The story so far

About

Justin & Sue

Born and raised in South Africa, Justin and Sue lived together in Cape Town - diving, surfing, and sailing until building their own 30-foot sloop and embarking on an epic transatlantic crossing to South and North America.

Although based in Sacramento, California, they have not stopped sailing and voyaging. In 2008 they crossed the Pacific Ocean with their three teenage children on a year-long odyssey to Australia from California through the South Pacific Islands on their 53-foot Cheoy Lee sloop. Since then, they have been sailing their various boats along the West Coast and beyond.

In November 2021 they purchased Shanti, their first catamaran, in Panama and have been exploring the magnificent Kuna Yala (San Blas) islands with friends and family.

Active, adventurous and fit, Justin and Sue enthusiastically welcome guests aboard Shanti to explore the fascinating cultures, exciting places and abundant ocean wherever Shanti takes them.

Justin and Sue standing together on a tropical beach

The Catamaran

Shanti is a 42 foot Fountaine Pajot Venezia catamaran

A “Four Bed, Two Bath” version, Shanti is spacious, stable and fast with plenty of outdoor areas for lounging. We have a water maker, solar and wind power and the other conveniences to make your time aboard very comfortable.

Recently re-rigged and overhauled to the most exacting standards, Shanti combines the charm of the earlier hand-built catamarans with the convenience and comfort of the newer boats.

Shanti has embarked on a multi-year clockwise circumnavigation of the Caribbean Sea.

Four spacious cabins
each with queen sized beds

Galley to make any chef proud
with fridge, freezer and new stove top and oven

Recent Upgrades
over past 18 months include new rigging, new sails, two trampolines, new cushions, new inflatable and outboard

Water maker, Solar and Wind Power
provide safety and options for remote cruising

Blueprint-style line drawing of Shanti catamaran

The Cruising Grounds

Shanti’s course runs clockwise around the Caribbean, a slow island-hopping circumnavigation with no fixed schedule. Here’s where the logbook stands.

Map of Shanti's cruising route from San Blas, Panama to Belize Mexico Belize Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Caribbean Sea San Blas Bocas del Toro Rio Dulce Roatán Belize
2022 – 2023

San Blas, Panama

Two years anchored among the 360 islands of Guna Yala: reef-fringed cays, clear water, and the sailing canoes of the Guna, whose home these waters have always been.

View the San Blas gallery →
2023 – 2024

Bocas del Toro, Panama

West to the Bocas archipelago in November 2023: jungle-backed bays, a laid-back island town, and some of the best snorkeling on this coast.

View the Bocas del Toro gallery →
2025 – 2026

Belize

At the end of the 2024 season we sailed Shanti down the Rio Dulce river in Guatemala to her new marina in the town of Rio Dulce. This is a "hurricane hole" and a safe place to keep her while we are back home. From November to February 2026 we explored Belize on land and sea.

There is much to see and do in this pocket-sized country: fabled Mayan ruins, fascinating mix of cultures and spectacular snorkeling and diving.

View the Belize gallery →
2026 – 2027

Belize

We will be returning to Belize November 2026 through February 2027.