The Journey Behind the Horizon

You can live hundreds of miles from the coast and still have salt water in your veins.

My relationship with the water started when I was four or five years old, sitting beside my dad on a small Sunfish, then later flying across the lake on a Hobie Cat. By my teenage years, if there was a sailboat nearby that I had access to and could solo sail, I was out on the water. While other kids my age were reading comic books, I was flipping through copies of Robb Report, staring at pictures of luxury yachts and private islands-planting a seed for ocean living that would stay with me for decades.

In my late 20s, my dad passed down one of his sailboats to me, a MacGregor Venture of Newport cutter rig. I completely stripped her down to the bare hull-repainting, resetting hardware, and handcrafting custom woodwork for the tables, partitions, and bowsprit.

When you've rebuilt a vessel from the bare hull up with your own two hands, you don't just sail a boat-you understand its heartbeat.

That craftsmanship carried me into the East Texas Yacht Club community-a place I used to drive myself out to explore frequently as an older teenager. I officially joined, went through the committee chairs, competed in over a dozen races, and crewed on multiple boats.

When I relocated to Oklahoma City, my sailboat came with me. I spent a year getting to know Lake Hefner, joined the local sailing Facebook community, and eventually sold her to make way for the vessel that would change everything.

A Lifelong Call to the Sea

Where the Dream Began

Late in 2020, I purchased SV Tyne Cot, and a few short months later in January 2021, I met Christal.

For over forty years, sailing and exploring throughout the oceans had been my personal dream. But in June 2022, during a week-long charter aboard Wind Kat in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, everything shifted. Watching the sunset from the deck in paradise, Christal and I realized some horizons are meant to be chased together. The blueprint for our future snapped into place: Christal mastering the art of warm hospitality, and me at the helm as captain and guide.

The real spark on home waters came when a local posted on the Sailing Lake Hefner Facebook page asking if anyone offered private charters or sunset cruises. We looked at each other and said, "We can do this."

But answering that post was about so much more than just taking people out on the water. We wanted to share our passion-giving people a truly unique experience, a special date night, or a memorable backdrop to celebrate whatever milestone they were honoring. It was about offering something completely different from the status quo, allowing guests to experience the pure joy, peace, and tranquility that comes with harnessing the power of nature. Whether it was helping someone cross a dream off their bucket list or giving someone who might never otherwise have the chance the gift of stepping aboard a sailboat, creating those moments became our true purpose.

From our very first cruise in September 2023, every sail reinforced that calling. By our second season, our very first Sunset Sail was for a young tattoo artist celebrating his wife's college graduation, where we traded a private sunset sail for custom tattoo work. It was living proof that Tyne Cot isn't a transactional charter business-it’s a place built on genuine hospitality and shared stories—where real human connections happen and lasting friendships are forged.

Today at 51, with 45 years of seamanship behind me and our eyes set on the open ocean in 2027, Sailing To-Get-Her is the ultimate realization of that childhood dream-taking the heartfelt hospitality we perfected on Lake Hefner and carrying it to the world's most beautiful harbors.

Trading the Shoreline For the Horizon

The decision to transition away from the land-based routine wasn't a sudden shift, but an intentional choice to live life fully awake. We are trading the familiar shores of Oklahoma for a true liveaboard lifestyle, narrowing down our selection for a 45-foot monohull that will soon become our full-time home.

Moving from a local lake to an ocean-going vessel means an immense amount of preparation, learning, and planning. But the thrill of building a life centered on new adventures—embracing the freedom of the open sea, exploring uncharted waters, and discovering new cultures—makes every bit of the effort worth it.

Charting the Course Ahead

Looking ahead to 2027, our compass points toward open ocean passages and a truly nomadic lifestyle. This website will serve as our living digital log—a way for our family, friends, and loved ones to track our coordinates, see where we have dropped anchor - and follow along with every new harbor we explore.

As we travel, our door remains open. Whether you are a lifelong friend wanting to meet us at a port of call, or a future guest looking to secure a cabin for an unforgettable private getaway, we look forward to sharing the restorative peace of the sea with you. The horizon is calling, and we can't wait to see where the wind takes us.