On April 3rd, 2008, Austin McKown left the Bay Area, his family, a recently promoted position at an esteemed software company, a new (extremely awesome) girlfriend, and an apartment close to the beach in San Francisco to seek a three to four week adventure (fully equipped with open ocean bragging rights) sailing across the Pacific on a Catamaran called Océalys. Maurice, Austin's former boss and owner of Océalys, needed Austin's assitance crossing the long passage so that his wife, Sophie, could direct her full attention on their two (quite adorable) children. Austin's sailing background, Bay Area racing experience, and lifelong dream of sailing to Tahiti made him a hopeful fit for the job.
Austin packed nothing more than a couple of t-shirts, board shorts and a whole mess of emotions, and headed down to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to meet the boat and begin one of the craziest adventures of his lifetime.
After 16 days at sea, which consisted of swimming across the Equator, experiencing his first squalls, and celebrating his 25 birthday, the boat reached the Marquesas Islands on May 5th.
Awesome Austin, a nickname he quickly earned by his hard work and uplifting spirits as he went “about his duties aboard Océalys in a gingerly fashion which would warm any captain's heart”, was offered a longer stay on the boat...a stay that would eventurally lead to Tahiti. Austin was forced to make a tough decision: Should he risk losing his job, abandoning his apartment and disappointing his new (extremely awesome) girlfriend by taking the offer? Austin realized that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, his career could be put on hold for the time being, and his (extremely awesome) girlfriend was, well, extremely awesome! not to mention a traveler herself, and she would no doubt understand what he had to do. Austin stayed on the boat for two more months, gaining experiences and exploring islands he’d only dreamed of... 
As the months passed by, Austin became a part of the Océalys family, and was asked to come back to Tahiti and meet the boat again after he squared his life away back home. 
This time around he was given the incentive to invite his brother, Joel, and his now not-so-new (but still extremely awesome :) girlfriend, Diana, along for the ride.
The offer couldn't have been recieved more enthusiastically. It just so happened that Joel, a 
spontaneous adventurer himself, had a few months off between his incredibly kick arrrse Water Polo career…a career in fact that had just secured him a National title and the 3rd highest points scored in the country.
spontaneous adventurer himself, had a few months off between his incredibly kick arrrse Water Polo career…a career in fact that had just secured him a National title and the 3rd highest points scored in the country. Joel jumped at the chance...
Diana, more excited tha
n ever to see her long-lost, not-so-new (but extremely awesome) boyfriend didn’t think twice. Having quit her job to live, work, and travel around Mexico the previous year, her wander lust and desire for adventure was starting to bubble over.
n ever to see her long-lost, not-so-new (but extremely awesome) boyfriend didn’t think twice. Having quit her job to live, work, and travel around Mexico the previous year, her wander lust and desire for adventure was starting to bubble over. And to top it all off, she was about to spend the next few months of her life cruising around tropical islands with somebody whom she considered the greatest guy in the whole world. (Of course she is referring to Austin here, although there is no doubt that Maurice and Joel are just as fabulous :)
Austin found Joel in the Tahiti airport on August 8th…having not seen each other in almost a year.
They met up with Océalys in Bora Bora and sailed to Mopelia, Palmerston, Beveridge Reef (you must look this place up), Niue and Tonga before heading to Fiji to meet Diana on (or around) September 17th. They passed the time by spear fishing, diving with sharks, feasting on lobsters, attending mass with the locals, searching for coconuts, and fighting gravity as they learned to Kite surf. (not bad, huh?)
Austin found Joel in the Tahiti airport on August 8th…having not seen each other in almost a year.
They met up with Océalys in Bora Bora and sailed to Mopelia, Palmerston, Beveridge Reef (you must look this place up), Niue and Tonga before heading to Fiji to meet Diana on (or around) September 17th. They passed the time by spear fishing, diving with sharks, feasting on lobsters, attending mass with the locals, searching for coconuts, and fighting gravity as they learned to Kite surf. (not bad, huh?)And this is where the next chapter begins…
