PACIFIC PUDDLE JUMP PROFILES, PT II —

We've been lucky enough to visit many places where sailors tend to con- gregate, but we've never been anywhere across the belly of the Caribbean to that sees a more international mix of Panama. globetrotting sailors than Panama. "Mark always wanted to go to Celebrating its 100th year of opera- the South Pacific," says Sarah, "and tion this summer, the Panama Canal is he's been trying to convince me for the ultimate funnel through which ad- a while." Apparently she's been venturous sailors from Europe, Africa, won over, especially since daugh- ter Elizabeth, 8, and son Michael, 6, seem totally at ease with their vagabonding lifestyle. They'll cruise to New Zealand, then reassess.

Grace — Panda 40 Paul & Judy Meaney, Seattle, If you think you have to be a lifelong sailor to enjoy cruising, lis- ten to Paul and Judy's story. "We didn't get into until we were in our mid-50s," explains Paul. "Never learned to sail; never had a boat. But we took a couple of lessons and away ANDY / LATITUDE PHOTOS ALL we went." And Qi — Contest 46 so far, so good. Thomas Runte & Gaylyn Morgan Based in Se- Hamburg, GER attle, they've Many Puddle Jumpers have decades now been out of experience, but not this pair. Thomas, Most kids love outings with their mom and dad. four years. who hails from Germany, began his So this Colorado family's boat seems particu- 'Grace' Why French adventures on the water just two years larly well named: 'Field Trip'. Polynesia and the South Pacific? "It's a ago. Six months the Caribbean, the Eastern Seaboard of bucket list thing," they say. later he and Gay- the US and elsewhere must pass en route lyn met, when they to dreamy landfalls of the South Pacific. Taitonga — Alubat Ovni 395 both signed on to a As regular readers know, we call their Christian & Dagmar Sahr on a cross- initial SoPac migration from the West Frankfurt, GER ing from Spain to Coast of the Americas to French Polyne- "I read some books and saw some Malta. She's a na- sia the Pacific Puddle Jump. And every films about the South Pacific," recalls tive New Zealander year we co-host PPJ Send-Off parties at Christian, "and to me it looks like para- who was raised in both the Vallarta YC in Mexico and the dise on Earth." Australia. Balboa YC in Panama. Having intro- Apparently shar- duced you to the Vallarta jumpers last ing crewing shifts month, we'll give '15 minutes of fame' to "He said, 'I want you to led to romance be- 'Qi' the Panama contingent this month. By cause before Gaylyn knew it, Thomas now, many of them are at least midway sail around the world made an unusual proposal: "He said, 'I through the 3,000-mile passage to the with me.'" How could want you to sail around the world with islands, and some of the early birds have me.'" How could she say no? already arrived. she say no? Despite their relative inexperience, they've already traveled successfully Field Trip — Antares 44i He and Dagmar both love traveling, more than 5,000 miles from the Med to Mark & Sarah Silverstein but as he says, "If we had to stay in Panama. As you might imagine, their Castle Rock, CO hotels every night, we couldn't afford it. plans are open-ended. Although Colorado isn't exactly a Traveling by boat, of course, is a lot more huge yachting center, Mark and Sarah reasonable. But it's a long, long way to Sandgroper — R&C 46 cat somehow were bitten hard by the cruis- reach the destination." Especially in this Derek Crosby & Anne-Marie Haynes ing bug a few years ago. During the two case. Freemantle, AUS years since they bought the aptly named Now in their third year of cruising, We have to say that Sandgroper is one Field Trip in Buenos Aires, Argentina, they'll slowly work their way to New of the more unusual boat names we've they've sailed north through the islands Zealand, but they're in no great hurry heard in a while. Perhaps it has to do of the Eastern Caribbean, all the way to get there. with the fact that can bring up to Maine, then back down again and their bows right up to the beach.

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Derek and Anne-Marie are not long- Posed in front of the Balboa YC anchorage at at Panama's Shelter Bay Marina, on the time sailors, but after retiring they char- the Pacific end of the Canal, these voyagers Caribbean side of the Canal. tered a boat on the Queensland coast for were psyched up for the 3,000-mile crossing. the whole fam- those challenges haven't dissuaded them Li'l Explorers — Hughes 58 ily to enjoy. "We from jumping the puddle. In fact, when The Winter-Grant family thought, 'Yeah, we met them, they could hardly wait to Channel Islands, CA this is how we get started. We'd have to scour the PPJ archives want to spend to be certain, but we're pretty sure that our retirement!'" North Star — Tayana 52 Courage and Shannon (aka Dad and They bought Steve & Kim Watford Mom) are setting a Puddle Jump record this Robertson Clearwater, FL by bringing their six (!) kids along as & Craine cat out Steve and Kim began this extended crew. They range in age from Cassidy, of The Moorings cruise with participation in the 2009 15, to little brother Integrity, who is only fleet on Tortola, Caribbean 1500. Although they've been a year and a half. and as Derek 'Sandgroper' out for five years, it sounds as if they're Shannon apparently started getting says, "We've survived 40 knots so far, just getting started. "Underwater pho- excited about this cruising fantasy 10 so I guess we're doing all right." tography is our passion," Steve explains. years ago during her Bora Bora honey- "We dove all over the Caribbean, and now moon. But Courage has had the bug his Andiamo — Islander 36 we're looking forward to seeing David & Maureen Trumble what the South Pacific has to of- Hawaiian 30° N Newport Beach, CA fer." Islands • San Francisco "David's been wanting to go to deep They were both smiling and water ever since we got the boat," says happy 15° N • San Diego Maureen. That was six years ago, and when they took off cruis- we met Routes of the ing shortly after- them, but Pacific Puddle Jumpers ward. probably "I'd read all weren't those sailing mags so cheer- •Cabo that made cruis- ful a year •Puerto ing sound like fan- and a 0° Vallarta tastic stuff — you half ago. Zihuatanejo• know, beautiful That's women stretched 'North Star' when out on deck sun- North Star got hit by lightning, 'Andiamo' bathing. It wasn't wrecking many of her onboard Marquesas• until we got out there that we realized systems. Only recently did they how challenging cruising can be." But complete all the related repairs Panama >

15° S Galapagos > PACIFIC PUDDLE JUMP PROFILES, PT II —

whole life. Back in 1972 his parents built a Piver 48 tri and took off with their kids. The orginal plan was to do the South Jacqui say that to the English Channel (after dropping Pacific, but that never happened, as they after setting sail their rig). "At times we only had about opted for the Caribbean instead. together in 2007, 8" of water beneath the ," explains they had a glori- Ian. And during a drought they got stuck ous trip up the and couldn't move until winter, but the South Atlantic to memories remain precious. the Caribbean, Now they're eager to make some new with moderate 'Jean Marie' memories jumping the puddle. breeze all the way. The story of how Walter, a Swiss na- Shakti — Norseman 447 tional, got to South Africa will have to Mike & Rosie Seidel, Brisbane, AUS wait until another time, but we can tell "The name Shakti means female you that he's owned this French classic power in Hindu," explains Mike, "which since 1978. Although he worked in the tells you everything about the boat. This boating industry for decades before re- is the admiral," he says as he introduces tiriing, he claims that Jacqui, a relative Rosie. newcomer, is Jean Marie's captain. After falling in love with a sis- Bandit — Moody 46 tership in Asia, The 'Li'l Explorers' crew, minus one. David Morgan & Brenda Webb Mike and Rosie Courage and Shannon followed his New Zealand tracked down parents' lead in 2012 by buying this As with many of the Puddle Jumpers Shakti in Trini- Kurt Hughes-designed cat, which had that we meet in Mexico and Panama, dad a year and been sitting unfinished for 20 years. David claims that island-hopping across a half ago, via They launched her a year later and took the South Pacific has been a lifelong YachtWorld.com. off with their kids three months after dream. "Not me," says Brenda. I'm just The couple 'Shakti' that. The interior is still unfinished, but going along for has been cruising seriously since 2008. there'll be plenty of time for that in some the ride." "Yeah," "We only did weekenders before that," distant anchorage. says David, says Rosie. The beauty of being based at I'm sort of single- Brisbane, of course, is that it's a great Dragonfly — Hughes 60 handing with my jumping off point for cruising the Great Al & Jill Wiggington, Zionsville, IN wife aboard." Barrier Reef and Indonesia. Al and Jill's big cat is also a Kurt We have to Hughes design (as is Latitude's 63-footer believe, though, The Southern Cross — St. Francis 44 Profligate). that Brenda is Catherine Kimber & Peter Chataway As noted in our February Letters sec- more involved Port Adelaide, AUS tion, as Al and Jill travel the South Pacific than she lets "We've been told by a lot of circum- they'll be pursuing 'Bandit' on. After all, this navigators that French Polynesia was an unusual agenda. duo has been cruising successfully since their favorite part of the trip, so we're The founders of the buying the boat in Europe five years ago. really looking forward to it," says Cath- medical relief orga- They're now heading back home to New erine, who is listed as the captain. nization Sea Mercy Zealand, but seem to be open to distrac- They left Ad- chartered Dragonfly tions along the way. elaide (on the several years ago, country's south and the couple was Sundancer II — Savage 42 coast) seven so impressed by Ian & Helen Potter, Sydney, AUS years ago, and the nonprofit's op- As they set sail for Polynesia, this will eventually eration that they cheerful Aussie couple is on the home return there. 'Dragonfly' agreed to serve as a stretch of a nine- But they're in no floating healthcare clinic in remote areas and-a-half-year hurry. "We told of the South Pacific. This year, they'll circumnavigation. our parents and be hosting medical teams on rounds in They left Sydney children we'd be 'Southern Cross' Tonga, Fiji and beyond. in 2005. away for 10 years, and we've only been It's often hard away for seven, so we've got a ways to go Jean Marie — Mikado 52 for such well- yet." Their current game plan is to spend Walter Baumgartner & traveled voyagers two seasons in the South Pacific, then Jacqueline Goddard-Baumgartner to pinpoint their up to Asia. Cowes, GBR favorite spots, Although Jean Marie's homeport is but Ian and Hel- Amiable — Amel Super Maramu 53 Cowes, as Walter explains, "We've come en were quick to 'Sundancer II' Steve & Liz Coleman, Hobart, AUS from South Africa, so we like strong mention their explorations of Turkey's Sailing on their friends' Amel 53 wind." They get plenty of that around Turquoise Coast as well as navigating the inspired Steve and Liz to search for a the Cape of Good Hope. But he and French canals from Marseilles all the way similar hull.

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custom built of aluminum in the Neth- erlands in 2006. Although specifically They Dances with Dragons — C&N 58 built for cruising, found Ami- Wayne Harris & Tigs Lankester she has features able in Port Aransas, TX normally only seen Martinique "I've been around once already," says on serious racing a year ago, Tigs, "so I'm showing machines: a lifting and are Wayne the way." Tigs, keel, water ballast, now head- who's English, was out double , a ing home for six years on her garage and to Hobart previous circumnavi- running backstays with those These Aussies are 'Amiable'. gation. Wayne, on the rather than a fixed friends with the Amel, Duncan and other hand, has been backstay. They've Eva along as crew. Some sights along dreaming about such been out since 'Argonaut' the way will be familiar for these own- long-haul cruising ever 2011, and are still loving every inch of ers, as they previously clawed their way since he was a young this one-off 54-footer. east from Tasmania as far as Western man. Now, having After two tours of the Caribbean this Samoa via the Roaring Forties — that's bought this big Camper Dutch couple is now eager to make new definitely the hard way to get there. & Nicholson in landfalls in the South Pacific. 2012, he finally gets his 'Dances with Evenstar — Hallberg-Rassy 53 chance. Dragons' Moana Roa — F-P Bahia 46 BJ Porter & Kathleen Woodruff The couple set sail from Texas in mid- Laurie & Sonia Haynes East Greenwich, RI January, made a pit stop at Isla Mujeres Fremantle, AUS According to BJ and Kathy, their fan- for a quickie bottom job, then beelined It's probably safe to say that Moana tasizing about this cruise began a decade it for Panama. Future plans are open- Roa has something on board that no ago. Their current timetable is scheduled ended. other PPJ boat can claim: a profession- around their kids, son Will, 16, and al guitar teacher. He was brought along daughter Danielle, 13. "We wanted to do specifically to advance 14-year-old Tra- this before "I'm sort of vis' musical career. His brother Beau is Will goes off 12, and sister Kara is eight. Instructor to college." singlehanding with Joel, who's twentysomething, ponders, His goal my wife aboard." "Whoever thought playing guitar would is to be a take you to Tahiti?" de- Having bought this big cat in Marti- signer, and nique, the family has now been cruising he's already Tehani-Li — Tayana 52 for two years. They have to be back in spent some Karel Dimitri & Phil Tenney Australia by November, but we expect quality time Brisbane, AUS with Bob Karel and Phil picked up this boat in 'Evenstar' Perry. Barcelona, began cruising in 2008, and We asked Danielle what her friends have out ever since. Even though they're back home thought about her big adven- now heading west toward Australia, ture: "They think it's cool. In fact, one of Karel clarifies, "We're not necessarily them said she'd like to stow away and taking the boat back home. Australia is come with us." just on the way to Given the family's timetable, they've somewhere else!" got about two years to play before young They'd always Will has to rejoin the real world. intended to do longterm cruising, Ukulele Lady — Shearwater 39 Phil explains, but Nick & Lynette Marvin, Durban, ZAF somewhere along Although neither Nick nor Lynette the way their cruis- plays the ukelele, they've grown to like ing goal expanded Meet the 'MoanaRoa' crew. the name given to their South African- into doing a com- to see them July 4 at the Tahiti-Moorea built by her previous owner — plete circumnavi- Sailing Rendezvous, as Laurie is an out- especially since they're bound for the gation. Don't ex- rigger canoe coach. "I wouldn't miss it!" birthplace of the uke, Polynesia. 'Tehani-Li' pect them to cinch he says. Having left Durban in 2006, they're down their docklines permanently any intentionally taking their time to work time soon. Island Fling — Island Spirit 36 their way around the world. If you're con- Rian Hattaya & Alim Sur templating making the trip up the South Argonaut — Berckemeyer 54 Fethiye, TUR Atlantic to the Caribbean someday, this Frits Draijer & Marian Jongboom Although there are probably thou- pair chooses the word "wonderful" to Den Oever, NED sands of sailing in Turkey, we describe it. "It really was a very easy trip." Clearly one of the most unusual rarely meet Turkish sailors out cruis- boats in this year's fleet, Argonaut was ing — especially those with the experi-

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ence of this happy couple. Now working on their second circumnavigation, Alim and Rian published a book about their Now, as they anticipate the 7,000-mile first rounding, and they regularly sub- homeward run to Australia, their most mit articles to a Turkish sailing maga- immediate goal is to try to avoid sail- zine. ing any more to Between trips they spent a couple windward. "So of years in Turkey, far, we've done but say they "have 4,500 miles to no real roots there" Capt. David and the jolly 'Rewa' crew. windward to get these days. Evident crossing: his old buddy from Maine, here [to Pana- by their big smiles, John Correa, a Belgian sailor named ma] — from the they say, "We feel Paul Vanhauwere and American expat East Coast to like kids when we Jan Ahlman. She now lives in Panama the Bahamas to get out traveling City, having opened a B&B, Panama Cuba to here." by boat." The focus City Connection, that caters to cruisers' "We expect of this lap around needs. "They shanghaied me," she says we'll have a good 'Outsider Australia' 'Island Fling' the planet will be with a laugh, "because somehow they got time on the crossing," says Ian. "After all, to travel slowly and "return to the best the idea that I was a great cook." the Pacific is 'our water.'" places we discovered last time." Cetacea — Cheoy Lee MS 53 Jakker — Jeanneau 42.2 Sangreal — Tartan 34 Tony Wessendorff & Gail Corrigan Tony Erens & Jacqueline Jeurissen Ken & Gail Kleinhoff, Olympia, WA Houston, TX Genk, BEL If you're wondering, the name refers Despite the fact that Tony re- Like many international cruisers we to the Holy Grail. And after chatting fers to his boat as a "big ugly meet in Panama, Tony and Jacqueline with this adventurous pair, it sounds Cheoy Lee motorsailer" we'd bet he loves found they really loved exploring Pana- as though they've been in pursuit of her, as he and Gail have owned her for manian waters that sacred chalice ever since leaving 13 years. It wasn't until a year ago, after — after all, out- the Olympic Peninsula in 1999. Thus Gail sold her company, that they finally side the narrow far, their travels have taken them to got her out into blue water. zone of develop- Hawaii, the "We've known for a long time we want- ment that abuts Line Islands, ed to go sailing," says Gail, "but we didn't the Canal, the Samoa, Tonga, really know where we wanted to go." country offers Fiji, Australia, Tony's vote was many spectacu- across the In- for the South lar cruising ven- dian Ocean, Pacific. ues such as the around Africa, They are San Blas Islands 'Jakker' to St. Hel- among the few and the Bocas del Toro region. This Bel- ena, Ascen- crews that went gian couple stayed a year and still didn't sion, Fernando to the trouble to see it all. de Noranha, 'Sangreal' visit the French They left their home waters in 2010, Brazil, French Guiana, Devil's Island, Embassy in crossed the Atlantic to Martinique, and north to St Maarten, across the Atlantic Panama to apply have explored several islands that are to the Azores, to the Canaries, back to for a "long stay off the usual cruiser milk run, includ- the Caribbean and on to Panama — and visa" of 6 to 12 'Cetacea' ing Cuba and Haiti. Their intention is to they're eager to see more. Next stop, months. Normally, non-EU citizens only circumnavigate, but they're in no hurry Marquesas. get 90 days, which isn't nearly enough to to get back home to Europe. explore French Polynesia's archipelagos. Rewa — S&S 65 (All boats, however, can stay for up to 18 Calista — Bavaria 38 David Irvin, Pretty Marsh, ME months.) The Apukov family, Liverpool, GBR This lovely Sparkman & Stephens- Although Calista flies a British flag, designed, Abeking & Rassmussen-built Outsider Australia — Ocean Cat 49 her owners are originally from Russia. aluminum ketch has changed hands a Ian James & Wendy Shields Vladimir, his wife Oxana and son Alex, couple of times since we last saw her Yamuna, AUS 20, migrated to Malta years ago, but they during the 1999 Baja Ha-Ha. Her current Although Wendy and Ian are typi- are now on the move again, heading for 'steward' is David Irvin of Maine, who's cal outdoorsy Aussies, they didn't get their new home in Auckland, New Zea- excited to bring her back to the Pacific. into sailing seriously until they moved land. "When I was in my 20s," he explains, aboard their previous boat in 1999. Two Unlike the many cruisers who have "I was first mate on a 100-ft years ago someone made them an offer no time constraints, the Apukovs are that sailed from Maine to Australia. It on it that they couldn't refuse, so they making a fast, no-nonsense sprint to was a great trip, but I remember think- decided to take advantage of the strong the land of the Kiwi. They left Malta in ing to myself, 'When I grow up I want to Australian dollar and fly out to the East November, made a beeline across the do it again in my own boat, on my own Coast to buy this Henry Lucke-designed Med and Atlantic to St. Lucia, then sailed timetable." cat. They say they're still amazed at how nonstop to the Canal. He's recruited a jolly crew for the fast she is. They don't intend to dilly-dally in the

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her home. Actually, once they reach the country's east coast, they'll still have a named after the Greek goddess of poetry 3,000-mile trip ahead of them — over the and song — in Washington. Like many top and down the west coast to Perth. Panama Puddle Jumpers, they'll stop "Of course, we may visit Indonesia on along the Ecuadorian mainland and in the way, and perhaps also northwestern the Galapagos on their way west. Australia's Kimberly region. where you Gregg says he's thrilled to get out find beautiful uninhabited fjords." cruising again, as he's had a thirst for The Russian crew of 'Calista'. deep-water adventures since he was 10. Aros Mear — Norseman 447 South Pacific islands either. "We plan to "We lived in the Florida Keys then, and I David & Gitte Bushby, Dundee, GBR make three stops," explains Vladimir: somehow got hold of an old wooden row- David and Gitte arrived at the fiesta Nuku Hiva, Tahiti and Tonga." To each boat that someone had put a sail on and breathlessly, just as we were about to his own. lee boards." He's moved up substantially turn off our recorder and have a beer. since then. They'd somehow gotten the party time Mystic — Albin Ballad 30 wrong. Mark Bryant, Houston, TX Although they began cruising aboard "I've wanted to do this since I was 18," "I want to do the whole this Bob Perry-designed sloop three years says Mark, a singlehander who set sail ago, Gitte explains, from Texas seven years ago. The back- circle. It doesn't matter if "We've been cruis- story: "Right after high school I helped I make it or not. Trying is ing during summers build a ferro boat, but passed up the for 30 years" out of chance to crew it, and I've regretted it what's important to me." their base in eastern all my life." Scotland. Now that he's finally got the chance, Oddly, although he hopes to complete a circumnaviga- Jack Tar — Beneteau Oceanis 473 they are both excited tion. "I want to do the whole circle. It Pete Newman & Carol Rose to see the South Pa- doesn't matter if I make it or not. Trying Mooloolaba, AUS cific, they may take is what's important to me." Borrowing the slang term for salty a radical diversion sailors of the British Empire — Jack Tar before heading west. 'Aros Mear' Windance III — Privilege 435 is an appro- "We actually like high-latitude sailing," Vernor & Christina Kritzer, AUT priate name says David, who seems fit as a fiddle at Although their boat shows a hailing for this cou- age 80, "So we're still debating whether port of St. Vincent, Vernor and Christina ple's boat, as to go down to Chile first and explore the are originally from Austria. Having been they've been fiords." That would mean they'd prob- out for seven years, they've become well sailing for ably circumnavigate the South American acquainted with more than 50 continent before arriving back in Panama the seemingly years. and finally heading west. carefree cruis- "We enjoy Ah, the life of a full-time cruiser. So ing life. the interac- many destinations to choose from. "We are slow tion with oth- movers," ex- er cruisers," plains Christi- says Carol, 'Jack Tar' We hope you enjoyed meeting this na, "so it takes "and we're looking forward to seeing international cadre of cruisers as much us a while. We the Pacific Islands." Having bought this as we did. We hope to catch up with have to put our boat seven years ago, they plan to finally many of them again this summer and 'Windance III' feet down and bring her home to Australia by October. hear about their passages at the annual see what is happening and enjoy where Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendezvous, July we are. Then we move on when we've Novae — Fountaine Pajot 48 cat 4-6 (put on by Latitude 38 and several seen enough. Stefano & Helen Piviali South Pacific partners). Look for our re- Judging by that, it may take them Fremantle, AUS port on that event in the August edition, decades to explore all that the South Although Stefano is originally from then our recap on the fleet's crossing Pacific has to offer. Italy and Helen is from Scotland, they've experiences in September. long considered If it's finally going to be your turn to Kalliope — Tayana 37 themselves to be jump the puddle next season, free regis- Gregg & Deborah Burton, Clark, CO Australians, having tration will begin in November at www. It must have taken Gregg and Debo- migrated there 33 pacificpuddlejump.com. rah a while to acclimate to the tropical years ago. — latitude / andy heat, as they've been living in Western They picked up Alaska. They are no strangers to blue wa- this big cat from Readers — We encourage you to ter voyaging, though. Both circumnavi- the F-P factory in check out the products and services of gated in the late 1980s from Southern La Rochelle, France the Puddle Jump's many fine sponsors, California. three years ago, and without whom our PPJ coverage would Despite her Colorado homeport, the they're taking their not be possible. You'll find them listed at couple picked up Kalliope — which is 'Novae' sweet time getting www.pacificpuddlejump.com.

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