Ad Astra
To the Stars
In 2016, we sold everything — house, cars, stuff — bought one-way tickets, and moved our family of five aboard a 45-foot catamaran. For the next 1,000 days, the Caribbean was our backyard.
1,000+
Days at Sea50+
Islands Visited15+
Countries200+
SCUBA Dives10,000+
Nautical MilesCountless
Dead LionfishA Family Sailing Adventure
Captain Erik, Admiral Kaiwen, Navigator Max, First Mate Kyle, and Grandmother Sue Kuei sailed their Lagoon 450 catamaran across the Caribbean — diving reefs, weathering hurricanes, hunting lionfish, coding Python, homeschooling, and learning that the most precious luxury is having your own time.
Ad Astra flying her big green gennaker — the "Puff Machine" — at sunset
From the Ship's Log
Stories written aboard Ad Astra, published on the blog
Origin Story
One-Way Tickets!Planning
How Much for the World?Reflection
Dock Lines are StrongIsland Life
Magic While NappingDiving
On Hunting Lion(fish)Engineering
2070 Watts of SolarGratitude
And thank you!"Every once in a while I need to do a call at a specific time for basic life overhead tasks, and it now feels like a huge intrusion into my life. Having your own time is the most precious luxury. I would be an asshole not to appreciate this luxury."
— Erik Bethke, One-Year Anniversary Aboard Ad Astra
Ad Astra — Lagoon 450 — Hull #161 — 2012-2019 — "To the Stars"