Engine Overheated. Two Steering Failures. Rescued at Sea.

Near the end of last season, while sailing Naseem from Saint John, New Brunswick, toward Shelburne, my engine suddenly superheated. As I approached Petit Passage, with more than 7 knots of following tide, swirling eddies, and powerful whirlpools, I made the decision to divert to Yarmouth instead. That decision marked the beginning of an unexpected chapter. I left Naseem in Yarmouth for the winter and, earlier this year, drove over 5,000 km from Calgary to reunite with her. The time was well spent: I installed new dinghy davits, added custom stainless-steel toe rails at the transom, and completed several other upgrades to prepare her for another season. But Yarmouth wasn’t quite ready to let us go. On two separate departure attempts, I suffered steering failures after the hydraulic fluid leaked out. The result was a complete overhaul of the steering system, including new hydraulic lines, before I could safely continue the voyage. For now, I’m back home in Calgary to attend a few family events before heading to the USA to spend some time with my best friend and cousin. Meanwhile, I’ve left Naseem in the capable hands of the team at Killam Brothers Marina, patiently waiting for my return. In August, the adventure continues. I can’t wait to get back aboard, cast off the lines once again, and return to the peace, freedom, and quiet rhythm of life aboard Naseem. Fair winds, and thank you for following along on this journey.