The Next Port A True Sailing Memoir of Adventure, Courage, and Discovery Across the World What happens when a midlife crisis doesn’t lead to a sports car—but to a sailboat bound for the ends of the earth? One worn-out hull. Two dreamers. A five-year circumnavigation that tested every skill they had. In The Next Port , Heyward and Charlotte Coleman rebuild a tired boat into a bluewater cruiser and set off to chase the horizon. You’ll feel the salt spray of the Pacific, the power of the Indian Ocean’s monsoon winds, and the tension of jury-rigging repairs hundreds of miles from land. This isn’t just a sailing log—it’s a real-world adventure of storms, self-reliance, and survival under sail. Sail through the Galápagos, the Amazon, and the Great Barrier Reef as this determined crew faces setbacks, pirates, and the sheer beauty of the open ocean. If you love true nautical adventure, ocean crossings, and the challenge of life at sea, set sail today with The Next Port. The Journey of a Lifetime When the Colemans set sail on Skimmer , they weren’t chasing records—they were chasing renewal. Each ocean passage tested navigation, seamanship, and endurance across the world’s most perilous seas. Sail With Them To: – The volcanic shores of the Galápagos Islands – 800 miles up the Amazon River to a village untouched by time – The crystal lagoons of French Polynesia and the Tuamotu Islands – The coral reefs of Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and the Great Barrier Reef – The sacred coasts of Aboriginal Arnhem Land and the exotic harbors of Sri Lanka, Djibouti, and Eritrea – The serene canals of France and the vibrant ports of Senegal and Brazil What Readers Are Saying “A page-turner for the rich and restless — an adventure every day spanning the globe.” — ★★★★★ Jeffrey C. Lyons “One of the best narratives I’ve ever read — a great mix of problem-solving and solid cruising yarn.” “A genuine knockout, even for non-sailors. This husband-and-wife team take adventure and bravery to the next level.” Why You’ll Love It Praised by readers worldwide, with hundreds of five-star reviews and over 1,000 total ratings, The Next Port delivers the authenticity and heart of a true bluewater voyage—equal parts travelogue, survival story, and testament to love on the open sea. If you’ve ever dreamed of sailing away, craved adventure, or wanted to know what happens when ordinary people take extraordinary risks—this book is your ticket. Every voyage tests you in ways you never imagined—and rewards you in ways you'll never forget. Reader Praise "A page-turner for the rich and restless—an adventure every day spanning the globe." "One of the best narratives I've ever read—a great mix of problem-solving and solid cruising yarn. I hated to see it end." "A genuine knockout, even for non-sailors. This husband-and-wife team take adventure and bravery to the next level." "Loved the combination of sailing anecdotes about far flung places and details about overcoming mechanical problems, keeping your partner from abandoning ship, piracy, and even taking the mast down and converting sailboat into a canal cruiser.." "I have read 200 sailing narratives and I would rank "the next port" very high on my favorites list." Heyward Coleman has always been drawn to challenge, discovery, and the open horizon. A lifelong traveler and sailor, he shares his adventures and hard-won lessons in two acclaimed books: The Next Port and Where the Wind Blows. The Next Port tells the true story of how a midlife crisis inspired Heyward and his wife, Charlotte, to transform a worn-out hull into a first-class bluewater cruiser—and embark on a six-year circumnavigation that tested their courage, creativity, and partnership. Its prequel, Where the Wind Blows, recounts how a career crisis led to a one-year "businessman's sabbatical," during which the couple bought a boat in Greece, taught their children at sea, and weathered fierce Mediterranean gales. That journey planted the seeds for their later voyage around the world. Before life under sail, Heyward earned an M.A. in Nuclear Physics from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He served five years as an officer aboard a nuclear submarine before beginning a business career that took him from the oil and gas industry to founding an environmental laboratory monitoring nuclear pollution. What never changed was the love of travel he and Charlotte shared—nor their realization that the fatigue of constant movement disappeared once their home floated with them. What began as email dispatches to friends and family became the two-book chronicle of a couple who turned challenge into adventure and adventure into wisdom. Today, Charlotte has declared her ocean-crossing days complete, but the pair still spend three months each year exploring Europe's canals aboard Magnolia, their diesel-powered canal boat—proof that the journey never truly ends. "And after the Panama Canal we would head for the French Marquesas,