“Jess-SEA-ca”
Jessica/Neil Quality Time Escape Plan
But—if you know Jessica—you know she is a fighter and all the hard work during the Physical, Occupational, Vision, and Speech rehabilitation therapies have paid off! And, now, we are looking at the next chapter in her recovery by doing something radical (at least for us ...).
The 45' Sailing Catamaran we ordered as our new home-on-the-water was built in France by Groupe Beneteau the world's largest builder of recreational sailboats. We registered the boat with the name “Jess-SEA-ca” to honor all the sweat and effort Jessica has invested to get to this stage. See Tour the Boat for more information on this high-performance catamaran.
Neil completed the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) 7-day immersive on-board/at-sea 'Day Skipper/Competent Crew' Sailing School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This was after completing the prerequisite 6-month home-study coursework and examination. He now holds the globally-recognized Royal Yachting Association ICC certificate (International Certificate of Competence).
We started our 365-Day 'Quality Time' gameplan on August 6, 2025, and it took us almost a year to get everything ready, including selling our home, our home contents, vehicles, and artwork, transitioning our physical business to a virtual business model, and awaiting arrival of the built-to-order catamaran.
Our vessel was delivered on July 10 and all sea trials were completed by August 2 (as expected). Unfortunately, the aftermarket work took much longer than expected (grrr) so we started our 'Quality-Time Escape Plan' not on our wedding anniversary (August 6) as expected but, instead, on September 24.
We are now at Day #. Check out the Photo/Video Journal and the Locate/Contact Us tabs for updates on our adventures.
Thank you for all your support and well-wishes!
The term used for people who move out of a traditional land-based home to live on a boat is "Liveaboards." While there can only be one Skipper onboard, most couples share responsibilities based on strengths and experiences. In terms of onboard equity, the division of labor onboard will come as naturally as other aspects of our life ... and Jessica will still be 'Captain'.
Jessica Turvey, M.A.
Executive Coach and Sage-on-the-Side™
Jessica brings many talents to our Sailing Catamaran:
- Jessica is extremely organized and knows how to 'minimize' without 'compromise.'
- Jessica is a hobbyist gourmet cook who only uses cook books for inspiration—her cooking is her creative release! Jessica has a deep knowledge of nutrition (she is a graduate of the Cornell University Plant-Based Nutrition certificate program), and through her vast cooking experiences, Jessica understands how food texture, aromachology, flavor-pairing, and the use of herbs and spices will turn ordinary into extraordinary! This will definitely be an asset on our boat!
- Jessica is the consummate problem solver — or better stated — 'proactive visionary' who can see situations brewing before they actually become problems.
- Jessica has an affinity for all things 'maps' so charting and navigating will be second-nature for her. We look forward to seeing where she takes us!
- Jessica LOVES an adventure!
Neil Dempster, PhD, MBA, CSP
Organizational Psychologist and RESULTant™
Neil brings many talents to our Sailing Catamaran:
- Neil's first post-secondary education was Engineering (Mechanical). His brain is wired to be a systems troubleshooter. He has the proven ability to fix (almost) anything mechanical or electrical. Once we are sailing—and away from shore-based resources—this skill will be invaluable.
- He is RYA (Royal Yachting Association) certified as a 'Competent Crew/Day Skipper' and he holds the RYA ICC certificate (International Certificate of Competence). This certification is recognized worldwide as a high standard of sailing competence.
- Neil was certified in SCUBA when he was 14 years old. He has done hundreds of dives in all conditions. This capability will make inspecting and cleaning the hull much easier.
- His computer software programming skills will come in handy for creating functional workarounds to various onboard systems.
- Neil LOVES an adventure!
This boat was created for sailors looking for their next adventure ... and that is EXACTLY what we are after!
On September 4, 2025, we took this amazing vessel out for a sea trial and the look on Jessica's face tells it all! We hit 7.8 knots on our first run with the sails up so we are well on our way. The rest of our time on the boat was exploring and measuring and ... yes ... day-dreaming about when we will take our new catamaran out to sea and start exploring.
Sea Trial Smiles (September 4, 2025)
Can't Wait to Get Aboard ...
Excess 14 Catamaran Upper Deck Floorplan (Helm | Cockpit | Salon | Forward Area)
Upper Deck Internal Salon
Upper Deck External Cockpit
Excess 14 Catamaran Lower Deck Floorplan (Cabins | Multi-Purpose Room)
Starboard Hull Master Cabin
Starboard Hull Master Cabin Office
Excess 14 Catamaran Specifications
Excess 14 Under Sail
While preparing for this next chapter in our lives has kept us VERY busy, our year-long gameplan has offered many exciting dimensions. Here are a few shown in reverse chronological order (newest updates on top).
July 11, 2026: Our boat is in the marina and the final aftermarket work is being completed. This work includes safety gear, navigation technology, solar power, and appliances.
July 10, 2026: After 21 hours of flights (3) and layovers, we arrive in France to pick up our new boat. (Yes, we did get hit with a few 'extra baggage' fees! LOL)
June 15, 2026: Our container is on this cargo ship (NYK Meteor) on its way to France.
June 9, 2026: We consolidated valued/essential items from our home and this is all that remains for use on our sailing catamaran! Everything was hand-packed into a 20' shipping container and trucked to a cargo ship for the trans-Atlantic voyage to France.
June 4, 2026: "Jess-SEA-ca" leaves the factory and is transported to the ocean (Les Sables d'Olonne Marina). Because the boat is so wide and because the streets in France are so narrow, the boat must be elevated and tilted on the transport vehicle to circumvent obstacles along the way. The boat weighs 12 tons so this is quite the process!
April 29, 2026: Excess shipyard (France) factory tour. Neil inspects the construction of our boat. Notice we are boat #132 in the (fairly) new Excess 14 lineage. This photo shows the boat immediately after it was removed from the 'Swimming Pool' for full-immersion evaluations and water tightness testing. The boat is then transported to the final assembly building for all interior construction and equipment installation.
September 4, 2025: Sea Trial Smiles (San Diego, California, USA)
While the Port of Registry for “Jess-SEA-ca” is the Republic of the Marshall Islands, we are going wherever the wind takes us.
The current time at our location:
12-Hour Notation
24-Hour Notation
📞Telephone:+1 602.697.9435
✉Jessica: Jessica@Jess-SEA.ca
✉Neil: Neil@Jess-SEA.ca
✉Email Both: JTND@Jess-SEA.ca
Where in the World?
The mapping system (below) provides near-real-time updates of where we are as we sail around the globe.
SUGGESTION: Click on "Satellite" and zoom in to get a better prespective of the location and terrain.