Sleepy Eye family to set sail

Plan to tour Caribbean next year

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

As the son of a son of a sailor,

I went out on the sea for adventure,

expanding the view of the captain and crew

like a man just released from indenture.

Jimmy Buffett's "Son of a Son of a Sailor"

SLEEPY EYE -- District 84 School Superintendent Jay Haugen has a flair for adventure, to say the least.

The North Dakota native spent some of his college days mountain climbing in Wyoming and Montana with high school youth from his church. One summer, he traveled around Norway on a shoestring. He played a guitar in the street and worked on dairy farms for his room and board.

"It was my one big experience away from home," Haugen said. "I'm a Midwestern boy. I went to high school and college in North Dakota, taught in South Dakota and worked in Minnesota. What do I know about the rest of the world?"

Haugen visited parts of the Caribbean Islands, staying in hotels as a tourist in his younger days.

Haugen is planning another big and lengthy experience away from home.

He, his wife and two school age daughters plan to visit the Caribbean again, sailing between Florida and Venezuela from Aug. 1, 2003 to July 31, 2004.

The Sleepy Eye Public School Board approved Haugen's year-long sabbatical Thursday night. It was part of Haugen's multi-year contract.

Minnesota State Statute 122a.49 reads that sabbatical benefits must be for the purpose of professional improvement and service to the district.

In a letter presented to the board Thursday, Haugen wrote that his sabbatical "would help him become a better superintendent and leader for all people in the community."

Haugen will receive 35 percent of his salary while on sabbatical. He has been Sleepy Eye Superintendent for seven years and has a handful of years remaining on his contract.

Jay and his wife Janet -- a Title 1 paraprofessional at Sleepy Eye Public School -- will school their daughters themselves next year.

Haugen said many people in school and in the community have asked him about the planned cruise.

"People in the Midwest think it's uncommon, but it really isn't," Haugen said. "Many people sail boats in the Caribbean between Florida and Venezuela. Often times, sail boats travel in groups of 8-15 at a time between the islands. They dock together and become very good friends."

Many of the Caribbean Islands are so close together, they can be reached in a day, according to Haugen.

The Haugens plan to visit many islands, shop in the markets, get to know the people and sleep on a 30-foot long and 12-foot wide sailboat. They plan to equip the boat with a marine radio; hand-held, online computer; three separate Global Positioning System (GPS) navigational devices.

Haugen has a fair amount of sailing experience with a 21-foot sailboat they sometimes anchor in Sleepy Eye Lake. They usually sail it on Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River southeast of the Twin Cities and on Lake Superior.

Haugen recently wrote a story that was published and will have another printed soon about his sailing experiences in Latitudes & Attitudes, an American magazine for sailing enthusiasts. He may write a book and plans more sailing stories during his year-long trek.

Jay plans to earn his maritime Captain's License during the cruise. To earn such a license, he will operate a 100-ton boat at least eight hours per day for 365 days.

Haugen -- who enjoys speaking and lecturing -- intends to acquire plenty of material for many presentations about the trip in and around Sleepy Eye after the voyage.

Jay said he was interested in family and friends visiting the family in the Caribbean during their travels.

Chris Haugen, a high school senior, is excited about helping the family cruise, although he'll be in college during most of the voyage.

"I love fish and the water. It'll be great to spend the winter holidays on a Caribbean Island with the family," Chris Haugen said.

Janet Haugen admitted she is a little leering about water but said the voyage will be a "great experience" for her daughters.

"I think it'll be fun and a good experience," said Kaeti, an eighth-grader.