Bittersweet tears were shed on Monday, August 20, as the Hegewald family departed from the Percival Landing dock in downtown Olympia. The community first became aware of this extraordinary family in April (read about the first 
installment of their adventure here), when they were just in the planning stages of their trip. Now, Max, Stephanie, Michelle, and Autumn Hegewald have left for the first leg of their journey.
First, they will stay for a few nights in the San Juan Islands, making their final checks and preparing everything for being out on the open ocean for several days. After doing a few last-minute preparations, they will sail down to San Francisco, then San Diego, where the family will stay for several months. After staying in California, the Hegewalds will go to Mexico, where Max and Stephanie have sailed before. After docking in Mexico through December, the family would love to visit other countries, but are waiting to see what the future holds.
The Hegewalds have been living on their sailboat, Xpression, at the Swantown Marina for several months while preparing for their voyage. While in California and Mexico, the Hegewalds will continue to reside on their vessel. All members of the family have been practicing and learning by taking workshops, classes, and by racing. Races help the four get used to working as a fluid team on their boat. Michelle, 11, and Autumn, 9, were asked to join the Olympia Yacht Club’s youth race team this summer, which they participated in until leaving on August 20.
Michelle and Autumn went to the Olympia Regional Learning Academy’s Homeschool-Connect program up until the 2017-18 school year ended. Now they will use a variety of curriculums while on the boat. Their parents, Max and Stephanie, stress that the life experience of sailing all over the world is a special type of education they are excited for their daughters to receive.
While the whole family is excited for their new adventure, leaving family and friends, both new and old, was hard. They hosted a going-away party at Percival Landing on August 19 for their loved ones to drop by to offer their best wishes.
The Hegewalds will be updating their Facebook and Instagram accounts (both under the name Waxing Lotus) periodically.
Happy sailing, Hegewald family!
Michelle, 11, is interested in electrical work on the boat and helps to make repairs all over. In this photo, she is working on replacing a breaker in their main electrical panel while Max instructs. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
A sentimental memento from Max’s parents, this hummingbird watches over the family’s travels. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
At the Percival Landing going-away party, family and friends of the Hegewalds dropped in to send the family with their best wishes for safe travels. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
Helpful for their long trips, Xpression has a bathroom complete with a shower. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
Xpression has a fully equipped galley. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
Xpression has many types of navigational tools, including an iPad. The family has chosen to educate themselves about the ins-and-outs of owning a boat-form electrical work to engines. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
Xpression originally was from San Francisco, CA, and Max and Stephanie went down to buy it and sailed it back several months ago. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
A going-away party for the Hegewalds was held on August 19 at the Percival Landing Harbor House. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
Michelle and Autumn Hegewald share a bed on their family’s sailboat, Xpression. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
The family keeps several mementos, like these cards, on their boat. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
The family’s sailboat has several tools that help them on their voyages, such as this barometer, which measures air pressure. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
Xpression, the family’s sailboat, is much roomier than the last boat they used to live on (discussed in the April article about them). Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
The family works as a fluid team while on the boat, with each family member having a specific job. Photo credit: Christy Austin
Michelle, 11, and Autumn, 9, (pictured here) have been on a youth sailing race team this summer until they left. Photo credit: Christy Austin
The Hegewald family have chosen to leave their life in Olympia in search of new adventure on the open ocean. Photo credit: Christy Austin
The Hegewalds’ boat, Xpression, has beautiful wooden floors throughout. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
The family worked hard to practice their sailing by competing in sailing races leading up to their departure. Photo credit: Christy Austin
The Hegewald family had a bittersweet sailing away on August 20, 2018. Friends and family wished them well at a going-away party on August 19. Photo credit: Christy Austin
The Hegewalds also have a kayak on their sailboat, Xpression. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
To practice working as a team (with complicated equipment like this), the Hegewald family competes in sailing races. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
The LifeSling is a flotation device (mentioned in the original Hegewald Family article) that the Hegewalds have been training with. Photo credit: Ainsley Austin
