Hazel’s Biggest Cheerleader

As you can imagine, Paul’s better half ends up fielding twice as many questions as he does. Here’s a shore‑side update from Crystal Olson to answer a few of them.

Why didn’t you go with him?

Long before Paul ever pointed Hazel toward the horizon, he spent years watching sailing video blogs of couples, families, and even dogs living their best lives on the water. Somewhere in that process, he convinced himself he could talk me into joining him. The flaw in that plan is simple: I get seasick sitting on the boat while it’s tied to the dock. The idea of signing up for weeks of voluntary nausea was never going to happen. I like to think of myself as adventurous, just not that adventurous or that shade of green.

How do you communicate?

Thanks to Starlink on Hazel, Paul can FaceTime me with perfect clarity. One look at his face and I instantly know what kind of day it’s been, whether it’s calm seas and sunshine or one of those “well, that escalated quickly” moments that seem to follow him and Peter.

Do you miss him?

Of course I miss him. But travel has always been part of our marriage. When we added it up, he was gone about six months of every year, not in one stretch but cumulatively. I used to joke that when we hit our 30th anniversary, it would really be our 15th because he was gone half the time. After he retired, I got used to having him home, but slipping back into the old rhythms came naturally. And yes, not sharing the remote again has its perks.

Don’t you worry about him?

I truly believe Jesus is taking care of him. So many people are praying over this journey, and I’m grateful for every single one. God ordains our days, and if a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, then these two are practically experts by now. If you want to become who you’ve never been, you have to do what you’ve never done. And honestly, The Skipper and Gilligan have survived enough wild situations together that I trust their track record.

“I would never let my husband do this.”

I hear this often, and it always makes me smile. This trip has been Paul’s dream for years. When I met him in California, he was racing sailboats, and that passion never left his bloodstream. Why would I stand in the way of something that brings him so much joy? I’d never want to be the reason he missed out on a lifelong dream. He’s climbed mountains, now he’s sailing seas, apparently working his way through all the elements. He’s earned this adventure.

I often describe us as a kite and a kite master. If I wanted to reel him in, I could, but I’m happy to let him fly, knowing the string is secure. We also joke about the line from My Big Fat Greek Wedding: he may be the head, but I’m the neck, and the neck can turn the head any direction it wants. I like to think that still applies, even across oceans.

Gratitude for This Community

Thank you for every text, call, and prayer. So many people have told me this blog reads like a novel and they can’t wait for the next chapter. I’m hoping we avoid any surprise plot twists. I’m endlessly grateful to Ingrid for setting up the blog and getting the entries out, to Peter for the photos and the moments worth writing about, and to Paul for sending her snippets of life aboard Hazel whenever he can.

And yes, there was one nonnegotiable condition for this entire adventure: he must be home in time to leave for Croatia for Ingrid and Hayden’s wedding. Some adventures are optional. That one is not.

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I did once sail from Newport Beach, CA to Ensenada, Mexico in a windless slog, and despite the forced smiles, I was miserable.