The boat: sv alekona

 

1983 ENDURANCE 44’

CLIPPER BOW, KETCH RIG. LOA: 47’ | BEAM: 13’ | DRAFT: 7’

Built in Auckland, New Zealand from Corten rolled steel, she is a stout & solid boat designed to sail to Polar regions and endure the hardships of Polar winters locked in ice. ALEKONA is robust and capable, with features customized to make her an extremely safe vessel. The interior is clad with solid Totara hardwood from New Zealand finished with leather settee and freshly fitted Sunbrella bunk cushions. She is a true battle ship of a sailboat with the tasteful interior of a handcrafted treehouse.

Alekona has a generously spacious interior. She comfortably accommodates 5-6 with one head (toilet). She carries 300 gallons of fuel and 450 gallons of water. A fridge and freezer help us keep provisions fresh. The gorgeous galley equipped with a 3 burner stove, an oven and a fold-out table for 6 keep us from eating basic.

When it’s time to rest, ALEKONA is full of options. Tucked to port is the pilot berth - a nook for a crew member to sleep. Opposite the Galley lies an open air double berth for two. As you move forward towards the bow, you’ll find a private quarter berth for 1, and all the way forward is the V-berth where 2 more can rest.


our crew

 

jessie - captain


Michigan born and bred. Explored California and Colorado in her younger years until she bought her first sailboat with a best friend and decided to travel through America’s waterways for 2 years. This journey known as “America’s Great Loop” ultimately changed the course of her life as she gained experience and confidence to sail a lap around the North Atlantic ocean double-handed and later sailed from San Fransisco to the Galapagos.

For the past nine years (when not sailing) she has been working as a professional photographer in Michigan. She specializes in weddings, portraits and families at J . ZEVALKINK PHOTO. In addition Jessie is a freelance writer and story teller, actively contributing to publications such as Latitudes & Attitudes and Yachting World.

She dreams to help more women feel confident at sea and to incorporate her love of story telling through documentary photography and experiences.

SO WHO IS SHE AT SEA ?

USCG 25 TON CAPTAIN’S LICENSE / ASA 101-104 / CPR CERTIFIED / 30,000 + nm sailed / writer / photographer / helms-woman / diesel mechanic / electrician / cleaning lady / varnisher / inventory chief / docker / cloud studier / quick to reef / slow cruiser

grant - first mate


Grant has two feet deeply rooted in our natural world and spends most of his days on the water or in the woods. Always up for a new adventure and lover of all things analog - especially maps, old vehicles and Super 8 film.

In college, Grant landed a second job as an outdoor trip guide through his university’s campus recreation program, helping fellow students learn how to thrive in the outdoors and setting the course for his personal and professional pursuits. They backpacked in the UP, white-water rafted in West Virginia, rock climbed in Kentucky, went spelunking in Indiana and ice climbing at the height of Michigan winter.

Since then, Grant has explored as many corners as the globe as a small budget would allow. He’s spent a solo month abroad in Montenegro, car camped around the perimeter of Iceland, surfed in Indonesia, backpacked the Colorado Trail and walked across the border into Mexico - where he first boarded ALEKONA at Baja Naval in Ensenada.

When not on the water, Grant runs Lómr Studio, a video production company based in Traverse City, specializing in documentary storytelling with a mission to inspire people to spend more time outdoors and foster deeper connections with our fellow humans.

pay it forward

We set aside a percentage of every booking for our Pay It Forward program, allowing those less privileged but still interested in sailing the opportunity to join us aboard for a day sail. Interested in becoming a recipient of a pay-it-forward sail? Please fill out the information form below to be added to our waitlist.