FAQ
ABOUT THE JOURNEY
What is Sailing Miss Lone Star currently doing?
We are sailing our 51’ Formosa ketch Houdini south through Mexico, Central America, and toward the Panama Canal as we film a long-form docu-series about life, adventure, and woman-powered exploration. The YouTube channel now serves as the behind-the-scenes companion to that larger story.
Where are you sailing right now, and what’s the route for this season?
This season we’re cruising down the Pacific coast of Mexico, stopping in places like Tenacatita, Manzanillo, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, and Huatulco before crossing into Central America. From there, we continue toward Panama for our canal transit.
What is the long-term plan for the boat and the docu-series?
Each major leg of the journey becomes one long-form documentary film, and the weekly YouTube episodes show the raw process of making it. Long term, we hope to sail through the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and beyond. Eventually completing a circumnavigation.
Why are you sailing through Latin America, and what makes this journey unique?
Latin America is one of the most misunderstood regions in the world. We want to show its beauty, humanity, complexity, humor, and contradictions through the eyes of three women and a baby traveling by sailboat. Our story is not polished—it’s real life, in motion.
Are you really traveling with three women and a baby? How does that work?
Yes! It’s Aubrey, Jordan, Savannah, and baby Violet aboard. We run the boat as a team, share responsibilities, and lean heavily on communication, planning, and instinct. It’s chaos and magic in equal measure.
ABOUT THE CREW
Who is on the crew of Houdini?
Aubrey — Captain, writer, photographer, creator of Sailing Miss Lone Star, and mother.
Jordan — Business bosun, chef, logistics wrangler, and first mate of Houdini.
Savannah — Crew member and Violet’s trusted nanny, sidekick and our chosen family.
Violet — The tiniest adventurer aboard and the heart of the project.
How did Aubrey, Jordan, Savannah, and Violet all come together?
Aubrey and Jordan reconnected after years of friendship and decided to bring new life to the Sailing Miss Lone Star project. Savannah was discovered in Yelapa, Mexico—we chatted her into joining us, and now we couldn’t imagine the journey without her.
What roles does each person play onboard?
We all rotate roles depending on the day. Aubrey captains the vessel, Jordan handles operations and storytelling, Savannah supports the crew and Violet, and everyone chips in with sailing, filming, cooking, and repairs.
How do you manage safety with a baby on a sailboat?
We take safety extremely seriously: harnesses, tethers, netting, constant supervision, and thoughtful route planning. Violet is always secured, supported, and surrounded by three women who are hyper-aware of her needs.
ABOUT THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
What type of content can we expect this season?
Raw, behind-the-scenes episodes of the journey south, including repairs, bad weather, beautiful anchorages, real emotions, cultural encounters, and day-to-day life on a classic sailboat.
Why is the format changing to a long-form docu-series?
Because this journey is bigger than a weekly vlog. We want to tell deeper, more cinematic stories about courage, motherhood, womanhood, travel, and the complexities of sailing through misunderstood regions.
How often do new episodes come out?
Weekly on YouTube, with extended or exclusive content on Patreon. Daily on Aubrey’s subscription based Daily Show
How can I support the channel?
Join our Patreon
Sign up for the newsletter
Share the channel
Comment and engage on episodes
Support our sponsors
Shop through affiliate links when we share them
Do you work with sponsors, and how do you choose them?
Yes. We partner with brands that genuinely make sense for a traveling sailboat family—safety gear, tech, travel tools, equipment, and lifestyle brands that fit our story and audience.
ABOUT THE BOAT
What boat do you sail?
Houdini is a 1977 Formosa 51—an elegant, heavy old-world ketch that looks like a pirate ship and sails like a tank. She’s our home, our film set, and our magic carpet.
What upgrades or refits have been done?
Aubrey completed a massive refit in the U.S. before sailing to Mexico, and since then we’ve done constant repairs and upgrades—watermaker work, brand new Seldon rigging, electrical upgrades, plumbing, safety gear, and endless maintenance typical of a 50-year-old bluewater cruiser.
How do you handle repairs and logistics while sailing in remote places?
With patience, improvisation, local help, and a lot of learning. We often can’t simply order parts, and sometimes the nearest hardware store is miles away by bus.
What gear or technology do you use onboard?
We use a mix of modern and older gear. Our primary chartplotter is an older B&G Zeus 3, which only accepts micro SD cards (no downloads), plus portable GPS, handheld radios, solar, and filming gear.
ABOUT SAFETY & TRAVEL
Is it safe to sail through Mexico and Central America?
Safety depends on preparation and awareness. We plan carefully, stay connected to weather and cruiser networks, avoid high-risk areas, and remain respectful of the communities we enter. We’re cautious but not fearful.
How do you make route and weather decisions while sailing offshore?
We rely on GRIB files, professional forecasts, local knowledge, gut instinct, and conversations with other cruisers. Safety is the priority, always.
Do you have travel insurance?
Yes — we use SafetyWing and highly recommend travel insurance for anyone adventuring internationally, especially when remote sailing is involved.
What happens in an emergency?
We carry multiple communication devices, an EPIRB, satellite options, ditch bags, backup navigation tools, and a clear protocol. Each leg of the journey is planned with “what if” scenarios in mind.
ABOUT JOINING / GETTING INVOLVED
Can I crew on Houdini?
The best place to stay up to date with new crew opportunities, is through our newsletter.
Do you offer sailing retreats or opportunities to meet you?
We do! However, currently our sole focus is documenting this journey and making it safely through the canal.
Can we send you gear or help with specific needs?
If we have a current need—like charts, hard-to-find parts, or equipment—we’ll post about it on Patreon or the YouTube community tab.
ABOUT AUBREY & JORDAN
How did Sailing Miss Lone Star start?
Aubrey began the channel over s10 years ago as she learned to sail, refit boats, raised her two older children aboard Little Miss her 29 foot sailboat, she bought for a dollar. She built the Youtube channel by sharing an honest look at life on the water living small. In 2020 as her family grew she upgraded to Houdini the 51 foot Formosa. It’s grown into a global community.
What made Jordan join Aubrey on this adventure?
Jordan spent years traveling solo in her Scout camper and living part-time in Baja and the PNW. After reconnecting with Aubrey, they dreamed up the idea of rebuilding Sailing Miss Lone Star and telling a bigger story together.
What’s the story behind the women-led crew?
It happened organically—friendship, timing, resilience, and a shared desire to do something bold, meaningful, and different.
ABOUT PRODUCING THE SHOW
How do you film and edit while living on a boat?
With organization, redundancy, and a willingness to film everything. Batteries, SD cards, camera protection, and backups matter as much as sails and rigging.
What cameras and equipment do you use?
A mix of handheld cameras, GoPros, drones, iPhones, and anything durable enough to survive a salty life.
How do you get internet offshore?
We use a combination of SIM cards, local cell data, and offshore-capable travel eSIMs. When offshore, we rely more on navigation tools than internet.
Do you script episodes or film everything spontaneously?
The journey is real and unscripted. We shape the story afterward based on what actually happens.
ABOUT DESTINATIONS
How do you choose the anchorages you feature?
We prioritize safety, weather windows, culture, and local recommendations. Some stops are practical, some are magical, and some are both.
How do you research each location?
Cruiser guides, Noonsite, other sailors, locals, and our own scouting on foot once we arrive.
Will there be behind-the-scenes content?
Yes — YouTube is the behind-the-scenes, and the docu-series is the bigger-picture story. The most personal moments are posted for a small group of passionate followers on the Daily Show.
ABOUT SUPPORTING THE PROJECT
How can fans help the crew directly?
Engage with episodes, share the channel, join Patreon, follow on Instagram, or support our sponsors—these things keep the show alive.
Where can we send donations or gifts for Violet?
If there’s a need, we’ll share a safe shipping option on Patreon.
How can brands collaborate with you?
Email us through the contact form on our website with your idea, product, or campaign. We’re selective but always open to meaningful collaborations.
How do we join the newsletter or Patreon?
Visit sailingmisslonestar.com — everything is linked right on the homepage.