Once Bitten - Forever Smitten: a voyage to distant shores Paperback – February 19, 2026

ONCE BITTEN – FOREVER SMITTENa voyage to distant shoresIn 2005, two sailors from the Pacific Northwest left the comforts of home and traded it for a life of joy, unpredictability, adventure and exploration aboard their 48-foot sailboat, Wyntersea. Some thought them to be a breed apart and foolishly fearless, while others wondered if they were reckless and perhaps a bit crazy. In what began as a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island was the beginning of a five-year sailing adventure that included the Inside Passage to Alaska, exploring Haida Gwaii, navigating down the west coast to Mexico, then across the South Pacific. Under a sky full of stars and warm trade winds that pulled them deeper into the South Pacific Ocean, they knew it was exactly where they wanted to be – exploring the most fabulous off-the-beaten-track sailing destinations on our planet.Sailing had never been a lifelong dream of hers but perhaps the sweetest things in life occur when one is looking the other way – dreaming a different dream.Their decision to go on this blue water adventure was not about breaking any records. It was about stepping onto shores rarely visited, understanding cultures written in history books and getting a better understanding of the earth and the people that populate it. Once Bitten - Forever Smitten recounts a voyage that words cannot fully describe. Jump aboard for a journey so vivid you can almost feel the spray sting your face and the deck heave beneath your feet. It was an exhilarating adventure, one that was fun and often funny, memorable, life changing and at times challenging but not for one moment was it regrettable.The Pacific Ocean is beautiful yet it can be unpredictable – one moment a natural mirror for the glowing sun, the sea can suddenly turn into a turbulent ocean of fury. Once Bitten - Forever Smitten is a story containing the adventure of a lifetime. It is a treasure trove of stunning colourful photos – an experience filled with laughter, joy, challenges, adrenaline and fear. Read more