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Kids On Boats is a website to help cruising families with kids, as well as kids and families who just like messing about in boats. We are building this online community in order to share information, discuss mutual concerns, and discoveries and to connect up whenever possible. As our kids are cruising with us for the next few years, we wanted them to meet other kids and families who are living on board. What better way than with our own KidsOnBoats website and KOB flag flying from the mast spreader--signaling to anyone in the harbor that there are kids onboard who want to meet kids on other boats . . .  even kids on shore.

The KidsOnBoats website is a place were kids can find other kids, families can meet-up and share information:

       • What to do when ashore

1.     • What to do underway and off-shore
   

2.     • Where to find the best  snorkeling, beaches, play-grounds and tire-swings
   

3.     • Where to find harbor events, races, carnivals, markets, and kid-friendly festivals
   

4.     • Moms and Dads can share information on home-schooling, safety, health, neat things for the family to do.
   

5.     • Find where other families on boats are anchored.
   

6.     • Travel together from island to island, harbor to harbor to other families on their boats
   

7.     • Links to valuable web sites, publications and other resources
   

8. 
   

9. There is space on the website for kids to send in and publish reports on their travels, trips ashore, along with their photos, drawings of where they’ve been. The website was designed especially for those kids who are living on boats with their families, to give them an outlet and a voice with other kids who are also cruising, exploring, and learning more about the oceans and the countries and island cultures through which we travel.
   

Cruising History

The kids are boat savvy, can handle lines when docking, steer, and handle their own kayaks. David has more than 60 years on the water, some of it as a professional. He has owned four sail boats and cruised extensively along the US East Coast and throughout the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The family spent the winter of 2003 on Searcher in the US and BVI, and of course have cruised the coast of Maine. We’ve owned Searcher for the past 13 years, spending two winters in the Caribbean. This fall’s voyage to the BVI will be the first long off-shore cruise as a family.

Cruising Plans

Summer 2009 - Moved on board full-time in June, cruised the Maine Coast from our homeport in Rockport while the kids attend the sailing program at the Rockport Boat Club in July.

Fall 2009 - Cape Cod and the Islands, New Bedfrord, Newport . . .  then off shore to Bermuda in early November . . . 

Winter 2010 - The BVI for Thanksgiving and and David’s 70th Birthday Party at Foxy’s On Jost Van Dyke. Then Christmas on  the Island of Bequie, where we spend a month. On our way back up the island chain we visit the islanxds of St. Vincent, Martinque, Domonica, Tghe Saints and on to Antigua for Race week. Future uncertain from here . . .  Europe, The Azores, The Canal and ‘Round the world, or back to Maine?

Communication Options

How can other kids and families contact you and your boat?

VHF, SSB, Email

Cell phone: 207.841.4139

Skye: DHLyman

Skype phone number: 617.849.8564

E-Mail: DHLyman@mac.com

Blogsite: DHLyman.com

Website: KidsOnBoats.net

Website: OnBeingCreative.com

Keeping In Touch

If you wish to join us, keep in touch, and find other families who are cruising, please send us your boat name, type, make, hull color and your homeport. Include the names and ages of the Kids on  Board would be helpful, and of course your cruising plans and itinerary will be helpful in meeting up along the way.

Your stories, images, photographs, drawings, and videos are always welcome, as are any web-links you wish to share with the sailing community of Kids On Boats. Registration is free through October 2009, or until the job of running the website gets too much.

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