Our Story

Will & Emily met in college at Penn State. Em left after their first year to pursue a different careerpath, but the two reconnected a couple years later. With Will's college completion imminent, they decided to move to Chicago together post-graduation. They lived and worked in the city for six fun-filled years. Emily joined the Pipefitter's union, while Will became a supply chain consultant. The two enjoyed all the city had to offer: they became casual Cubs fans (when one lives two blocks from Wrigley Field, it's impossible to ignore), participated in the Architecture River Boat Cruise no less than ten times, and purchased a 1970s Schwinn Deluxe Twinn tandem bike to make getting around town together both expeditious and entertaining. They also purchased a beautiful Flicka 20 trailer-sailor, which they loved dearly, and spent every summer sailing the Chicago Lakefront. Air and Water Show weekend was always a highlight. They utilized Nellie to her fullest - using her to not only fuel their desire to sail, but to learn all they could from her complete restoration, which Will worked on during the offseason. When COVID hit, they decided it was time to make moves on their dream of sailing the world. It was something the two of them talked about at length in the beginning of their relationship, and as the world closed its doors, new ones opened. The boat search began in ernest, but it would be three more years until they found The One. 2022 brought the wedding of the century, as Will and Emily tied the knot in Williamsburg, Virginia at the Governor's Palace that October. Everything took off from there. They chartered a boat for their honeymoon to "test-run" living aboard, and came away from the trip desperate to go back. In June 2023, they found The One. Enter: Annie's Song. Our Catalina Morgan 440 - he (yes, he) is the perfect vessel. He has the ruggedness of a Morgan, built for adventure, with the luxuries of a Catalina, built for comfortable living. By September of that same year, they were moving aboard their new dream-house/boat, lovingly renamed Appa.

The Gang

Will Blake

Title: Captain

Bending Style: The Avatar

Will is the do-it-all, never-phased Master of the Elements. If there's a problem, he will solve it. If there's a meal to cook, he will make it. If there's a bird around, he will find it. It's in the name.

Emily Blake

Title: Skippy

Bending Style: Earth Bender

Emily is the grounding force onboard. She keeps Will even-keeled, making sure he doesn't take on too many tasks at once, and forces fun and relaxation into the day-to-day. That being said, she's also incredibly stubborn and hard headed. Pros and cons, pros and cons.

Ludog

Title: Best Friend

Bending Style: Water Bender

Ludog is a Ken, and his job is Beach. An absolute chaos gremlin, he's guaranteed to be found getting into things he shouldn't and aggressively rolling himself in sand, mud, and dirt. He's cute and he knows it, and takes full advantage of that fact. The biggest water-consumer onboard, by far, considering the number of baths required. Worth it.