Mark and Judy Handley
Hi! We’re Mark and Judy Handley of Sailing Vessel Windbird. In June of 2011 we returned to New England after sailing Windbird over 39,000 miles around the world—Boston to the Caribbean, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, across the South Pacific to New Zealand, back into the Pacific and on to Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and then into the Indian Ocean to India, the Maldives, the Chagos Archipelago, Madagascar, and South Africa. In January of 2011 we rounded the Cape of Good Hope and sailed to St. Helena, back to the Caribbean, offshore to Little River, South Carolina, and finally home to Woods Hole on Cape Cod. It was a fabulous journey and the fulfillment of a lifetime dream. Borrowing a little from an article written about us in the Boston Globe before we left, written by a friend we met in a HAM radio class, Suzy Klein, here’s a little about our lives prior to sailing around the world.
The night they met, Mark Handley–born and bred on the flatlands of Illinois—told his future wife, Judy Martin (born and bred in the hills of West Virginia) that he had two dreams: to build and live in a log cabin in the mountains and to sail around the world. A year later, they were living in a tent in Idaho, building a cabin three miles from the nearest dirt road. Thirty years (and two children later), they set their course to realize Mark’s second dream of sailing around the world. In the intervening years they focused on raising their family while Mark worked as a public radio station manager, eventually becoming chair of the National Public Radio Board. While Mark was busy with public radio, Judy taught at the elementary level and eventually worked her way out of the classroom and into the realm of professional development for teachers.
Our sailing career began on the Chesapeake Bay in the 1980’s on a Cape Dory 25, Yarley. We moved up to a Chesapeake Bay-built, wooden Dickerson 35 and sailed Sky Breaker to New England when a career change landed us in New Hampshire. We bought our current boat, Windbird–a 42-foot Tayana–in 2001 when we started seriously preparing for our voyage around the world. In October 2005, we sailed out of Boston Harbor on a trip that took us 39,000 miles around the world. Now that we are home, we plan to remain living aboard Windbird on the Cape. Our daughter Heather and her husband Jed live close-by, work in Woods Hole, and keep plenty busy with their 4 year-old Sam and 2 year-old Jonah. Our son Justin, his wife Jo, and their 2 year-old Ziggy live in the high desert in New Mexico. We won’t be sailing there, but friends have pointed out that it is only a 4-hour drive from Albuquerque to the Sea of Cortez. We might just have to go through the Panama Canal once again to visit there. The world offers all sorts of intriguing possibilities.
Prior to leaving Boston Harbor on our voyage around the world in 2005, we made two trips offshore to and from New England and the Chesapeake Bay and one trip down the Inland Waterway to Little River, South Carolina. We had also sailed the Chesapeake and throughout New England. But we really didn’t have extensive off-shore experience. Mark has his Coast Guard captain’s license and we have both taken safety-at-sea seminars, attended offshore rally seminars, weather classes, and a comprehensive 3-day offshore medical course. These experiences were more than enough to prepare us to face the challenges of a world circumnavigation confidently. Now that we have returned from the ‘round the world Voyage of Windbird, we will begin planning the next adventure.
Paul and Marie Miller Aug 25 2011 - 4:01 pm
first visit to your new website. Wonderful. Do you have a phone number yet? Miss you a bunch. love, marie
Phil Sweeney Aug 27 2011 - 11:57 am
Good luck.. owner of Soleil
Rona House Sep 7 2011 - 7:02 am
Hi to you both,
You don’t know me but I’m an ex Vancouver 27 cruiser who after 20 years ashore is getting itchy-footed and looking at Harris designs and wondering how the sailing world has changed. I look forward to reading of your experience and thank you for putting it online
Good luck ashore from. Rona
CJ Burwash Oct 8 2011 - 3:55 pm
Hi you two! Think of you lots, and now that I have more reliable wifi will try and connect. Hope you are both happy and well, I have some great pics of you from Simon’s Town, will send asap.
love CJ
George Hastings Dec 4 2011 - 11:38 pm
Hi, Handleys! In late October I brought our new acquisition…a Cape Dory 31 up the ICW to Mobjack Bay, VA from Charleston, SC. I’m looking forward to warmer weather!
Barry,Tina and Kids Dec 24 2011 - 6:34 am
Hi Mark and Judy
Wishing you a merry xmas.
All our love
Dream Catcher
Micah Van der Ryn Dec 31 2011 - 9:17 pm
Happy New Year Mark and Judy,
Really enjoyed meeting both of you when you were in American Samoa. Got me inspired to want to start sailing again, and I followed much of your voyage on line, though over last year at least, was a bit busy. Anyway, Congratulations for a successful completion of your circumnaviation and glad you are both doing well and still enjoying life!!
All the best,
Micah
Tom walker Feb 2 2012 - 11:53 pm
Hi there shipmates,
We are in the states for a .couple of months.We would love to catch up ,and chat by phone . Our number is 251 478 2240′, or cell 415 879 8589. Or send us your number. Xxxxxxxxxxx Tom
Jeremy and Jennifer Dunn Feb 27 2012 - 11:22 am
Mark and Judy,
My wife Jennifer and I wish you all the best while you work through this difficult time. We would like to thank you for the wonderful log that you so dutifully maintained all these years. I have been reading your log since 2007 and have followed your adventures with great interest from the comfort of my desk with the cold Canadian winter winds blowing outside. Jennifer just started reading your logs in December and has read them from the start through to present date. Your log, along with the vivid photos you posted made us feel like we were right there with you on your incredible journey. We would like to someday set out on a similar voyage and very much appreciate all that you have shared.
You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
The Carrs Mar 5 2012 - 11:19 pm
Happy Birthday Judy! Enjoy reading your journals. I am glad that Mark is on the road to recovery. He is in the best of hands both in the medical field and with his family and friends.
Take Care!
Brian, Cathy and Alexis
Administrator Mar 6 2012 - 3:42 am
Can’t believe you still remember my birthday. I cherish your message each year.
Judy
The Carrs Mar 14 2012 - 9:24 pm
just a note that someone that I know who has breast cancer and decided to avoid chemo and do a natural approach. There is a clinic in Hampstead I think? mega doses of Vitamin C IVs.
The Carrs Mar 14 2012 - 9:24 pm
just a note that someone that I know who has breast cancer and decided to avoid chemo and do a natural approach. There is a clinic in Hampstead I think? mega doses of Vitamin C IVs.
The Carrs Mar 14 2012 - 9:30 pm
Sante Center for Natural Healing
Andrew Morrell Apr 26 2012 - 12:29 pm
Hey! Just catching up on you guys when I read the news about Mark. I hope you guys are OK and coping well, but I know you well enough that I imagine you are! My thoughts are with you every day. If there’s anything I can do from here in DC, let me know! Missing you guys! Hugs!
Andrew
Walter Elmore May 14 2012 - 4:53 pm
I am a wannabee sailor and am at page 29 of your log, reading voraciously. Thank you for your recounting. I have done some sailing and much research on what boat to buy. One question I find hard to resolve is whether a pilothouse is advisable. Any contribution from you would be appreciated.
WCE
Bonnie Harvey McNaughton May 17 2012 - 2:25 am
Hi Mark! It has been a lifetime since I have seen you! I now live in Hawthorne,CA, didn’t change city just state. I was married for 27 yrs and have been divorced 4 years. I have 2 children Corie 23 and Grant 21. Grant is graduating from UCSC with a degree in linguistics in June, than grad school. Corie is working toward a teaching credential. My mom is 89 now and is living with us. Dad died 18 yrs ago. How is everything with you? Lynn found your
website and shared it with me. what an awesome sailing experience you and your wife had!!!
Bonnie