My much-loved “Calypso” has been sold!
Introducing “Calyps0 II” – an Island Packet 38
I know, I know, she looks very similar to the first Calypso (even the same off-white colour) but that is a good thing because there was much to like about Calypso and I have not fundamentally changed my philosophy as to what constitutes a good voyaging boat. Calypso II still has the necessities of a good voyaging boat as laid out in Get Real, Get Gone and embodied by the original Calypso (and Marutji before her). Namely:
- A decent, long integral keel.
- A fully protected rudder (No dreaded, exposed and vulnerable spade rudders. See here why they are such a rotten idea on a voyaging boat)
- A heavy lay up – built to get you there, not win races
- Small, tough portholes
- Strong rigging and sails
- Relatively short, sturdy mast
- The ability to heave-to quietly in foul weather so I can stay cozy below and watch Downton Abbey on the BBC iplayer
Calypso II also has some other things that I would recommend to other voyagers.
- Less external wood. I know it looks lovely, but at least half my maintenance time on Calypso was taken up with keeping the wood nice and insect-free. If you ignore that task in the tropics, then trouble will soon follow.
- Oversized rigging and chainplates. In 2014, the nice chaps at Port Townsend Rigging whipped out the old chain plates and replaced them with a heavy duty version and did the same to the entire rig. Gives one a great deal of confidence.
- Monitor Windvane. Don’t get me wrong, any windvane is an improvement on an
Photo courtesy of Scanmar
electric autopilot and they all work their magic. Yet only Monitor (and some Aries models) have solved the ‘big wave problem’. (To be fair, Hydrovanes have solved this too, but they are not servo type systems). This is where a big wave slides under the boat and knocks the servo blade out of the water so it is no longer steering the boat. The Cape Horn on Calypso (although a fantastic system in many ways) was vulnerable to that, as are all the others). Monitor’s stainless cage prevents that from happening – it weighs a bit more than others, but it is good to know that it will continue to steer in all conditions particularly as it would seem that (however unplanned) some solo sailing is likely to feature in my future.
- Hard Sailing/Rowing Tender Say goodbye to the endless bullshit that comes with dinghy/outboard maintenance and have a heap of fun too. Also serves as my sail training vessel for new crew. A much easier and fun way to teach the basics – chuck the new crew out with a copy of “sailing for dummies” and go and have a beer. A great trolling vessel too because you can scoot quietly across the water dragging a lure at a decent speed under sail alone which doesn’t scare the fish off. You can really fight with the bigger ones as there is no possibility of holing your dinghy landing any fish that is less than keen about becoming lunch. Say goodbye to hunger and boredom and much expensive maintenance all in one go. Of course, I still have my favourite Advanced Elements Kayak (can’t imagine sailing without it) but I don’t have to use it so much for the ruff stuff (I once transported advocado trees in it!)
Calypso ll is fairly similar to Calypso with the long keel and fully protected rudder. However, the cutaway forefoot dramatically improves her close quarters handling – I actually came into a marina in reverse (solo) without peeing myself – something one could never have hoped to do in most long keelers – including Calypso.
Having said all the above, I did not start the complicated process of selling a boat I knew well (and immersing myself into the heavily mined arena of buying one I did not) for any of the above reasons. The motivation came principally from the desire to accommodate the many readers who contacted me asking if they could join the boat for a while and get a bit of a taste for the lifestyle. I did try it a few times with Calypso, but she was just too small. So I set out to look for a boat that was about the same size overall as Calypso but had an aft cabin and better interior volume, but did not sacrifice any sea-going ability to achieve it. A very tall order indeed! The Island Packet 38 turned out be a very good answer to this problem. Whilst less than a foot longer (LOA) than Calypso, she has excellent interior volume with two decent sized cabins and voluminous storage. In other words, all the advantages of a charter yoghurt pot but with top of the line build quality,
The real cause of the overheating – corrosion in the heat exchanger/manifold allows the coolant to mix with the exhaust gasses and be expelled out the back of the boat with the raw water/exhaust cocktail. If you are losing coolant and there is no obvious leak, this is usually where it is going.
The aft cabin can fit two singles or can be turned into a romantic double with the addition of a center infill piece. The forward Pullman berth is truly the most comfy bed I have ever slept in. The forward head has been removed and turned into a man-cave. Oh yes! how many sailors are lucky enough to have their own man-cave! A second head is rather excessive on a small boat and the man-cave means that all my tools, gooey stuff and fasteners are all in the same place rather than strewn out all over the boat getting lost and pissing off my partner (should I ever be of a mood for another) as grease and oil finds its way into the potatoes and her favourite strappy top. I am still sorting it out and I wish to add a permanent vice, stand drill and grind wheel, but it is a real life -changer. Makes me smile just looking at it :).
Generally, the bones of the boat were in excellent shape, but she had been neglected for long enough to make her a bit of a bargain. The gel coat had gone dull and chalky, the windlass and one furler had seized and the varnish was peeling off exactly to the extent that it was difficult to remove and impossible to repair. The overheating problem in the engine had been cured by removing the wires from the temperature alarm. (sometimes known as the “Hillbilly Tune-Up”) and the head was leaking and making the boat smell like the toilets at Millwall Football Club. This of course was my first job and proved fairly easy to repair and then I moved on to all the other jobs in more fragrant surroundings.
Restoring the chalky gel coat with the help of these wonderful fun-lovin guys……
……Kelly (1) Kelly (2) and Peter. Hard to imagine nicer guys
With the help of three really funny Fijian guys, I have now removed every single scrap of varnish from the exterior of the boat and I will be replacing it with Semco – a non-varnish, non slip coating that is both pretty and virtually mainenance free.
I have been slowing going through the boat stem to stern and fixing whatever I don’t like and cataloging the enormous amount of spares the previous owner was kind enough to leave me with (thanks Daryl!) but generally speaking I am absolutely amazed with the build quality and presence of mind that Island Packet put into these boats – almost every time I think “wouldn’t if be a good idea if…” Island Packet seem to have already done it.
Easy to singlehand – simple and predictable.
She is a delight to sail and surprisingly close-winded for a long-keeler. Johnny (friend visiting from Tonga) and I were amazed how smartly she tacked and at tight angles that were beyond anything I had hoped for (certainly much closer winded than Calypso).
So my friends! In a few weeks I will be ready to sail and I look forward to meeting you all out here later in the year when I have (inevitably) bounced back a bit and am closer to my usual fluffy, fun-loving self! Despite upgrading the boat, I will still be running on a ‘not for profit’ basis so I expect a decent bottle of wine (or two bottles of cheap Londis plonk)!
As always, any questions stick them below in the comments or email me on sailingcalypso@gmail.com
Cheers Everyone and Fair Winds to All!
Rick Calypso II Fiji Feb 26th 2019
English
Slovensko
Italiano
Love your site, comments and content! I hope one day to sail my SC28 far and away but until then I have your site.
Thanks Kurt!!! And we hope to meet you and your lovely boat somewhere in paradise. Don’t give up on your dream!
Your welcome for the cash it was money well spent on your book. Enjoyed it very much. Hopefully you will remember this when I need someone to pull me off a reef! ?
Glad you liked it Aaron! Have you bought a boat yet? Are yiu planning to get gone or have you already left? Let us know on sailingcalypso@gmail.com.
Cheers,
Rick
PS: Whether or notI pull you off a reef will very much depend on your Amazon review ?
Hello,
You all have really got me inspired after reading your book “Get Real, Get Gone” I am in my planning stages now of buying my boat and becoming a Sea Gypsy myself in 24 months! I have to say I love the Hans Christian/Union 36. I am leaning towards the Cabo Rico 34 myself. I just wanted to say hello and that I really enjoyed reading your book and following and living vicariously through your lifestyle!!!!
James
Thanks for the great feedback! Great choice of boat too James – not without its price tag though! I have sent a reply to your email. Cheers, Rick
Nice choice of boats James.. clearly we don’t need to worry about you too much! (At the risk of being repetitive, avoid the models with the teak decks!). Keep us posted with your progress and feel free to whizz over any links of boats that you are considering, so that we can stick our oar in. ?
Cheers,
SV Calypso
Fakarava
Just started reading your book “Get Real, Get Gone”. Very inspiring and great, honest detail too.
Giving the Sea Gypsy life some serious thought. Not sure where yet.. I’m in the Caribbean at the moment.
The boat selection advice is particularly helpful as this is all new to me – so lm sure I will have questions…
Regardless, this book is money well invested.
Ade.
Thanks Ade – we certainly appreciate the kind words. Feel free to fire any questions you can think of. We knkw what it is like to start from scratch, so no question is too obvious or too personal
Good luck Ade!
PS The Carib is an excellent place to start! Boats are cheap, sailing is good and the rum is fantastic
Hello: I read your book, just finished today. Thoroughly enjoyed it and the tips you have in it are really valuable information. I have been searching for the right sailboat for quite some time and as of yet, undecided as to what hull design to gravitate toward. Your sailboat being a double ender, what is your opinions of it compared to others without being double ended as for following seas etc.? Also, is your generator a portable or is it permanently mounted and what location, and is it diesel or gasoline? I like this idea as compared to having to run the boats engine to top off batteries.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the email. We are delighted you enjoyed the book and found it helpful. Many people will say that there is no great advantage to having a double-ender, but this has not been our experience. We have become so accustomed to how well-mannered Calypso is in a following sea, we were completely shocked when we recently delivered a very wide transomed Garcia 60 to Fiji. Furthermore, those wide transoms tend to slap the water at anchor and can make quite a racket. The only real disadvantage to double enders is that fitting self steering can be a challenge. Regarding generators: we dont have one. A well set up boat should be able to source its daily requirements from sustainable energy sources. This is something of a central theme of the book, so I am not sure where you got that idea from.
Anyway, thanks again for getting in touch and email me any questions as they occour to you.
Best of luck Steve!
R n J
Hi Ric and Jasna,
Those people who say there is no advantage in a double ender obviously have not sailed in one. My Fisher 32 is impeccably behaved in any sort of a following sea.
Cheers and good luck
Ric
AGREED! Just delivered a 3 million dollar yacht to Fiji which had an enormous transom and steered like a wilful pig! A well balanced boat can spoil you! ?
Just wishing you best of luck ?
Thanks Darrel!
Hi R n J. My girlfriend bought me your book and I’ve just finished it. I can honestly say it’s the first book since The Cat in the Hat that I’ve finished and immediately turned back to page one!
Your attitude seems to exactly echo our own and I’ve learnt so much from you and your book. I’m now going back through the pages with Post-it notes and a highlighter!
In fact, you’ve made me discard EVERYTHING we thought we had decided upon with our sea quest. So, thanks for that!
Ha Ha! Sorry about that! It all works out well in the end though…… Let us know if you have any questions so we can cause you even more trouble.
Cheers,
Rick
SV Calypso
Fakarava
Hi ;
At this time I am on the third reading of your book…taking notes for our next steps into a sea gipsy life…
Loving your book and your way of leaving.
We are correcting track and solving problems to be ready to live the rat race, all according your book and other recommendations…target in one year from now…Let´s see…
The only non following and luxury is the boat selection ( sorry as I am a multihull enthusiastic sailor ). We already sold our 27 feet folding trimaran ( no good for see gipsy life at all..je je) and already we got a Prout Snowgoose 37 cat. I think it will be perfect for a sea gipsy multihull couple in the fifties…
boat is in Greece and that will be our place to start, may be….
Just to say many thanks to show us the way with that great book…
Good luck Jose! Keep us posted with your adventures and thanks for the kind comments ?
SV Calypso
Hi Rick and Jasna.
Just dropping a word here. Just finished reading your book. Great motivation. On the look for the right boat. Looking to escape in about 3 years from now. Thanks for the emails and help.
We’ll meet one day somewhere out there!
Cherrio from Kitty’s Ark II
Mike
Good Luck Mike!
Its good to jear your progress. Keep us posted and whizz over the links of any boats you are considering so l can try and put you off them. ?
Keep savin the dough while you can buddy!
Cheers,
Rick
Hi guys
( I assume that the book was a joint effort). My wife brought it for me for Christmas. Perhaps she is trying to tell me something? You have definitely struck a cord with me. Maybe I have found my home at last. I totally agree with your comments about anchors. What do think of pacific seacrafts as a possible boat!
Fair wind etc
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for getting in touch. I have sent a message to your email address.
Cheers
Rick
I seem to be concerned a lot these days with water(the lack of) I see you carry water on deck do have any problems with water spoiling?
No. Never had a problem. We always rotate ours anyway (we pour them intothe main tank in the bilge as soon as there is space) and if we have a long passage to go on, they are only 1/3 full. This is because a lot of weight on the rails can adversely affect your boat’s sailing characteristics and reduce her ability to right herself in a knock down. Obviously this is not a problem coastal day sailing, so we fill em! When we head offshore, they are just filled enough to give is something to drink in the life raft without adding extra weight to the rail.
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for posting. I have sent a message to your email address.
Cheers
Rick
What is CPN.
Google ‘open cpn’
It is a free software to turn your laptop into an electronic chart plotter.
Hi Guy’s, hope all is well. Am reading your book for the 2nd time, it’s great.Been looking at boats again. What do you think of the Westsail 32 or Tayana 37. Both are full keel.
Thank’s Gary
Hi Gary,
Glad to see you are back on the righteous path! We are VERY familiar with the Tayana 37 as we practically own one (the T37was designer Bob Perry’s ‘revenge’ boat after being stiffed on the design commission for the Hans Christian 36 and so is practically identical to Calypso). We are also very familiar with the Westsail 32. Both make excellent cruising boats (get one WITHOUT those bloody teak decks) being robustly built. Did you see the boat that survived the ‘perfecf storm’? A Westsail 32 called Satori.
Both boats have great owners’ associations which are a great source of info. Westsail.org, tognews.com. got any links of the ones you are looking at?
Good luck Gary!
Have you visited Wellington, New Zealand yet. You must, if only to drag me off my complacent backside, put me on a boat and push me out of Wellington harbour!
Haven’t been there yet, but we DO have a very fine range of motivational butt-kickings should the wind push us that way…
Hi,
Just wanted to say how much we are enjoying your book, which has brought our escape forward substantially and saved us many thousands into the bargain, so we definitely owe you a few drinks. Saw you 2 weeks ago on the Ben Fogle re run here in UK. Very Best Wishes to you both.
Just this minute finished your book. Good work! My investment was justified. One question — if not teak, what?
Rs
Hi Rs,
Thanks for getting in touch. Glad you like the book and considered ot worth your time (we would be very grateful if you could repeat your kind sentiments on the review page of Amazon).
The answer to your question is ‘virtually anything else’. The way your question was phrased suggests that you are perhaps under the impression that there is little alternative to teak decks, when the truth is that most boats do not have teak decks. Most fibreglass boats have fibreglass decks (often with a central core of marine ply, end grain balsa or hi tech synthetic like Nolex) for insulation. Steel boats often have steel decks, aluminium boats, aluminium decks, ferro boats, ferro decks, etc etc. In fact, teak decks are far from the norm (thank goodness) so there is no reason to buy an old boat with teak decks. New boats with teak decks are probably okay, but our book is aimed at the budget sailor trying to get to sea on pennies, so avoid old teak decks like the plague. To be fair, l dont even like teak decks on new boats as they add weight up high, just where you dont need it and can still be leaky. All round silly idea really.
Thanks again for getting in touch and keep us posted on your progress.
Cheers,
Rick
Great book. As The China Study (Campbell) does for health; your book cuts through what we are encouraged to believe, to reveal in clear language what we need to know.
How is it even possible for yacht brochures/web pages to not mention the rudder? And worse to highlight trivial features instead. Equally, do any brokers have keel/rudder design as a searchable parameter? Hopefully, as the buying public becomes more educated, suppliers will take note.
Thanks again.
Hi Mark and Jo,
I totally agree with everything you say – particularly the tendency of marketeers to highlight the trivial. The constant repetition of the need for this or that gadget has left the less informed sailor believing that not having the latest everything is irresponsible. Look at some of our negative reviews on Amazon: Rich folks frothing at the mouth because we dont have all the blinking gadgets while setting off to sea in their fin-keeled, spade ruddered yoghurt pot of the ‘highest specification’. The power of advertising in focus!
It is certainly annoying that seaworthy construction is considered an optional extra or less important than the galley taps, but not really a mystery when you consider the new market is generally driven by non-sailors, playboys and bucket-listers. The boat builders are doing what they have to in response to the uninformed consumer – it is a hard environment for boat builders! What l do object to though is those same boats being also marketed as ‘bluewater cruisers’. This is as close to criminally negligent as you can get without actually driving into somebody.
Thanks again for your comments
Cheers,
Rick
PS lf you feel like giving some of those twits a tongue lashing on Amazon, you totally have our blessing! ?
Am just reaching the end of a 30 year career in the Met Police as a detective on the Flying Squad. Your book and tales are absolutely inspirational and thought provoking.
I’m currently researching my yacht for my travels but just wanted to thank you as your experiences have seriously affected my decision making and plans.
You’re a great couple. THANK YOU.
What kind words Jason! Thanks a bunch. I have sent you an email so you can keep us informed of your adventures and ask any questions.
Thanks again,
Rick
Hi both,
Just read then re read your book. Feeling inspired! Thank you.
Rick, I too suffer from M.I.A.S. In fact my house is starting to resemble the scene from Spinal Tap! (Do you know the one? …don’t touch that…don’t even look at it…ha).
I also suffer a more serious condition. B.A.S (boat aquisition syndrome). The good news is that it is very easy to diagnose as when the season comes to an end and you are wondering where the hell you can store them all? You know you got it!
Looking forward to exploring this site.
Cheers
Graeme
Hi Rick & Jasna,
just a short note to say how much I enjoyed reading your excellent book. I’m now even more inspired to Get Gone. Hopefully one and a bit more years of saving plus tying up some loose ends within that time and my adventures shall begin. Calypso looks a lovely, seaworthy boat.
Fair winds, following seas!
Steven Paul
SV Minerva
P.S. : I have left you a review on Amazon… ?
Hi Steven,
Thanks for the kind words. We are delighted that you liked the book so much and hope you will come and join is out here. What are your plans? I see you already have a boat. Thanks also for leaving such a killer review – much appreciated!
Let us know if we can help in any way on your journey to gypsy status. Our email is sailingcalypso@gmail.com
Thanks again!
R n M
Hi Rick & Jasna,
you’re very welcome regarding the review.
My plans initially are to see all the bits of the UK and Ireland that I haven’t yet seen, then the Netherlands and Baltic. Possibly for the first 2 or 3 years I may just cruise the summer months and pick up a job for the winter to top up the funds. Then I would like to head south… France, Spain, Portugal and into the Med. It’s all pretty fluid and I will just see how I get on.
I’m already living aboard but still working. The boat is a Danish LM 27 (long keel, canoe stern) and she is a terrific boat for my needs.
I may shoot you off an email with specific questions!
Steven
Hi Both,
bought your book after seeing you on the TV, I have never seen two people smile so much!!
I’ve got a Hustler 30 from 1972, it’s a great little boat but too small to live aboard so I’m looking to get something a bit bigger so I can hone my gypsy skills!
Trouble is I see very few boats for sale in the UK that I actually like, I really hate modern production boats.
What do you think of these 2?
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1990/Cabo-Rico-34-2937881/France#.Wk6Or1W6-M8
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1973/Victory-40-3004577/United-Kingdom#.Wk6QnVW6-M9
All the best and keep smiling!
Mickey
Hi Mickey, Thanks for getting in touch, I will answer by email when I hit the computer!
I just finished your book. I am a Canadian living in Tokyo. Sailing away is my 3-5 year goal which I have started preparing for (I’m not sure really how to prepare lol). It’s a little daunting as Tokyo is so expensive. I will do my best though. Thank You so much for all the great information in your book. I don’t know what to do next after reading your book… haha
Thanks Jason. Why are you in Tokyo wondering what to do next? ? Drop us an email on sailingcalypso@gmail.com if you would like some suggestions!
Cheers,
Rick
dear jasna and rick..
we just started reading your book ” get real…”( i read- he listens) and we truely enjoy it very much.you give essential and good information and it is nice to read.above all you are another source of inspiring sea gypsies who encouage us to get real and go for our dream to become sea gypsies ourselves soon!
thank you for sharing your knowledge! its great!
until we will find the right boat for us….we read..we think…we get inspired and prepared…it will take a while but it has already put a smile on our faces!
thanks again for sharing what you have learned and fair winds to you!
Hi Rick and Jasna,
I have just finished reading your book. Congratulations, you folks provide very useful tips. The book made me laugh with the truthful comments and stories as well (couples yelling at each other while docking…). I found it so interesting that I bought a second copy for a friend who also has plans to sail away some day. I wish you folks good winds and a peaceful life !
Thanks for those kind words Rodrigo!
Let us know if you have any questions -always happy to help!
Cheers,
Rick
I just finished your book and I’ll read it again. I am a Brazilian mid-age guy and planning to live in Ubatuba in two years, a city at São Paulo North Shore. Worth a try to know it and region, very beautiful anchorages.
Well, the book gave me a new vision for sea living and you have a good sense of humor. I don’t know if I’ll get all the things done, but I’ll try most of them, cause I’ve to convince my wife and it´s not easy.
The first difficulty is to find a boat with keel and rudder that you emphatysed. Most boats that we´ve seen are like book figure (e) keel and rudder.
Our plans will be explore Brazilian shore from South to North with no hurry and arrive in Caribean. When we came back we ‘ll problably work with boat charter and this means a 38 or 40-foot boat.
Thanks for the tips and advices. I wish good winds for both.
Thanks Carlos! I have sent you an email.
Cheers,
Rick
HI just finished reading your book, we have a boat in the UK. The tips on anchoring were very good, but the best thing was the home made washing machine, we will be trying that out.
Yours Mark & Jeannette
Rick & Jasna,
I heard your story on a podcast thru Boat Radio and then bought your book. It was the best decision I’ve made since Crissy and I decided to start saving for our future boat and cruising life together! Your advice is invaluable! We’ve both been sailing (racing) for 20 years and had so many ill conceived notions about what we thought we knew. Your book set us straight, or straighter, or at least down towards the right path. We’re in the saving phase, and minimizing and phase and looking for “the right boat” phase. We’re taking our time and plan on making the purchase in a few years then spend a few years sailing the Great Lakes (where we live) while outfitting the boat and preparing to shove off for good. Thanks so very much!
Ha ha! I can imagine what 20 years of racing can do to your head! thanks for the positive feedback. I will PM you so that we can follow your progress. Thanks again!
Hi Jasna and Rick,
after reading your book “get real, get going” I’m on the way to sell my motorboat. In nearest future, I hope to buy a steel sailboat 33feet long to go in the baltic see and, after some time trainee the sailing, I will go south.
All my best wishes and thanks for your words. I hope I’m on a better trip next time ?
By the way, I’m 60 years old and I have to go single handed. There are only some experience in the past with sailboats but nothing, I can use today. The ship will get a windvane steering at first.
Best regards
Peter
Thanks Peter… you are our first reviewer for the German version! I will drop you an email so we can keep in touch. thanks again!
Rick
Thanks you Two for the book. Loved it.
Looking to purchase in the next few months on the East Coast of Oz.
Well written, thoughtful and honest. Love your sense of humour.
All the best
Tony
PS I loved Aputaki if you get back over there. They even have a careenage their.
Hi Tony,
Glad you liked the book! Aputaki is fab is it not? I have been looking on the East Coast too – maybe you would like to hear about what I have seen around. I will drop you an email.
Cheers,
Rick
Love your book and site, and am literally hanging onto every word. Our two preparation started this year for our new Sea Gypsy life (or Ocean Pilgrims, as we plan to to travel and help communities with medical and environmental issues).
I retire from the UK Police and my partner is a Critical Care Nurse and we need to leave our hectic lives behind.
We currently have a 22’ yacht so I can teach her how to sail and I can learn the in depth working and maintenance of a boat that we usually would pay others to do, ie: engine, rigging, sail repairs and general maintenance.
We WILL contact you on our departure if not sooner for a meet up.
Keep up the good life.
Karl and Mel.
The Ocean Pilgrims …’becoming the 1%’
Hi Karl and Mel,
Great to hear you are liking the book. I love your plan and will drop you an email so wan can stay in touch and arrange that meet up!
Cheers,
Rick
Calypso II
Savusavu
PS: The follow up book should be available for Christmas, so talk to Santa….. ?
Zelo zanimiva jadrnica starejše, a preizkušene in zanesljive zasnove. V risbi jadrnice pogrešam navtično mizico s polico za elektronsko opremo (chart plotter, globinomer, monitor za vetrne senzorje, VHF, HF, GPS, radar, itd). Jo ne bosta imela?
Lep pozdrav, Boris
Imam jo Boris! Morda ni vidno na slikah? To barko bi priporočal vsem. Daleč je moja najljubša! Imate čoln, ki vam je všeč ali ga iščete?
Hello,
I just finished your book (way too quickly and I’m sad its over). Thank you! Thank you for speaking on my level. Thank you for being ethical. Mostly, thank you for the laughs! Hopefully I will find a recipe for the homemade wine on your site as this is my first time on it and I am still exploring. I would also love to read some more about sailing alone and would love some advice- especially from a woman’s perspective. If this too is somewhere on your site I apologize- I was so excited to log on and thank you I haven’t looked around yet. Would another THANK YOU be overkill? -Genny
Hi Genny,
Thanks for your lovely comments! A lot of questions there and I will give them some thought and repy to you email. Glad you liked the book!
Hi,
Like most commentators I have read your book. Firstly an ebook then the paper version.
I have no experience at all and I would like to buy a boat for my wife and boys (11 and 12)so we can cut loose. I love your advice but I am still scared s…less for a purchase. We have about £50k at a push. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
John
Hi John, Thanks for the comment -I will email you.
Cheers,
Rick
Hi Rick,
Have had ‘the dream’ of selling up and sailing off for sometime now. Just waiting for the kids to finish education but in the meantime looking into sailing courses off the South Coast of the UK (Solent area).
Watched the Ben Fogle programme last night and have just purchased your book.
The first step has been taken…..
All the best, stay safe and keep happy!
Stu
Hi Stu,
It’s as good a dream as any buddy! Drop me a line when you have read the book with your questions and let’s make it a reality. always happy to help fellow sea gyppos ‘get gone’ ?
Cheers
Hi Rick,
Saw the latest BF update. C II is a gorgeous looking boat and sad you are selling up. I reckon with CV19 is the best place to be with assured social distancing!! And we’ll be going back to our barge in France shortly.
Good luck.
Hi Colin,
thanks for the vibe and kind comments about Calypso II. She is indeed an awesome boat (my favourite so far) but do not feel sad as it would have to be something pretty special that made me give her up – and indeed it is. I can’t say too much at the moment, but suffice it to say that it will make a great catch up programme in 2 years when BF returns.
I am glad to hear that you can move now and that you are on your way back to France. I have always fancied the inland waterways of Europe and I will probably get around to them in a few years’ time, so look out for me!
Thanks again,
Rick
Halfway through your book and am window shopping boats, I am planning to crew and take exams before taking plunge but maybe tempted to buy a 20ft practice boat. Regarding gypsy boat I am thinking of a twin (bilge) keel with skeg mounted rudder. I didn’t see much mention of twin keels so am wondering if I am barking up the wrong tree? Seen a twin keel Sabre 27 but long way off buying anything. I am thoroughly enjoying your book by the way and assuming I don’t scare myself stupid in my practice boat, in 3 years time I will be in the market. Also talking to a friend he was singing the praises of electric boats with lithium batteries any thoughts on this, or is it a bit like turning the boat into a ww2 U-boat?
Hi Fraser,
Thanks for getting in touch. I cover electric boats later on in the book, so I will not answer that here. Twin keels are great if you need to leave your boat in a harbour that dries out or plan on cruising in fairly shallow waters or the canals and waterways of Europe, but they offer no advantages to the long distance sailor at all. There is always a trade off and twin keels produce more drag and offer less stability and windward performance. As you know, I am not a speed freak and don’t really care about a few knots and a few degrees to windward if it means you have a better or stronger boat as a result, but the twin keels do not make a sea gypsy boat better in any way.
Luckily in the UK, there are a lot of great small sea gypsy boats – The Heard 28, the Contessa 26, The Dockrell 27 , The Twister, Contessa 32, Sadler 32, Rustler 31, etc – all of which you would be much better off looking at if you eventually plan to sail a bit further afield. You are welcome to whizz over a link to me of any boat you are considering. I will send a copy of this to your email too so you will have my address
Cheers,
Rick
I love your book and left a 5 star review on Amazon! My wife and I was all over the place looking for sailboats before reading your book! We want to say thank you so much for keeping it real!!!!!!! We will be setting sail as soon as the youngest graduates. We are looking at multiple options. Cruising and being loopers. I need help deciding on a boat for both lifestyles and better yet the must haves we want put into our tiny sailboat home!
Hi Jonathon,
Thanks for that – I look forward to reading that. Drop me an email on sailingcalypso@gmail.com and I will be happy to help.
Cheers,
Rick
Been reading your stay real book and I have to say finding it a even better read then the first book. BUT on your spade rudder and fin keel attack on boat designers. I must say although all your criticisms of the design are true and real. A Bit of defense of the designers of this type of boat is due. THE REAL reason for this design was NOT originally to save money or make the boat cheaper. THIS design originated on Racing yachts like the America’s cup series boats. And they are cost be damned make me the fastest boat you can design and my corporate sponsors will pay for it. Cost savings was not even a consideration in the original fin keel designs. It was to reduce wet surface increase keel foil effect all to make the boat as fast as possible, the bolt on was also a needed part of the design as the keel on these boats is removed(as although narrow are long) to transport the boats to the starting line of the race. And hidden from view of the competition as to not give away any keel design advantage. The end result was racing yachts that sailed faster then any previously imagined design. And then the yacht club crowd all wanted those fast boats to race on the weekend club racing. And guess who buys brand new yachts NOT sea gypsies or long term live aboard cruisers except for the wealthiest and guess what most of those wealthy buyers as still ruled by the yacht club crowd who want fast boats. Yes you can find a few builders like Kraken yachts who make intergel fin keels with skag hung rudders. BUT most buyers want what the race boats have and make assumptions that if it’s good enough for the latest offshore racing boats it’s good enough for their cruising boat. Of course most racers are not alone out there and help is likely to be along soon. But just like F1 tech makes it to luxury cars a AMG super charged mercy really does not make for a better daily driver but the rich buyers still want flappy paddle shifters in their luxury sedan. And rich weakened sailers want fast fin keeled boats with keel designs that look more like a wing then a keel.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your expansive comment. I cannot find a single point where we disagree. :). I actually agree with everything in your post. The original motivation for lightly built yachts was to shave a few seconds off course time and damn the cost (I covered this mentality in the first book). The reason these designs persevere in the domestic market though, is most definitely economical. Plenty of other design breakthroughs in the race world did not make it onto the ‘normal’ list for production boats simply because they offered no economic advantage. Other production favourites like the saildrive leg actually increase drag and offer no sailing advantage at all. But there is no doubt that the production boats of today cherry-pick the advances in racing boats that provide economic advantage while (as you so rightly say) not offering too much to the voyaging sailor.
Cheers,
Rick
I wonder if you realize how important your advice on picking a yacht is. Of any vehicle sport, sailing/cruising is most divorced from common sense and reality and relies on blindly copying anything that is in fashion in yacht racing. Even though it was brief, simple advice there are some profound lessons about how yachts should designed today that no one talks about (and no one is willing to talk about). I wish you had said more about hull shape, you briefly eluded to older style of sailboat hulls but more needs to be said about it, so I’ll say it here. Just about every racing and cruising sailboat today is shaped the same, they are wide hulls with flat bottoms and are meant to skim over the water (they actually dont, I have more to say about that). This hull shape was started by Doug Peterson’s Ganbare in 1973 and this shape was widely copied in the late 70s and 80s. Bruce Farr sealed the deal with his designs and so by the 1990s it became impossible to buy a production boat made with a narrower deeper displacement hull. For these light displacement boats to work they have to be lightly constructed. Its now considered common and acceptable for sailboats to break apart at sea even in conditions which are not considered severe. This kind of hull shape is dangerous in heavy seas as it pitches sharply and pounds hard in heavy swells. Also these hulls heel too easily and too far in high winds to the point that the boats turn almost completely on their side. This hull shape is simply wrong and should not be allowed for cruising yachts. The best sailboat designs were made in a very brief stretch of time in the early to mid 70s, Catalinas being the most common, my personal favorites are Cheoy Lees. Your Island Packet 38 was first made in 1986 while there was still some remaining interest in narrow heavy displacement yachts. The advice you gave your book was to avoid spade rudders and fin keels, which as I said, sort of eludes to deeper displacement narrow hulls, but doesnt explicitly state it. And as for these light displacement hulls skimming over the water, well they dont. That is proven in racing, heavy displacement yachts still won races against all the light displacement yachts. So the idea that you have less sail loads on light displacement hulls and so less stress on the hull is a false one. As for construction, you mentioned in your book how sailboats in northern europe are heavily constructed from steel or aluminum. I honestly wouldnt trust your Island Packet 38 in north atlantic seas as you are simply risking your life in a hull meant for sailing around bays and coastal waters. Unless youre a yacht designer who can study the plans of the boat to see how well engineered it is, youre simply rolling the dice when you take such a boat out in heavy seas. I recall your book mentioned youre originally from Scotland, would you trust your Calypso II in seas off north western Scotland? I dont think its unreasonable to make all boats to a standard that they should be able to withstand force 9 seas. That can be done with all building materials including fiberglass and carbon fiber. Fiberglass sailboats need to be constructed with an internal steel frame and not just have chainplates. They need to be made more modular so internal compartments can be removed, this would aid peoples ability to renovate and repair interiors on their own. Do you see what I am getting at? Boats need to be designed to exactly like you describe in your book. And as of now, very few are except one-off custom boats. It would be nice if you could write a book with a trusted yacht designer on how a yacht should be designed and built as more needs to be said about this than what you said in your book. As to your suggestions on rigging, I found that very interesting you recommend both gaff rigged and junk rigged sails. In the last 10 years or so Ive seen that square topped sails have become very popular in both racing and cruising. It makes sense because this is more wing shaped than a triangular shaped sail. So Im thinking that both gaff rigged and junk rigged sails can both be combined and modernized to be like the new square shaped sails. Lots of sailors use full batten sails which is sort of a move toward junk rigged sails. I personally also happen to be a big fan of lanteen rigged boats like the arabic dhow and I think that could be modernized and used on modern sailboats as well.
Hi Brad,
Thanks for the comprehensive reply. I agree with what you say. I would indeed trust either Calypso in Scottish or Atlantic waters as both are heavily built and neither design was intended simply for sailing around bays as you suggest in your post. I have indeed seen similar conditions in Calypso II but would trust both (but mainly because I am a defensive sailor and both heave-to very well). Having said that I completely agree that you cannot beat metal boats for security. The boat featured on the cover of the book was 5mm steel and you simply cannot beat the feeling when conditions deteriorate.
I will drop you an email. Thanks again for your comment.
Rick
Thanks to these comments, just started looking into the Island Packet 27. Not a twin ender but what a great layout. Seems a good sea gypsy starter boat.
Thoughts?
Great choice of boat Dave. Will message you. ?
Hey Rick,
You mention in your book, and also above that is good to have a relatively short mast. So what is a “relatively short mast”? Measured in absolute length or as a proportion of the keel length? Do the mast material, diameter and type all play into the equation?
I’ll probably would be looking to buy a boat in an year or two, this is one of the things from your recommendations I can’t figure out.
Hi Miko,
“Masts: “Better to have loved a short one than not have loved a tall” ?
Thanks for getting in touch. I don’t think it is too important to get hung up on the numbers here too much. If you avoid the racing boats and the ‘tall mast’ versions of production yachts, you should be okay. Another good rule of thumb is to count the spreaders. As masts get taller (as related to the beam of the boat) more spreaders are required to keep the rigging at an effective angle. If you stick to single (or double at a pinch) spreader masts, you will usually be okay. If in doubt whizz me over an email of a boat you are looking at and I will happily give you my opinion.
If you would really like to get into the numbers, I recommend this book.
Take care that you are not falling foul to the over-researching that has been the destroyer of many an adventure! ?
Cheers,
Rick
Captain Rick,
Just finished your ‘get gone’ book. What an eye opener. I have been dreaming of this for the last couple of years. It happened when I came across a Utube channel by a Tug Boat Captain TimB At Sea. I liked watching his videos about pushing bunker barges around the New York area waterways. It would have ended there but getting close to retirement he bought an Island Packet 420 and was planning on learning to sail it and venture out in the future. He started a second sailing channel called ‘sv paquita’ (sp?) and did a detailed walk through of his boat pointing out all of the “blue water” overbuilt features. After watching I was hooked.
My main issue is I am 62 years old and won’t retire for two more years and I am running out of years in the tank.
Wouldn’t mind signing on as a rookie crewman for a few weeks passage for a chance to learn and see if I can actually fit into the lifestyle. I am a 42+ year computer/electronics engineer who does all of my own handyman stuff and loves rebuilding 50’s era vacuum tube audio amplifiers. Although I wouldn’t recommend them for sail boats or motorhomes.
Good luck to you. And thanks for all of the excellent info I got from your book. On to the sequel.
Mark
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the awesome email and sorry for the tardy reply. I will send you an email about crewing.
Cheers,
Rick ?
Hi Rick
Just finished re-reading GRGG and I see you were thinking of building a dinghy from BandB designs.
Just wondering if you went ahead with that and if so, which design?
I use their Spindrift (11N version) as my daily tender and I love it.
Rob, SY Aphrodite
Hi Rob,
Sorry for the tardy reply. It was indeed my plan to build an 11N, but when I bought Calypso II, she came with a Walker Bay 8 and full sailing rig, so it never really happened. I will post a piccy of my little tender. It would be great if you could post a pic of your Spindrift with a few words about why you like her, so other readers can see what we are on about.
Cheers,
Rick
I have bought (and read) both of your books.
Enjoyed the philosophical approach, technically I can also do my thing.
I am in my last step moving aboard.
Purchasing the boat. I am sailing since many years. Have sold a 28 I was sailing lately and plan for something a bit larger.
There js a Vindö 50 “ready to sail “available for me at the end of this month and would like to know your opinion about the boat. Thanks in advance.
Thanks Gustavo. I will send you an email.