This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

The Nutts Set Sail

By Ritu Upadhyay

A crowd of well-wishers cheered as the sailboat headed out to sea and out of sight. On March 25, the Nutt family of Edgecomb, Maine, said goodbye to friends and set sail on the biggest adventure of this family's life.

For the next three years, David Nutt, his wife Judy Sandick and their four children--David, 13; Sarah, 11; Jasper, 9; and Charlotte, 4--will sail around the world on their 60-foot boat, the Danza. They will navigate their way across oceans, spending about 200 days at sea and 900 days visiting ports on six continents.

At Home on the High Seas
No matter what their name may imply, the Nutts are not crazy. They have carefully planned this adventure. Mr. Nutt, a professional boat-builder and expert sailor, will captain the boat. Dr. Sandick is an emergency-room doctor capable of handling medical problems. The kids have been sailing all their lives.

With the six of them sharing the small boat, teamwork will be essential. "We'll have to try and get along better than normal, or we'll drive each other bananas," says David.

All four kids will be schooled on the boat by their parents. Every day they will read books and go through their lessons. "A lot of our schooling is learning about different cultures and how they live," explains David.

The kids look forward to meeting new people at the different stops along the way. "When you're on a boat for a long time, you really want to meet new kids," says Sarah.

During the first year, the family will sail through the Panama Canal and to the Galápagos Islands. After crossing the Pacific, they will spend six months in New Zealand, waiting out the perilous typhoon season.

When they return in 2003, life will be different for the Nutts. Charlotte will have spent nearly half her life sailing the seas. Sarah and Jasper will be teenagers, and David will be thinking about college.

Already, David sees the trip as the beginning of a lifetime of adventure. "This might not be the last time I sail around the world," he says.

You can follow the Nutts' journey and even send them questions at www.sikids.com.

Next: Top 5 Jelly Beans