The 'Wilderness,' within and without, can be lost. ~ Gary Snyder
I have been an outdoor educator and technical climbing/mountaineering guide for over 50 years. Ben and I met a decade ago, co-working a rock-climbing leadership seminar for the National Outdoor Leadership School. We became friends, climbing partners and co-educators. I have been privileged to accompany and learn from Ben on ocean voyages from Homer, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia; and from Hobart, Tasmania, to Perth, Western Australia.
The Australian voyage aboard the Blackfin stretched over two months and included an eight-day, open-ocean crossing of the Great Australian Bight. Truly, a spiritual and transformative experience!My recommendation of Ben is based not only on his seamanship and technical competence, but also on his spiritual connection to the oceans and the wild environments in which he travels and teaches.
~ Cody Paulson, Lander, Wyoming
★★★★★
★★★★★
Sailing with Ben on the Blackfin was a dream come true. And once was not enough. I sailed down the coast of New Zealand and then came back to sail down the East coast of Australia towards Tasmania. The conversation was spectacular, as was the scenery. Blackfin is a beautifully appointed boat and Ben's experience as a commercial fisherman in Alaska, captaining a salmon tender in the most challenging seas in the world, has left him with a breadth of knowledge that will impress expert sailors and novices alike.
And let's face it: Ben's one of t he nicest guys you'll ever meet.
~ Shelley Gill, author, adventurer, whale detective
★★★★★
Never having so much as taken a camping trip, I was delighted that on our three-week sailing journey through Indonesia, Ben went far beyond providing every creature comfort, curating an adventure of beauty, laughter and deep bonding that I will never forget. The experience left me changed, discovering a thirst for adventure that I didn't even know was there.
~ Annamarie, symphony cellist
★★★★★
Sailing with Ben on the Blackfin was the adventure of a lifetime. Incredible food, wild moments on the water - and a deep sense of trust the whole way through. Ben is an extremely knowledgeable captain, but also one of the most patient, grounded people you'd want to be at sea with.e.
~ Evan Rilling, surfer & chef
★★★★★
★★★★★
The two months and 2,000 nautical miles through the Indonesian archipelago with Ben and the good ship Blackfin was one of the most influential experiences of my life. Forced to slow down in every way, and devoid of distraction, I found space in myself to face and make friends withe the timeless moments as they interfaced with inner dialogues. There are few better ways to dig deep, soul search and reflect on life than the deck of the Blackfin as she slices her way the world's oceans.
~ Daniel R, adventurer, Dad, equine poet
My time on the Blackfin (April 2024 Tasman Sea Crossing & Hobart to Perth) has bookended some of the most profound soul searching in my life....
The Tasman Crossing was the spark that ignited the fire I needed for that journey. I'd never slept on a boat; I'd been in a sailboat once, for a couple of hours, years ago. But I was in it for the unknown, and the companionship of my soul brother and steadfast skipper, Ben Reader. Ten days without seeing another boat, anything else human-made... ocean and sky, horizon to horizon!
The next adventure started with Ben and one of our long-time wilderness-guide mentors, the three of us setting sail from Hobart in early February, picking our way along the West coast of Tasmania before crossing to Kangaroo Island, then the Great Australian Bight and then sailing up the West Coast of Australia to Perth. This passage couldn't have been more different or more magical. The company, coupled with the cruising life made for an idyllic trip. There were so many highlights over the two-month trip - from swimming with dolphins, to remote anchorages along the southern coast near Esperence, not to mention our fair share of weather, fresh fish and sunset cocktails! This passage helped me at a turning point, encouraging me to plumb my inner depths, a critical process as I pondered the direction of the next chapter of my life.
It all worked, for once, just as planned. I got my acceptance letter into grad school after crossing the Bass Straight - quite possibly as far from my mind as the University of Montana campus is from Kangaroo Island.
~ Joe Cleinmark, Wilderness guide and vocational rehab grad student
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★★★★★
