Hand-built schooner Katie Belle arrives in South Carolina

Two cousins from Stewiacke, N.S., have arrived in South Carolina on board their hand-built schooner, Katie Belle.

Evan and Nick Densmore launched the wooden boat in the Stewiacke River last fall. They spent 16 days in transit, motor-sailing to Charleston, S.C., stopping in ports along the way to work on the ship.

"It's been quite a journey," said Evan Densmore. "Definitely worth the wait, that's for sure."

• Stewiacke cheers as schooner hand-built by Densmore cousins launches

Densmore and the crew will stay in Charleston for another two to three weeks to finish the rigging installation the jib and main sail and run some short sail trials before Katie Belle starts her voyage home.

Reflecting on the experience, Densmore says there's more to life than money, and encourages others to follow their dreams too.

• Stewiacke hand-built schooner ready to sail for New Brunswick

"In the end it's your life, so live it up," he said. "Do some things that you want to do and things that are hard too, because they usually end up being the best."

The crew expects to arrive back in Nova Scotia by mid-June.

You can follow the schooner Katie Belle on the Cameron Shipyard's Facebook page, or watch the ship's progress in South Carolina on the Charleston City Marina's webcam.