Author: Tamara Smerling

This young captain grew up aboard a classic sailboat: the *Río de la Plata*. After years of neglect, she decided to restore her father’s vessel—which was over a century old—enlisting the expertise and craftsmanship of some of the region’s finest shipwrights. It was a feat of rescuing the history and adventures of one of the key boat models that pioneered yachting in Argentina in the early 20th century: “A wooden boat is a work of craftsmanship.”

Inspired by a book by Eduardo Rejduch de la Mancha, the captain from Rosario left behind a stable job and a city apartment to buy his first sailboat—an H20—with which he set out to cross to Colonia, Uruguay. Adventures in Brazil and the Caribbean followed, leading to his current role as a catamaran captain sailing as far as Fiji. It is the story of a journey that began in the brown waters of Charigüé Island on the Paraná River and extended to the world’s oceans, where he crossed paths with another of his great mentors: Gerónimo Saint Martin.

Maria, Michel, and Tristan set out to circumnavigate the globe in six years. Instead, they found themselves “circling the world,” traveling between the Americas, Europe, and Africa, on a journey that would forever change them. After five years of exploring three continents and sailing the seas aboard a Beneteau Oceanis 42.3, they wonder why eating, sleeping, confronting their own fears and limitations, stocking up on supplies, and dropping anchor in port are the most important factors in making sound decisions when undertaking a voyage across the ocean. They share their insights in this fascinating interview.

Tupac Amaru Sailing: “I believe that restoring a boat is the most ecological and sustainable way to go sailing today.” Manu and Raul share their project and experience in this fascinating interview.