getting underway...
 November 2007 
  Aracaju, Brazil
Our once-vague dreams and hopes are taking shape, and the answers to some of the many "what if" questions that presage a voyage into new waters are becoming more clear. The first time we went voyaging, from 1986 to 1991, was challenging and rewarding, but we now know that, this time, we are on a voyage toward all that — and something more. The "something more" is the work we want to carry out with Hands Across the Sea...bringing educational, medical, and environmental assistance to communities we'll visit. In our previous travels through the Pacific, the local residents we met inevitably gave us much more, in terms of welcome and hospitality,
than we could ever match in return. So, this time, equipped with the ability to "give back" via the Hands non-profit foundation, it's our hope that we can repay some of the goodwill we'll find out there.

Our journey begins with brainstorming — How can we help? Where can we help? What's the best way to lend our hands to local aid groups? — and the building of our boat in Aracaju, Brazil. The folks at Dolphin Catamarans have been solidly behind the concept and the goals of Hands, and they've greeted our many detailed requests for custom features in the boat with a heartening "can do" attitude. As well, many people we've shared the concept of Hands Across the Sea with have pointed us in helpful directions, and suggested people to contact. Already this is an exciting, challenging voyage — we can't wait to get afloat and on our way!

The boat will be launched in early November. From Aracaju we will sail south to the city of Salvador, where we'll spend a month on a "shakedown" — we'll use this time to learn how to handle the boat and take care of any last-minute gremlins in the electronics or other systems. From Salvador we will sail up the coast of Brazil to the island of Fernando de Noronha, about 800 nautical miles northeast of Salvador and about 200 miles off the Brazilian coast. From there we will head to Trinidad and Tobago in January, then up the Caribbean chain to Florida, then north to Massachusetts in early summer, 2008, to install equipment (solar panels, refrigeration) and continue our Hands Across the Sea networking. —
T.L. and Harriet

Hands Log archive
#1 (Nov 2007); #2 (Dec 2007); #3 (April 2008); #4 (Sept 2008); #5 (Dec 2008); #6 (March 2009);
#7 (April 2009)
; #8 (May 2009); #9 (Sept 2009); #10 (Nov 2009); #11 (Jan 2010); #12 (Feb 2010);
#13 (April 2010); #14 (May 2010)

 
 
ways you can work with Hands...
network with Hands If you have a project in which Hands can help — or if you want to help with the current Hands project — contact us!

collect books for Hands If'd you'd like to collect "gently used" children's books for Hands, please go to our Hands Book Drop page

sort or pack books for Hands Want to work hands-on? Please contact us!

host a Hands presentation or Hands fundraiser If'd you'd like to do either— contact us!

join the Hands Log eNews group If you would like to receive the Hands Log (e-mail newsletter) please click here. Just type "Subscribe" in the subject line of your e-mail and we'll keep you updated on where Hands is and what's next!