Wavewalker Workout: Is It Worth The Hype?

The Wavewalker is a 70-foot, 23-metre-long, 30-ton wooden-hulled ship that Suzanne Heywood and her family used to sail around the world. In her memoir, Wavewalker: A Memoir of Breaking Free, Heywood describes her experience of spending a decade sailing 47,000 nautical miles on the boat, equivalent to circumnavigating the globe twice. While the Wavewalker represented freedom for her parents, Heywood describes it as a 'prison for her, where she was trapped and unable to attend school, make friends, or access medical care. However, she also acknowledges that her time on the Wavewalker shaped who she is today.

The physical dangers of living on a boat

Living on a boat can be a dream for many, offering a unique lifestyle filled with adventure and tranquility. However, it is not without its physical dangers. Here are some of the potential physical dangers of living on a boat:

Lack of Space and Privacy

Living on a boat typically means having to adapt to a much smaller living space. This can be challenging, especially when it comes to privacy. Suzanne Heywood, who spent her childhood living on a boat, recounts how she had to share a cabin with adult crew members and the one working toilet with her family and crew.

Inadequate Bathroom Facilities

Most boats have small bathrooms, often called "heads," with limited counter space. It is common for the toilet and shower to be in the same small space, resulting in everything getting wet when taking a shower. Toilets on boats also tend to clog and smell bad, and the holding tanks need to be emptied regularly.

Difficulties in Hauling Items and Limited Storage

Living on a boat usually involves hauling items such as food, water, and garbage between the boat and the shore. This can be inconvenient, especially if you live on a mooring or at anchor, as you may need to use a dinghy or water taxi. Additionally, boats have limited storage space, and stowage can be a challenge.

Leaks and Flooding

Leaks can be a common issue on boats, and the most aggravating ones are those that drip onto your face from the hatch over your bunk, ruining your sleep. While leaks from through-hull penetrations are the most dangerous as they can sink a boat, leaks from the deck, portlights, and hatches are more challenging to locate.

Weather Dependence and Storms

Living on a boat means being dependent on the wind and waves, and storms can pose a significant threat. In hurricane-prone areas, such as Florida and other coastal states in the US, securing your boat or evacuating can be crucial for your safety.

Inaccessibility of Medical Care

Living on a boat, especially when sailing in remote areas or in countries with language barriers, can make accessing medical care difficult. Suzanne Heywood, who fractured her skull and broke her nose in an accident at sea, had to endure multiple head operations without anesthesia on a small atoll in the middle of the ocean.

Restricted Movement and Exercise

The confined space and lack of specialized equipment on a boat can limit your ability to exercise and move freely. While some boats may offer opportunities for physical activities such as paddle boarding or scuba diving, the range of options may be more restricted than on land.

The monotony of life at sea

Life at sea can be monotonous and tedious, a far cry from the romanticised notion of freedom and adventure often associated with sailing. This is certainly the case for Suzanne Heywood, who spent her childhood sailing around the world with her family. In her memoir, "Wavewalker", Heywood recounts the boredom and isolation she experienced during her years on the boat.

For Heywood, the initial excitement of the voyage gave way to a sense of monotony and entrapment. The vastness of the ocean, which at first seemed full of promise and adventure, soon became a source of loneliness and isolation. Days blended into each other, marked only by the relentless rhythm of the waves and the endless blue horizon. The lack of variety in her surroundings and the repetitive nature of life on board contributed to a sense of monotony, where each day felt like a carbon copy of the last.

The limitations of living in a confined space added to the monotony. The lack of privacy and personal space, especially as Heywood entered her teenage years, made it difficult to find moments of solitude and escape. The constant presence of family members and crew, often in close quarters, created a sense of claustrophobia and further contributed to the tedium of daily life.

The physical demands of sailing also contributed to the monotony. The endless chores and maintenance tasks became a tedious routine, with no opportunity for rest or respite. From rubbing down hatches and gunwales, to pumping out water after a storm, the physical labour was relentless and left little time for activities that could provide mental stimulation or a sense of novelty.

The lack of social interaction and intellectual stimulation further exacerbated the monotony. With limited access to education and no peers to interact with, Heywood found herself craving mental stimulation and a sense of connection with the outside world. The isolation and monotony of life at sea took a toll on her mental health, leading to feelings of loneliness, boredom, and even despair.

Heywood's experience highlights the reality of life at sea, which is often romanticised in popular culture. The vastness of the ocean can be daunting, and the lack of variety in surroundings and activities can lead to a sense of monotony and entrapment. While sailing can offer moments of excitement and adventure, it is also characterised by long periods of tedium, where the vastness of the sea becomes a reminder of one's smallness and insignificance.

The lack of education and social isolation

The Wavewalker boat, as described in Suzanne Heywood's memoir, was the site of a childhood marked by a lack of education and social isolation. For nearly a decade, from the age of seven, Heywood was trapped on the boat, unable to attend school or make friends. Her parents had promised a three-year voyage, but this promise was broken, and the family ended up sailing for ten years.

Heywood's education was haphazard, with her mother teaching her and her brother for a few years before abandoning their lessons altogether. Heywood was then left to educate herself through correspondence courses, which she pursued despite her parents' lack of support and the challenging conditions on the boat. This lack of education impacted her transition to university life, as she struggled to fit in socially after years of isolation.

Social isolation was a significant issue for Heywood during her time on the Wavewalker. She rarely had the opportunity to form friendships and had little to no access to medical care. As she entered her teenage years, she had no privacy, sharing a cabin and toilet with her family and crew members. Her isolation was further exacerbated by her parents' decision to turn the boat into a "floating hotel," where she was expected to cook and clean for hours each day.

The physical labour involved in sailing

Sailing can be physically demanding, and those who crew a boat are often engaged in various manual tasks that require strength and endurance. The physical labour involved in sailing a boat like the Wavewalker can include:

Trimming the Sails and Performing Watch Duty: Crew members need to adjust the sails according to wind conditions, which requires pulling and tugging on ropes and handling heavy sails. In addition, keeping watch is essential for safety, and this task can be tedious and exhausting, especially during night shifts.

Rubbing Down Hatches and Gunwales: As described in Suzanne Heywood's memoir, "Wavewalker," this task involves sanding and preparing the surfaces of the boat, which can be arduous and physically demanding due to the effort and time required.

Navigating and Steering: The helmsman's role is crucial and demanding, as they must maintain control of the boat's direction and make constant adjustments to the wheel or tiller, especially in challenging weather conditions.

Performing Physical Chores: Sailing involves numerous physical chores such as cleaning, cooking, and maintaining the boat. These tasks can be time-consuming and strenuous, particularly in a constantly moving environment.

Dealing with Rough Seas and Storms: In adverse weather conditions, crew members may need to bail water, secure loose items, and make emergency repairs. This can be physically challenging and may involve quick reactions and intense effort to ensure the safety of the boat and its occupants.

Overall, sailing a boat like the Wavewalker involves a range of physical tasks that require strength, endurance, and a willingness to work in often demanding and unpredictable conditions. It is a workout that engages the entire body and tests one's physical and mental capabilities.

The challenges of studying by correspondence

Studying by correspondence comes with its own set of challenges, and this was especially true for Suzanne Heywood, who, as a child, found herself trapped on a boat for nearly a decade. In her memoir, "Wavewalker," Heywood recounts the difficulties she faced in trying to continue her education while sailing around the world. Here are some of the key challenges she faced:

Lack of Structure and Resources

Heywood's mother attempted to homeschool her and her younger brother, Jon, in the early days of their voyage. However, this was short-lived, and soon, their education became haphazard. When Heywood was 13, she enrolled in an Australian correspondence school, but finding the time and space to study on the boat proved challenging. She had to fight for paper, which was expensive, and often hid inside a sail at the front of the boat to study in peace. Practical issues, such as having no postal address, also made it difficult to submit her lessons and receive feedback from teachers.

Isolation and Lack of Social Interaction

Life on the boat meant that Heywood had little opportunity to form friendships. She and her brother were often the only children on board, and their social interactions were limited to the crew members who came and went. This isolation took a toll on her mental health, and she struggled with loneliness and boredom, especially as a teenager.

Dangerous and Unstable Environment

The ocean can be a dangerous place, and Heywood experienced this firsthand when their boat was hit by a massive wave in the Indian Ocean, causing her serious injuries. In addition, their boat often ran out of fresh food and water, and they had limited access to medical care. These physical dangers and the constant uncertainty of their environment made it difficult for Heywood to focus on her studies.

Unsupportive and Neglectful Parents

Heywood's parents prioritized their own desires for freedom and adventure over their children's needs. They showed little concern for their children's education and well-being, and Heywood often had to fight for her right to study. Her father even stated that her education was less important than her brother's since she wouldn't need to support a family. This lack of support and understanding from her parents made her educational journey even more challenging.

Cultural and Administrative Barriers

As the family sailed from country to country, Heywood faced cultural and administrative barriers to continuing her education. Each country had different educational systems, and when she tried to apply to universities, she encountered resistance due to her unique circumstances. She also had to navigate visa issues and deal with the constant uncertainty of when and where the family would move next.

In conclusion, studying by correspondence can present significant challenges, especially in an unstable and unsupportive environment. Suzanne Heywood's story highlights the difficulties faced by those who attempt to continue their education in non-traditional ways. Despite the obstacles, her determination to educate herself ultimately led to her escape and a successful academic career.

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