
Observations on the Open Ocean
It is the evening of July 26th, and we are just about to enter the doldrums. As I look out at
My journey—rooted in personal experience, scientific exploration, and global connection—has been shaped by curiosity, community, and a lifelong commitment to helping others live well.

It is the evening of July 26th, and we are just about to enter the doldrums. As I look out at

The Double X crew officially set sail for the South Seas on July 16, 2016, passing under the Golden Gate Bridge at precisely 12:30 p.m. It has taken over two years of preparation and a healthy dose of persistence, but it has been worth all the hard work. In fact, it’s nothing short of a dream come true.

It’s hard to believe, the first leg of the Double X journey, crossing the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to the Marquesas Islands, is just three days away. I expect it will take us about three weeks to cross the ocean, but with all the wild weather these days, it’s tough to predict just how long it will be before we arrive.

We left Newport Beach on June 14th to motor up the coast to San Francisco for our departure to the South Seas on July 16th. Typically, the wind whips straight down the coast, so you need to motor up to make any progress at all. (If we sailed up, we would probably still be out there.)

Throughout the Double X journey, I thought it would be fun to share highlights of my earlier sailing sabbatical aboard the Firebird over 40 years ago. I’m categorizing these posts under “Blast from the Past.” As luck would have it, Captain Bob, the skipper for the Firebird journey, is also the skipper for the Double X journey.

All of us on Double X are in the thick of it as we get things ready for our upcoming sailing voyage. As you might expect, the to-do list is a long one as we ready the boat, chart our course, gather the necessary permits and licenses, and get our stateside affairs in order.

On July 1, 1978, I sailed into Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach, California, after circumnavigating the world on my 84-foot sailing boat, the Firebird. My then 11-year-old son Rod and his young friends were waiting for me on the beach wearing their cool Quiksilver board shorts.

I’ll be blogging about our adventures in a couple of weeks. The team is putting the final touches on the
Reflections from Dr. Sam
Personal wellbeing isn’t just about you or me. It’s about the people around us, our family, friends and the greater community. Taking care of yourself, nurturing your connection with nature, and making an effort to transform challenges into opportunities, will help lead us to a future where we can all happily coexist.
Wellness has always been central to my story. When my father, Carl F. Rehnborg, founded Nutrilite in 1934, his goal was to help people everywhere take responsibility for their health, their wealth, and the planet. Even then, he knew that all these things were interconnected. His vision shaped my own path—a journey grounded in curiosity, science, and a passion for helping others live well.
Nutrilite is so much more than a plant-based supplement brand – it is a way of life that has stood the test of time. With a passion centered on health + wellbeing, Amway is the world’s largest direct selling company*. It spans six continents with a presence in 100+ countries and territories.
* Source: Euromonitor International Ltd; Vitamins and Dietary Supplements, World GBN, Retail Value RSP, % breakdown, 2023 data based on custom research conducted April – August 2023.
There’s a long history of farming innovation at Nutrilite. It started when my father, Carl F. Rehnborg, began growing alfalfa in the 1930s before we even knew to call it organic. He was looking for the purest, most nutritious botanicals, and he already knew that they needed to be grown sustainably and naturally, without any synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. That same belief continues to guide us today.
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