Seven at Sea ― Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention for a Life-changing Year on a Sailboat

Temping the night shift in a high-rise cubicle, Erik Orton knew something had to change. He felt the responsibility of providing for his wife and their five children—the youngest with Down syndrome—but craved a life that offered more than just surviving.

Watching the sailboats on the Hudson River during his sunset dinner breaks, Erik dared to dream. What would it be like to leave the hustle of the city and instead spend a year on a sailboat, somewhere beautiful, as a family? Despite having no sailing experience, his wife Emily’s phobia of deep water, and already stretching every dollar to pay rent and buy groceries, the family of seven turned their excuses into reasons and their fears into motivation. Sure, they would miss their friends, they could go broke, they could get injured or die. Worst of all, they could humiliate themselves by trying something audacious and failing. But the little time they still had together as a family, before their oldest daughter left for college, was drifting away. The Ortons cast off the life they knew to begin an uncertain journey of 5,000 miles between New York City and the Caribbean, ultimately arriving at a new place within themselves.

A portrait of a captivating and resilient family and a celebration of the courage it takes to head for something over the horizon, this is a deeply compelling story—told alternately by Erik and Emily—for everyone who dreams of leaving routine in their wake.

Erik Orton is an Emmy Award-winning writer and Broadway tour manager based in New York City. His original musical, Berlin, won the CINE Golden Eagle Award, Bronze Telly, and an Emmy Award. He has directed theater productions all around the country, including at Radio City Music Hall, and has managed Broadway shows and tours, including Wicked, Les Miserables, and The Phantom of the Opera.

Emily Orton is a former middle school teacher who now writes and blogs about living simply and the benefits of homeschooling. She is certified as a boat captain, which enabled the family to begin their journey.

Erik and Emily have five children, each of whom managed specific tasks as the crew, including their youngest, age six at the time of the journey, who has Down Syndrome. In addition to continuing their homeschooling while at sea, they also formed a family band, The Unsinkables. Erik and Emily are planning an ambitious trans-Atlantic sailing adventure. The family lives in New York City.