Pacific Puddle Jump Profiles, Pt I

PACIFIC PUDDLE JUMP PROFILES, PT I —

If you've ever doubted that cruising sailors are a fascinating group of people, you should tag along with us on one of canoes. gation. "I didn't actually go to Australia our annual trips to Mexico and Panama. As with all to buy a boat, but I decided I wanted Each year in early March, just as a new Wharram to try the lifestyle, and I've loved it ever herd of Pacific Puddle Jumpers are about designs, since. I'd already had my fill of shovel- to set sail for French Polynesia, we corral the living snow out of driveways." them for interviews by offering free beer, ing space hors d'oeuvres and official PPJ burgees. is mini- Moshulu — Spencer 42 Invariably, they come from a wide mal and Gerry Parkhurst & variety of backgrounds, and sail on the sailing Alf and Kathleen of 'Kattu' Gail Jasmer-Wilson a wildly diverse fleet of boats — from systems are simple, and high tech gear Gig Harbor, WA is almost nonexistent. But keeping Gerry tells us Moshulu is a Seneca things simple is good, right? Alf and Indian name meaning fearless. But his Kathleen won't waste a lot of time isn't the first awaiting the arrival of parts via DHL. vessel to adopt The build took them 10 years it. The the four- and was inspired by neighbors on masted barque Saltspring Island who built a tri and Moshulu was circumnavigated during the 1960s. the winner of The boat's name, by the way, is taken the last great from the Tamil word meaning lash- Australia-to- ings — you guessed it, the boat's Europe grain structural members are held together race (1939), and by lashings. is said to have been the last The 'Moshulu' crew Nakiska — Freya 42 commercial sailing ship to round Cape Our official Pacific Puddle Jump burgees make Trevor Anderson Horn. (She's now a classy restaurant in great souvenirs. But you can only get one if you Georgetown, CYM Philadelphia.) attend one of our Send-Off fiestas. Trevor's story is unique within the While the background of this Moshu- Spartan fixer-uppers to gleaming yachts fleet. Although he's lu is not quite that impressive, she does equipped with all the latest bells and from Calgary, Alberta have a colorful history. She has already whistles. The common thread, of course, (don't let that Cay- done two circumnavigations, and will is that they are all poised to head west man Islands homeport turn 50 next year. in pursuit of one of the sailing world's fool you), he bought Gerry and Gail spent five years re- greatest adventures: crossing from the his boat in Austra- furbishing her before heading south West Coast of the Americas to French lia 16 years ago, and with the 2010 Baja Ha-Ha rally. Their Polynesia. At roughly 3,000 miles, it's has spent much of plan now is to do a short South Pacific the largest uninterupted stretch of ocean that time cruising it circuit. a would-be circumnavigator would face around the world. At Trevor of 'Nakiska' Sure they're a little rowdy. You'd be in a festive when traveling around the world via the this point, he's about to complete the mood too if you were about to set sail for the tropics. final quarter of a very slow circumnavi- fabled isles of the South Pacific. Yeah, it's a pretty big deal. And that's why, ever since coining the phrase Pacific Puddle Jump nearly 20 years ago, we've expended lots of ink honoring the sailors who make this ambitious passage. The voyagers you'll meet here gathered March 7 at the Vallarta YC in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico for our annual PPJ Send-Off Party. (We'll follow up next month by introduc- ing you to the adventure-hungry explorers we met at Panama's Bal- boa YC.)

Kattu — Wharram Tiki 38 Alf Bangert & Kathleen O'Brien Hornby Island, BC Kattu is definitely one of the most unusual boats in this year's fleet. She's homebuilt to a James Wharram design that borrows

concepts from ancient voyaging ANDY / LATITUDE PHOTOS ALL

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30° N • San Francisco

The Beguine — Valiant 40 you keep your mistress on the 15° N • San Diego Paul & Celeste Carpenter sea" and this 38-ft cat definitely Marysville, KS qualifies as her husband's mis- Routes of the Despite being officially based in Kan- tress. Pacific Puddle Jumpers sas, Paul and Celeste already have a After nearly two years spent lot of sea miles under their belts. Now cruising in Mexican waters, the in her fifth year of cruising, Celeste ex- couple figures the time is right for •Cabo a South Pacific cruise — "while we still have our health and wits Puerto •Vallarta about us!" 0° "Thirty-four years, three They met their crew, Dani Zihuatanejo• (grown) kids later, Peters and Jack Whittmore, in and we finally get to Mexico. The foursome may sail together all the way to Australia. pursue our dream!" Marquesas• Wind Cutter — Island Packet 485 Panama plains that the last time they decided to Craig & Carol Fleetwood > head offshore from Mexico they ended Portland, OR 15° S Galapagos > up in Alaska. so now it's time to "do a Based on the following, we'd 180 and head for the South Pacific." bet that few PPJ crews are more excited The folks you'll meet here set sail from Ban- Plans are open-ended. about chasing the deras Bay. But many others jump off from And yes, the name is taken from that sun over the hori- Panama, Galapagos and elsewhere. famous Cole Porter song. zon than Craig and a 20-ft Flicka — that process took 13 Carol: "From the years, but he got 20 years of sailing out Pied-a-Mer III — Seawind 1160 moment we said, 'I of her before deciding to upgrade. By Pam & Eric Sellix, Clatskanie, OR do,' we have talked contrast, Gail is a relatively new con- about this day. Thir- vert. She learned to sail only five years ty-four years, three ago. (grown) kids later, 'Windcutter' Craig and we finally get to Rhapsody — Herreshoff Nereia 36 pursue our dream!" Alan & Laura Dwan, Los Angeles Wow. That's a long time to defer ad- It's not often that we see the name venturing, but there's every indication Herreshoff in a Puddle Jump fleet list- that they'll make the most of it now. ing, and this one is a rare beauty. De- They left us with this pithy comment: signed by L. Fran- "When people share concern over our cis Herreshoff, but safety while sailing an open sea, we like launched in 1981, The happy crew of 'Pied-a-Mer' to say, "'We'd rather die living, than live this 'modern clas- Pam explains that the colloquial dying.'" sic' sports a ketch translation of her boat name is "where rig, and measures Starshine — 42 feet overall. Shannon 38 Why the South Dave & Gail Kenyon Pacific? Alan can Deale, MD trace his inspira- "We came down tion to sail there on the Ha-Ha this to his reading of 'Rhapsody' traditionalists year and decided to Joshua Slocum's Sailing Alone Around keep going," explains the World when he was about 12 years Dave. He and Gail old. Their game plan is to spend two plan to island-hop all seasons exploring the South Pacific be- the way to Australia, fore circling home via Hawaii. then figure out what comes next. Oogachaka — Kadey-Krogen 42 Like many, many Ken & Patty Sebby Puddle Jumpers Umatilla, OR over the years, Dave Easily one of the most unusual boat credits his reading of names ever to grace a Puddle Jump fleet David Lee Graham's roster, we have to wonder if Oogachaka Dove (40 years ago) was chosen because it would be fun to with sparking his lust say on the radio: "Harbormaster, this is for bluewater sailing. Oogachaka, Oogachaka, Oogachaka." The first step in that Trivia champions will know it's taken process was building from a 70's pop hit Hooked on a Feeling.

April, 2014 • Latitude 38 • Page 93 PACIFIC PUDDLE JUMP PROFILES, PT I —

In any case, this boat is also dis- tinctive, as she's Chara — Amel Maramu 48 night races. Before she knew it, she and one of only two Robert & Joyce Sarff Robie were in love, and were beginning motoryachts in Seattle, WA their cruising adventures together with the 2014 fleet. When we asked Bob how long he'd the 2011 Baja Ha-Ha. They've become Much to his credit, been wanting to head out into blue wa- so enamored with the cruising life that Ken stepped up to ter, he paused to think. But his grown they're already thinking about doing act as net control- a second Mexico-New Zealand-Hawaii- Repeat x3: 'Oogachaka' ler for boats jump- Mexico loop after they complete the first. ing from Mexico. He and Patty plan to reach New Zealand by the end of this Cygnus — Cabo Rico 38 season. Joe Lavash, Newport, OR Technically, Joe has already 'cruised' Bangorang — Fountaine-Pajot 42 the South Pacific, but in his mind that Colin & Wendy Gegg, Ventura, CA first crossing didn't really count. He Speaking of unusual boat names, was, after all, aboard a US Navy vessel how about Bangorang — the battle cry that made a beeline past all those gor- of the Lost Boys from Neverland (in a geous islands without Peter Pan movie). Roughly translated it stopping. From that means: awesome! point on, he vowed Although Colin claims he's been The kids and parents of 'Chara' to return on his own dreaming about making a South Pacific daughter Anna had an immediate an- boat someday so he passage since his teen years, it took swer. She remembers a day when she could stop and smell until 2012 to set the plan in motion. He was a little kid where her dad bought a the roses — or more and Wendy entered the cruising lifestyle lottery ticket and she asked, "If you win, appropriately, the ti- with the 2012 BHH, and are now follow- what are you going to do with all the are flowers. ing that frequently heard cruiser game money?" "Buy a sailboat," he said, "and Blair Faulwet- Joe of 'Cygnus' plan: "Keep sailing until it ain't fun any- sail off to the South Pacific." ter and Sally Jones will fill out Cyg- more." Their "adult(ish)" son Gavin will Well now he and his wife Joyce are nus' crew roster during the crossing to be along for the ride to French Polynesia, finally doing it, and Anna and her hus- French Polynesia, and possibly beyond. and possibly all the way to New Zealand. band Brian Radford get to come along Joe's plans are loose, but most likely too. If all goes well, the game plan is to he will spend the next South Pacific cy- Hotspur — Tartan 41 cruise all the way to Australia, where clone season in New Zealand. Jim & Meri Faulkner, Olathe, CO the Sarffs have family. Nautical literature quiz: Who was Talk about a unique reference for a boat name, Colin and Wendy named their F-P cat after an the captain of the British naval ship Red Witch II — Rhodes Bounty II exclamation from Neverland: 'Bangorang'! Robie & Stephi Kirkcaldie Nelson, NZL We have a special place in our hearts for Bounty IIs, because the first editions of Latitude 38 were laid out on the salon table of one. Like the Latitude Bounty, this one was built in Sausalito in 1958, and she's still going strong. Designers underestimated the strength of fiberglass back then, so they were built like battleships. Meet Jim, Carolyne & Meri of 'Hotspur' "She has a fiery red tempera- Hotspur? Horatio Hornblower, of course. ment as well as an around-the- She was his first command. world histo- Jim and Meri started cruising six ry," explains years ago on a perfectly good Cal 35 Robie, a New sloop. But when their kids outgrew it Zealander and they were inspired to upgrade to this longtime rac- roomy 41-footer. Daughter Carolyne, er. Like many 14, is still with them. In fact, she's been Kiwis, he's pushing to head to the South Pacific been sailing for a while. "When Captain Jim said he all his life, but didn't feel like going south anymore," Stephi, who's explains Meri, "we changed direction, an American, so now Carolyne gets her wish." Plans 'Red Witch II' crew got started are open. only three years ago when she

started showing up for Wednesday ANDY / LATITUDE PHOTOS ALL

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fluent French is a bonus. She and Mike have cruised Mexico for the past two Code Blue — Caliber 40 LRC That's ex- Steve & Judy Dauzenroth actly what he Seattle, WA did, and now For Steve and Judy, one of the stron- Pamela is as gest draws of the cruising life is access excited about to great scuba diving. In fact, sailing crossing the and diving with blue skies above and Pacific as he blue water below was the inspiration 'Pamela's namesake & capt is. This is their for the boat's first boat, which they bought two years name. When ago, but Dennis says doing a cruise like someone re- this has been a lifelong dream. Dennis, minded him who plays guitar, met another guitarist it's also med- at a cruiser jam this year, and now that ical-speak for guy — Larry Byers — has signed on as These sailors love 'Music' cardiac ar- crew to French Polynesia. Should be a years on their own sailboat, which has rest, he said, tuneful crossing. an electric auxiliary. "Perfect. That will go with Sea Monkey — Jeanneau 39 Romany Star — Ohlson 38 the boat pay- Greg Mullen & Diane Hanny Paul Moore & Bonnie Wagner ments." Brisbane, AUS San Francisco, CA The 'Code Blue' divers Judy's done Like many Aussies we meet on the "We met while living in the same ma- two previous stints of South Pacific voy- West Coast these days, Greg and Diane rina in San Diego," explains Paul. She aging and Steve has seen parts of it on capitalized on the current strength of may now be in love with Paul, but she dive and charter trips. So they've un- the Australian admits that one of the first things that doubtedly got a list of favorite spots to dollar to buy a attracted her to Romany Star was her return to. We expect you'll find them nice production aluminum toe rails. "I really fell in love along the cruiser milk run to New Zea- boat here and with them," she says. (They never need land, wherever the water is clear and sail it home to varnishing.) the reefs are abundant with sealife. the land down Paul has done two previous Puddle under. They Jumps, both times via the Galapagos. Roundabout II — Moody 40 found Sea Mon- But this time the game plan is to head Ted & Pam Simper key in San Di- from PV straight to the less-traveled Edmonton, AB ego last winter, Gambier archipelago of French Polyne- Don't let the fact that Ted and Pam and have spent sia. He and Bon- live near Calgary fool you. They've been 'Sea Monkey' sailors the intervening nie both jumped sailing since the mid-1970s, when they months enjoying Mexico. through hoops first sampled the sport in East Africa. "This is my first cruising experience to get their "long The name Roundabout isn't original and ocean crossing in 30 years," explains stay" six-month with them, but it perfectly suits their Diane with just a wee bit of apprehen- visas, rather than intentions: "It has been our dream sion, although she admits that she's the customary for 30 years to always dreamed of crossing the Pacific. three months, so sail around the Greg nudged her into committing, after they'll have plenty world," explains doing the Puddle Jump in 2007 aboard of time to take it Pam. This sea- his previous boat. "He loved the South slowly and explore son they may Pacific islands and wanted me to experi- all five FP archi- island-hop all ence them as well," says Diane. After a pelagos. "We'll fin- The stars of 'Romany Star' the way to New stint in Brisbane, they intend to cruise ish with the Marquesas," explains Paul, Zealand, with north to Papua New Guinea. "then sail north to Hawaii for hurricane stops along the season. We hope to see the Cooks, Ton- way at French Music — Island Packet 40 ga, and other island nations next year Polynesia, the Wayne Fofonoff, Vancouver, BC before landing in New Zealand for a Cook Islands, We're not sure if Wayne gave his boat while." Tonga and Fiji. 'Roundabout' we go this name, but he's got a good reason for But for them, that's only the beginning. keeping it: "I really like music, and feel it Anthem — Hylas 46 to be one of the great joys of life — just Jack Warren & Jan Holmes Pamela — Pacific Seacraft 37 like my sailboat." Weeki Wachee, FL Dennis Maggard & Pamela York Wayne's chance meeting of Mike Jack explains that the name Anthem San Francisco, CA Knapp and Marie Cantin has proven to is taken from a book by Ayn Rand, and Dennis is no dummy. He knows the be a coup for all, as Wayne will have lots represents a song of praise for individu- answer to that often-pondered ques- of help (and will get some sleep) during alism. That's certainly fitting for craft tion: How does a sailor get his wife to the crossing, and Mike and Marie get owned by self-sufficient sailors who are approve of buying a cruising sailboat? to test South Pacific waters on a very about to cross thousands of miles of Simple, name it after her! capable boat. The fact that Marie speaks open ocean.

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Jack's been cruising full-time since January, As we said they're really into fishing. In 2009. He and fact, they even design and sell their own Jan have one of unique lures (skabengalures.com). the most unusual Veteran Puddle Jumper Jennifer Mar- answers we've tindale signed on for the passage, and Jack & Jan of 'Anthem'. ever heard to the even though she's done lots of offshore question: "So, where did you meet?" An- sailing it took a little practice to become swer: "Big Mamas in Tongatapu." Yeah, an "excellent" helmsperson while the it's in Tonga — in what most people boys were fighting marlin. "It takes a lot would say is a long way from anywhere. of skill to keep that fish behind the boat," "We plan to spend cyclone season says Bruce. in New Zealand, where we have many friends, then head up to New Caledo- Mintaka — Ingrid 38 'Fluenta' is home to the littlest PPJer nia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand Mark Bennett & Robyn Rogin Fluenta — Stevens 47 in 2015. After that our plans are a little Salt Lake City, UT Max Shaw & Elizabeth Brown-Shaw fuzzy — written in sand at low tide." Remarkably, this will be Mark and Halifax, NS Robyn's third We haven't had time to confirm Grasshopper — Waterline 46 Pacific cross- this assertion, but we're pretty sure Jeff & Cheri Slotta, Polaris, MT ing on the that three-month-old Benjamin is the Cheri couldn't make it to our fies- same classic, youngest 'cruiser' ever to do the Pacif- ta, and we didn't get to 1979 William ic Puddle Jump — at least since we've spend much time with Atkins-de- been keeping records. As you may have Jeff either, which is a signed ketch. read in February's Sightings section, shame because we don't She's not only little Ben was born in Mexico, which often meet sailors from salty looking, turned out to be a great experience. Montana. Mark & Robyn of 'Mintaka' but has also When he gets a little older his mom Jeff says he's been proven her seaworthiness again and and dad (Elizabeth and Max) will have subscribing to sailing again. "This time we're hoping to visit plenty of help with babysitting: daugh- magazines for years, and some of the more obscure islands," says ter Victoria is now 10, and son Johna- 'Grasshopper' Jeff the cruising bug finally Mark. There are plenty to choose from. than is 8. The family began cruising bit so hard that he and Cheri had to In fact, in French Polynesia alone there from Nova Scotia almost two years ago, give it a try. are 118 islands, and that doesn't count after Elizabeth and Max made their exit all the islets and motus. from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Skabenga — St. Francis 44 Mk II At the end of the season Mintaka will The game plan now is to hop west Bruce & Fynn Harbour, Big Sky, MT likely be back at her "base" in New Zea- for the season, then head south to New We're not quite sure how Bruce and land. Zealand or Australia. his 19-year-old son Fynn got from their South African homeland to Big Sky, True Blue V — Island Packet 45 Exodus — Lagoon 400 Montana, but they are now definitely Leanne & Craig Chalker Tim & Deanne Gresham Brisbane, AUS San Diego, CA We first met Leanne and Craig in The Gresham family left San Diego a September 2012. They'd just flown year ago on a grand adventure that none out to California from Australia to buy of them are likely to forget. We think sons this boat, and Alex, 12, and Brenden 11, are at an ideal were eager to age to participate in the sailing chores start their new and become fully engaged in the cultures cruising lifestyle with the start of the Baja Ha-Ha a few weeks later. Bucking the norm, in this Aussies of 'True Blue V' The 'Skabenga' crew sails for Marlin couple Leanne is the captain, and right- getting back to their nautical roots. Both ly so. After all, she makes her living as are avid fishermen, and their motto for a ferry master. the cruise is: "Catching marlin under Their original plan was to sail back sail." Bruce explains, "Skabenga has home to Oz last year, but they got se- been customized into a sportfishing duced by the Sea of Cortez. Time will sailing vessel, complete with a fighting tell if distractions along the way west The Greshams are making an 'Exodus' chair, outriggers, teaser reels and a will sidetrack them again this year. they visit. Apparently that was the idea: special fighting station on the transom." "We wanted a freer, slower lifestyle while

Page 96 • Latitude 38 • April, 2014 MEET ME IN PAPEETE

watches, general maintenance and the boys are still young enough to enjoy tralia. overall seaman- it," explains Deanne. Steve speaks ship as we con- Captain Tim has a specific plan for eloquently tinue on. That, crossing into the Southern Hemisphere: about their ex- and they have a "Head to 7°N, 127°W, and when we get periences thus lot of fun doing a close to the ITCZ, close our eyes and turn far: "The people variety of activi- south." Sounds about right. that we are to- ties with a variety day are nothing of people. Not bad Lady Carolina — Island Packet 44.5 like the people for 13 and 9." Steve & Carolina Danielewicz that we were His advice: Victoria, BC two years ago. "Stop dreaming There's apparently a couple of varia- This is, and and go cruising. tions on why this boat is named Lady continues to You and your Carolina. "The good story?" asks Steve. be, an excellent kids will love it — "I found the boat and fell in love with trip filled with Cruising has been life-changing for this crew. although it takes it, then I had to find a wife named Car- highs and lows that are atypical of any 6 to 12 months to adjust." olina. In the end, it all worked out." 'normal' life. It gives a new perspective Sounds a little fishy, but a good story on what is important and what is mate- nonetheless. rialistic and 'Jonses'-driven. With those insightful observa- This is yet another 'kid boat', with "Our kids are doing very well and I tions we'll take a break here, and pick it sons Kyle, 13, and Joel, 9, along as would suspect they are better here than up again next month with mini-profiles able-bodied crewmen. Now in their sec- back on land. They have more respon- of the internationally diverse fleet of Pa- ond year of cruising, the entire family sibility, more jobs and are exposed to cific Puddle Jumpers that we recently seems very well adjusted to the cruising many cultures and several excellent met in Panama. We think you'll be as life, as they push on toward the South role models through fellow cruisers. fascinated to meet them, as we were. Pacific islands, and eventually to Aus- We have come to depend on them for — latitude/andy

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