Posted by Ed
It’s difficult to describe the feeling or magical experience that’s derived from cruising throughout the Caribbean islands, so it occurred to me that through the various boats we have run across, the names of some of the boats are a pretty good indication of how others feel about cruising.
We have spent time with new friends from San Francisco who sail a beautiful Chuck Paine designed custom Lyman Morse 54 called “New Morning”. They are currently in the process of circumnavigating and are headed to the South Pacific. With each new day bringing a new morning, it also brings with it a new adventure to their lives.
“Freedom” is a name I have seen several times which says a lot about the feeling derived of being totally on your own, free from the stress of the everyday work world and other obligations everyone is faced with on a daily basis.
While spending the winter in the Caribbean we have often remarked that this is a wonderful feeling of an “Endless Summer” which seems to be in sync with other boat owners.
Newly married, a young German couple who are spending their honeymoon sailing from Germany to the Caribbean and back to Germany over a six month sojourn are sailing aboard a Bavaria 42 called “Dream Catcher”.
A Hunter 42 we saw, tricked out with dual wind generators, solar panels and a full enclosure for comfortable living aboard was called “Daydream”.
The boat that really had my curiosity was a Jeanneau called “YOLO”. After doing some research, it seems the owner is from Des Moines Iowa and once he was introduced to the Caribbean, he decided to make a life of sailing in the Caribbean as a charter skipper aboard “YOLO” which says it all “You Only Live Once”.
Others we have seen that also say it all, are “Tranquility”, Living the Dream” and then of course, there’s GYPSEA!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Gypsea and crew are back home in New England
Posted by Liz
Ed and crew arrived last night (Tuesday) in Beverly. Great to see Ed. They all had a good time, despite getting tossed around a bit in the Gulf Stream. Everyone in the crew chipped in and made for a great team.
This week back is being spent getting our lives in order - cars up to the shop for repairs, inspection stickers, doctors and dentist appointments, offloading the boat, getting the house in order.
We're both really sad that our adventure is over, but feel so blessed to have lived this life. When people ask me about the trip, it's really hard to describe it - but I've come up with three words that really summarize how we felt every day:
HAPPY
JOYFUL
PLAYFUL
Everyone I've seen this week says "You look different", "You look like a completely different person" - and I say - "It's because I'm Happy!".... I'm trying hard to make it last, and keep that happy karma a part of my everyday life going forward.
Ed and crew arrived last night (Tuesday) in Beverly. Great to see Ed. They all had a good time, despite getting tossed around a bit in the Gulf Stream. Everyone in the crew chipped in and made for a great team.
This week back is being spent getting our lives in order - cars up to the shop for repairs, inspection stickers, doctors and dentist appointments, offloading the boat, getting the house in order.
We're both really sad that our adventure is over, but feel so blessed to have lived this life. When people ask me about the trip, it's really hard to describe it - but I've come up with three words that really summarize how we felt every day:
HAPPY
JOYFUL
PLAYFUL
Everyone I've seen this week says "You look different", "You look like a completely different person" - and I say - "It's because I'm Happy!".... I'm trying hard to make it last, and keep that happy karma a part of my everyday life going forward.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
50 Miles from Home
Posted by Ed
Gypsea is almost to her New England home (she has another home somewhere between 10 and 18 degrees North)! Its been a very cold and foggy last 24 hours and we are in the home stretch. Many dolphins have visited Gypsea the last few days and the crew for both legs of the trip north have been great.
The passage has been uneventful and included a variety of conditions with some very light air, some not so light, a bit of uncomfortableness in the Gulfstream, warm temperatures, some cold temps the last few days, pea soup fog and some really great ocean sailing.
I hope I'm speaking for everyone...I can't wait to get out and do it again!
Thank you to everyone, Liz and I appreciate all your help!
Gypsea is almost to her New England home (she has another home somewhere between 10 and 18 degrees North)! Its been a very cold and foggy last 24 hours and we are in the home stretch. Many dolphins have visited Gypsea the last few days and the crew for both legs of the trip north have been great.
The passage has been uneventful and included a variety of conditions with some very light air, some not so light, a bit of uncomfortableness in the Gulfstream, warm temperatures, some cold temps the last few days, pea soup fog and some really great ocean sailing.
I hope I'm speaking for everyone...I can't wait to get out and do it again!
Thank you to everyone, Liz and I appreciate all your help!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Almost Home
Posted by Ed
We are approximately 40 miles from the buoy at the south end of the Great South Channel near Nantucket. From there we'll head NW for about 140 miles towards Marblehead Bell. We should be in the Gloucester or Beverly area sometime Tuesday night.
It's been very cold lately especially during the night since were back in the northern latitudes and something we haven't experienced for a long time...fog.
Cheers,
The crew of Gypsea
We are approximately 40 miles from the buoy at the south end of the Great South Channel near Nantucket. From there we'll head NW for about 140 miles towards Marblehead Bell. We should be in the Gloucester or Beverly area sometime Tuesday night.
It's been very cold lately especially during the night since were back in the northern latitudes and something we haven't experienced for a long time...fog.
Cheers,
The crew of Gypsea
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Through the Gulf Stream - but not pretty
Posted by Ed
Sunday early afternoon and we are finally through the Gulfstream. It was a rough night probably similar to being in the agitation mode of a very large washing machine.
Our weather guru, Herb, on the SSB radio suggested a different way point to enter the stream which was another 125 miles to the northwest from our original way point that Commander's Weather gave us for entering the stream. Herb suggested the breeze will be about 25 knots from the SE and higher in the Gulfstream so it was best to traverse the stream Sunday night rather than Saturday evening. We actually traversed the stream Sunday morning.
Herb also said there is a discrepancy in the Gulfstream charts produced by the Navy and another Gulfstream chart called an altimeter chart. Herb believes the Navy chart was way off on defining the parameters of the Gulfstream and since his information was more current than our now three or four day old information from Commander's Weather, I chose to go with Herb's way points for entering the stream.
We altered course to the northwest and we were dead downwind with the wind up to 29 knots. The seas were pretty powerful and were tossing Gypsea around rolling port to starboard and back again making it difficult to steer and more difficult to get any rest as you were being tossed around in your bunk. We hand steered through the night rather than risk the chance of the windvane slipping into a jibe position.
In the early morning we were still a good distance from the way point for entering the Gulfstream but since it was so uncomfortable aboard, we jibed over and headed North across the Gulfstream and were clear of the stream in just about five hours.
Everyone is doing well although a little behind on our sleep but since Hans Solo (the Monitor windvane) is steering once again, we are able to relax and when off watch catch up on our sleep.
We are about 290 miles from Marblehead and should arrive sometime Tuesday assuming we don't have a strong easterly preventing us from sailing on the outside of Nantucket and Cape Cod.
Our present coordinates are 37 55.5N and 69 32.2W.
We will update our progress tomorrow.
Sunday early afternoon and we are finally through the Gulfstream. It was a rough night probably similar to being in the agitation mode of a very large washing machine.
Our weather guru, Herb, on the SSB radio suggested a different way point to enter the stream which was another 125 miles to the northwest from our original way point that Commander's Weather gave us for entering the stream. Herb suggested the breeze will be about 25 knots from the SE and higher in the Gulfstream so it was best to traverse the stream Sunday night rather than Saturday evening. We actually traversed the stream Sunday morning.
Herb also said there is a discrepancy in the Gulfstream charts produced by the Navy and another Gulfstream chart called an altimeter chart. Herb believes the Navy chart was way off on defining the parameters of the Gulfstream and since his information was more current than our now three or four day old information from Commander's Weather, I chose to go with Herb's way points for entering the stream.
We altered course to the northwest and we were dead downwind with the wind up to 29 knots. The seas were pretty powerful and were tossing Gypsea around rolling port to starboard and back again making it difficult to steer and more difficult to get any rest as you were being tossed around in your bunk. We hand steered through the night rather than risk the chance of the windvane slipping into a jibe position.
In the early morning we were still a good distance from the way point for entering the Gulfstream but since it was so uncomfortable aboard, we jibed over and headed North across the Gulfstream and were clear of the stream in just about five hours.
Everyone is doing well although a little behind on our sleep but since Hans Solo (the Monitor windvane) is steering once again, we are able to relax and when off watch catch up on our sleep.
We are about 290 miles from Marblehead and should arrive sometime Tuesday assuming we don't have a strong easterly preventing us from sailing on the outside of Nantucket and Cape Cod.
Our present coordinates are 37 55.5N and 69 32.2W.
We will update our progress tomorrow.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday morning update
Posted by Ed
The breeze filled in late yesterday afternoon and we had a another delightful sail with a clear nights sky full of stars and good illumination from the first quarter of a waxing moon. We were enjoying a nice reach occasionally sailing in the seven knot range and those that were off watch slept very comfortably.
The breeze was getting light in the early morning and we were motor sailing until noon when the breeze filled in from the SE at 17 knots and were again sailing along at seven knots. We expect to enter the Gulfstream around 37 degrees North and 68 degrees West, sometime around midnight tonight.
The breeze is expected to pick up later to 20 or 25 knots from the East but hopefully will be less as we traverse the stream.
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood with sunny skies and 74 degrees today.
More tomorrow after we get through the Gulfstream.
The breeze filled in late yesterday afternoon and we had a another delightful sail with a clear nights sky full of stars and good illumination from the first quarter of a waxing moon. We were enjoying a nice reach occasionally sailing in the seven knot range and those that were off watch slept very comfortably.
The breeze was getting light in the early morning and we were motor sailing until noon when the breeze filled in from the SE at 17 knots and were again sailing along at seven knots. We expect to enter the Gulfstream around 37 degrees North and 68 degrees West, sometime around midnight tonight.
The breeze is expected to pick up later to 20 or 25 knots from the East but hopefully will be less as we traverse the stream.
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood with sunny skies and 74 degrees today.
More tomorrow after we get through the Gulfstream.
Friday, May 21, 2010
First 24 hours underway - Bermuda to Boston
Posted by Ed
The first 24 hours has passed and as of noon today and we have logged 128 miles for the first day. The sail through the night was delightful and uneventful. In the early morning the breeze went very light and we have been motoring since 0630.
To conserve fuel we only run the engine at 2000 RPM's and depending on the waves we may only make 5 to 5.5 knots towards our initial waypoint The entrance to the Gulfstream is still about 200 miles away and we should enter the stream sometime Saturday evening or very early Sunday morning. We have chosen to cross the Gulfstream at the narrowest area of the Gulfstream just to get through it and then set our course for home. Weather permitting we hope to sail to Beverly via the outside of the cape otherwise we may put in on the south coast of MA or go through the Cape Cod Canal.
Everyone gets along very well and all are well rested. Jim has been gracious enough to keep the gang well fed with meal preparations.
For our entertainment, Kurt spotted a whale breaching several times just about a half mile ahead of us and by the time he got his camera the whale decided to stop showing off.
Our position is noted below in this email but in case it isn't we are located at 34 03.0N 66 22.2W
The first 24 hours has passed and as of noon today and we have logged 128 miles for the first day. The sail through the night was delightful and uneventful. In the early morning the breeze went very light and we have been motoring since 0630.
To conserve fuel we only run the engine at 2000 RPM's and depending on the waves we may only make 5 to 5.5 knots towards our initial waypoint The entrance to the Gulfstream is still about 200 miles away and we should enter the stream sometime Saturday evening or very early Sunday morning. We have chosen to cross the Gulfstream at the narrowest area of the Gulfstream just to get through it and then set our course for home. Weather permitting we hope to sail to Beverly via the outside of the cape otherwise we may put in on the south coast of MA or go through the Cape Cod Canal.
Everyone gets along very well and all are well rested. Jim has been gracious enough to keep the gang well fed with meal preparations.
For our entertainment, Kurt spotted a whale breaching several times just about a half mile ahead of us and by the time he got his camera the whale decided to stop showing off.
Our position is noted below in this email but in case it isn't we are located at 34 03.0N 66 22.2W
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