May 5, 2008
WE DID IT!
Murphy Family Granted
Permanent Residence in
New Zealand

Despite dire predictions to the contrary, the Murphy family today had their New Zealand Permanent Residency Visas granted, allowing them the right to live and work indefinitely in New Zealand.

"Eight months of paperwork and about three thousand dollars in expenses, and in the end they sent us some stickers," remarked Antonia. "But they're really great stickers. They're shiny and silver and they've got these really cool holograms."

"Well, we had to pay for the first kid," commented Captain Pete, "'cause when we had Silas we were here on a tourist visa. But now we're part of the National Health system, see, so if we have another kid it's all paid for. It's sort of a 'buy one, get one free' policy here in En Zed."

With their new status as New Zealand residents, the Murphys can now decide whether they want to remain in New Zealand for five years and then apply for New Zealand passports. Rumor has it, this would involve a pledge of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II.

"I'd love to pledge allegiance to the Queen," Antonia confirmed. "I really like tea, and Charles Dickens, and the Stones, and stuff. So pledging allegiance to Queen Elizabeth would be sweet as." [Editor's Note: "Sweet As," apparently, is local New Zealand vernacular for "cool" or "neat-o."]

When asked for his comment on the family's immigration to Aotearoa, Silas Murphy was quoted as saying, "Agah Mana Grrrbbbbttttth."

His comment, while cryptic, was generally interpreted as positive.

April 10, 2008
Murphy Family Moves to The Asshole of The World; Rei-Rei Remains in Whangarei

With one of the world's largest aluminum smelters just next door, and a variety of meat and fertilizer processing companies in town, it's no wonder that Invercargill has been called "The Chernobyl of the South Island." But this April, the Murphy family shocked their loved ones by leaving sunny Whangarei and moving to 46 degrees South Latitude.

Why, you may ask? Amazingly, it seems Captain Pete has managed to convince a local computer company that he still possesses marketable skills in networking technology. And as to his fairer half, Antonia has taken over management of a local youth hostel. "Besides," quips Pete, "Where else in the world can you go daysailing in the Roaring Forties?"

In all seriousness, the Murphys are socking the cash away to continue their planned circumnavigation. Adds Antonia, "We needed someplace to hole up and make money until Silas got toilet-trained, 'cause I sure as HELL ain't cruising with eight million diapers."

As to the good ship Sereia, she has been left in capable hands, on a pile mooring in Whangarei. "She's safe up there," Captain Pete assures us. "She's definitely safer than she would be down here, anchored in the Southern Ocean. That's for damn sure."

And so for now Sereia gently bobs, patiently awaiting the return of her family, and the beginning of future adventures...

January 4, 2008
WELCOME SILAS!
Future of svsereia.com still undecided

Well, he finally showed up. At 2:23 PM on January 4, 2008, Silas Joseph Murphy was born at home, right into Peter's arms. Though a week early, Silas already weighed 9 pounds, thus proving our theory that massive quantities of French cheese and puff pastry make babies grow big and strong. So far, Silas' favorite activities include: nursing, sleeping, pooing, and grunting. We are hoping to add sailing to this list soon.

And so... what will become of svsereia.com? That's still undecided. We don't really want to transform our sailing adventure site into a "baby's first gurgle" site. But unless New Zealand kicks us out in June, we may well be here for a few years, teaching Silas how to tack and jibe.

Should svsereia.com be kept on "hold" for a couple of years? Should it transform from a snide and ironic sailing site into a snide and ironic parenting site?

What do you think, readers?

October 12, 2007
Captain Pete Arrives Safely
in Whangarei
After Epic 2,700-Mile Solo Journey

On October 12, 2007, Peter handed off Sereia's dock lines at the Town Basin Marina in Whangarei, New Zealand, after an epic non-stop, solo voyage from Papeete, Tahiti. Despite losing his windvane water paddle when only 200 miles out from Tahiti, Peter made the 2,700-mile passage in just 26 days.

Asked to comment on his achievement, Captain Pete mused, "It was wonderfully difficult, but the food was terrible. Singlehanding is a great way to lose weight."

You can read the full story of Peter's singlehanding adventure here.
Click here for a map of the voyage.

September 14, 2007
Pregnant Lady Jumps Ship;
Cap'n Pete to Solo Sereia 3,000 miles

Yes, it's sad but true... today Antonia flies to Whangarei, New Zealand, to look for a comfy apartment and a midwife for the upcoming BOJ (Bundle o' Joy). As of this writing, Peter had found no crew willing to sail the 3,000 miles with him to New Zealand, apart from a very sweet and attractive French lady. "Like hell you're sailing with that ho," commented Antonia, so it looks as though Cap'n Pete will be solo sailing Sereia to "En Zed," as the locals fondly call New Zealand.

After the BOJ is born... who knows? It is possible that we will continue cruising on Sereia right away. After all, Southeast Asia is so temptingly close! More likely, however, we will pause for a few years to earn some money for the NEXT boat.

"Don't get me wrong, I love Sereia," remarked Cap'n Pete, "but she sails like a barge. I'm ready for a boat that can POINT!"

Watch this space for further updates about the growing Murphy family, the solo sailing saga, and French women of loose morals who try to hitch rides on boats.

So don’t ever ask us what we do all day at sea.

It’s none of your business, anyway.

May 9, 2007
Sereia embarks on her Pacific crossing

Well, better late than never. Today Sereia leaves the Galapagos islands for Fatu Hiva in the French Marquesas, a voyage of 3,000 nautical miles. Averaging 100 miles a day, we should be there in a month... but it could take as long as 45 days. We are well-stocked with water, good movies, great books and lots of butter, so we should arrive in excellent health and about 20 pounds heavier.

We never did get our single sideband radio to transmit, so during this passage we will be out of communication. Please write to us anyway though, and we promise we'll send you an answer from paradise.

April 1, 2007
Our First Hate Mail!

This month, Latitude 38 published a wonderful piece of hate mail reacting to Antonia's short story, Pyramid Blues, which they'd published in January. What's really marvelous about the letter is that this fellow makes implicit reference to the photo of Antonia dancing with a pork shoulder, which can be found way, way, WAY back in a 2005 recipe on this website.

Clearly, this gentleman has spent many devoted hours hating us.

March 22, 2007
News of Lars, the Bald Parrot

Readers may remember that back in January, we put out a request for assistance for Lars, a parrot who lives on the sailing vessel Woodwind. Lars had been picking at his own feathers until he was entirely bald on his chest, and his owners, Jan and Bruce, were getting worried.

BOY, did we get some answers! Everything from anti-anxiety medication to seasickness tablets was suggested. Our favorite proposal was that Jan and Bruce fashion a little VEST for Lars out of an old-fashioned baby diaper, which would protect his chest from pecking (and would look rather dapper, besides!). Most of the emails we received brought up two possible reasons for the pecking: boredom (in which case, he might need new toys), and mites (in which case, he might need a vet).

All suggestions were forwarded to Jan and Bruce, and this week we heard back from them:

We have DEMANDED that Jan send us a picture of Lars in his new outfit, but so far, nothing yet. She's probably busy sailing a boat or something.

October 17, 2006
Travel inland: Guatemala and the Yucatan

As you peruse our photos this month, you won't see much in the way of recent Ship's Log updates, because, well, Rei-Rei hasn't been anywhere. Besides visiting with our families in the States, we've been using this hurricane season to replace our busted mainsail, fix our water tanks, replace our starter engine, and basically get Sereia ready for a whole new season.

Peter and Antonia are spending October and November traveling through Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, getting dive certified, inspecting various Mayan ruins, and doing some writing on the shores of Lake Atitlan.

Then, WATCH OUT WORLD: In the first few days of December, Sereia's heading south! Current plans are for cruising Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, then on to the Marquesas and points West.

Alert the French authorities... Here comes Rei-Rei!

August 12, 2006
Brief hiatus for Sereia

Yes, even dedicated hedonists such we have family obligations, and Peter and Antonia will be travelling back to the States to hang with our kin from August 12 to September 15.

STAY TUNED when we return for a backpacking trip across Central America, and cruising the wilds of Nicaragua and Costa Rica! If we're lucky, maybe one of us will come down with Malaria, and we can videotape our delirious ravings...

June 3, 2006
Collision in Acapulco
Sometime in the early-morning hours of June 3, Sereia dragged anchor in Acapulco harbor, hitting two other boats and chewing them up real good before she was saved by some local sailors.

Of course, because our last name is Murphy, this happened while we were 100 miles away in Taxco, asleep.
It’s our law.

For all the grisly photos, click here.
For the full, nerve-racking story of the collision, click here.

May 9, 2006

THIS JUST IN... We have maggots!

Yes, a colony of maggots has made its appearance in the vicinity of the galley drain.

“They’re hardy little fuckers,” says Captain Peter. “I tossed ‘em in a jar of bleach and they were swimmin’ around five, six minutes later.”

Comments First Mate Murphy, “I’m SO grossed out. I feel like I have maggots in my nose.”

Plans for the maggots include bleach, ammonia, and failing all else, sarin gas. “Course, there’s not a whole lot to do around here,” mused Captain Peter. “I may as well train the little buggers to do some tricks.”

News on the forthcoming maggot circus will be reported as it comes available.