Come Behind the Scenes
Welcoming all 'fly on the wall' types to remotely join the FSL boat build
Hi everyone,
The final weekend of our boys’ soccer tournaments is now behind us and just in time — we are ready to move into the boat workspace ‘La Refabrique’ at the association Cap Solidarité (CapSo) to begin the FSL’s Narai Mk IV catamaran build!
One year ago in May, we made an impromptu decision to accept an invite to stay on Spirit of Gaia, Hanneke Boon and the late James’ Wharram’s hand-build Pahi 63ft wooden composite Polynesian double canoe, in the Algarve in Portugal.
The visit confirmed we will build a Wharram Designs Narai Mk IV to create a research and storytelling vessel. In the year since, we moved the family to the Finistère region of Brittany (France), created ourFSL Non-Profit Association, found our incredible boat build site at CapSo and began building a 1:10 scale model of the boat in our kitchen, won a small European Union Horizon grant with IMPETUS for our Citizen Science Initiative ReTISS, and welcomed the Women & the Wind crew for their documentary film tour.
It’s finally time to move the research and planning from the kitchen to the work space and invite you all behind the scenes with the creation of the Floating Stories Lab Association’s Membership Program. Here’s how it works:
Membership Tiers
20€/YR SOLIDARITY PASS — For those who feel aligned with the journey and want to show quiet support from wherever they are.
50€/YR CREW PASS — For those ready to step a little closer. With the Crew Pass, you become part of the living deck of this floating project. This tier includes full annual membership with access to our exclusive behind-the-scenes WhatsApp community, plus a year’s subscription to our Substack, where we share field notes, reflections, and stories from the FSL.
150€/Y EXPLORER PASS — For those with more to give—time, resources, or simply belief. The Explorer Pass includes full annual membership with access to our exclusive WhatsApp community, a personalized annual post card, and a year’s subscription to our Substack. This tier is for those who see themselves in the deeper current of the project and want to be part of shaping where it flows.
But I’m already a paying Substack subscriber?
We’ve got you! Existing and future ‘Paid’ Substack subscribers receive either Crew or Explorer Pass Membership benefits depending on your subscription level. We will send out a personal email with an invite to join the WhatsApp Community Group — you have the choice to opt-in.
FSL on Socials
You can also follow FSL on the below socials:
Instagram: floatingstorieslab
Bluesky: floatingstorieslab.bsky.social
Facebook: floatingstorieslab
YouTube: floating stories lab
TikTok: floatingstorieslab
Volunteer Opportunities
Perhaps you are passing through Brittany and want to lend a hand, or more interested in a dedicated volunteering stint. We are accepting expressions of interest and will keep you posted on when volunteering opportunities arise. Thanks to everyone who has already sent us an email — once we are more settled in the boat work site we will have a better idea of when we are ready to start welcoming extra helping hands. We can’t wait to meet you those of you who make it here to Brittany!
I want to wrap today’s newsletter by expressing our profound gratitude to this Substack community — many of you have been here since we kicked off this newsletter and have ridden through the waves of changes as we transformed to a non-profit association. We have over 300 subscribers here now with new folks joining us every week. THANK YOU!
My grandfather, an innovator and hands-on marine craft designer, is sadly not around today to watch this project unfold, but he’s in my head daily as I ponder the conversations we might have had about building the Narai Mk IV. Mum, who is currently visiting from Australia, brought over some archival photographs of some of Poppa’s water craft; I’ve scanned to share below. She seems to think Poppa would love the whole concept of the FSL and probably would have jumped on a plane to France to come help us build.
There seems to be a great resurgence with people of all ages wanting to use their hands to create DIY projects and we are all for it. In France (and many other countries around the world), it’s difficult to switch careers without having a ‘degree’ in whatever field you wish to transition. We have shouldered jeers from outsiders (especially in Facebook groups — that platform is a mindfield!) who can’t imagine how non ‘professionals’ (and particularly, a woman) could dream of building an ocean-going catamaran.
We believe humans are inherently creative and handy and are also OK with making mistakes. With our toolkit of TIME, HANDS, and good set of boat PLANS — we are ready to step into the yard and get building. Come with us!
- Angie
(Co-founder and President, The Floating Stories Lab Association)