What an amazing family! 100 days on the water!
Sevan and Keri Topjian not only make time to get out on the water; they make time to get their four young children out on the water. We asked Sevan for some of the 2015 highlights:
"The highlights include Friday night family racing in Oxford; completion of the ARC DelMarVa rally (the kids loved Deltaville!); weekend trips to Annapolis and St. Michaels; many day trips on the Choptank; and ice cream stops at Highland Creamery."
Do you have any tips for getting kids on the water (safely and happily)?
"The biggest one is hanging a baby swing from the cabin handles. Baby falls asleep in a safe and fun environment. Other tips include kids life jacket rules: must be on anytime foot hits the dock and at all times on boat until safely entered the cabin.
Also, harnesses to jacklines must be on at all times outside the bay. We have practiced man-overboard drills and verbally review them every time we leave the dock. All kids take turn steering, can turn off engine, know how to find/operate a flare and fire extinguisher, and are beginning to learn
VHF protocol. Most folks will tell you that they are boat kids in every sense of the word, hanging from the boom and dragging from the swim platform. We do our best to keep safety and respect for God's creation in the front of their minds. And no screen time for kids on boat. They maybe will watch a movie every few days as a special treat if we're going for a longer trip!
"Keri does a great job with kids--many books on tape, stopping to swim every so often, and lots and lots of coloring and playdoh!"
The Topjian family recently said goodbye to their boat, a Catalina 30 named Margalo. But as soon as the kids' tears dry, they're on their way to the Bahamas this winter on an Oyster 485 named Aghvani (which means Dove in Armenian). "We're planning for longer term cruising after that, Lord willing!"
If you see the Topjian family onboard Aghvani, say hi, and congratulate them from all of us sailors on the Bay, parents, centurions, or not. That's incredible!
