. As our children were growing up, their real stable home was our 29 foot Tripp-Lentsch sailboat. They had their OPTIMISTS, they were good sailors, and the evenings we sat in the cabin together discussing anything that came up, from school, to my business, to sailing knowledge, to handicrafts of the sailor, which brought us all much closer together. On a rained out weekend, we sat in the cabin learning to do macramé; my daughter made a belt and our son a lanyard. When we got home that Sunday evening a neighbor called to commiserate with us about being cooped up in the cabin and couldn’t understand why we hadn’t gone to a restaurant and watched TV.
John Bukowsky says:
Exceptional
alex lemon says:
great piece but too short!