Yacht found, Ring of Fire sailing project about to launch

After returning from South America 3 or so months ago, after ten incredible weeks exploring volcanic landscapes in Chile, Ecuador and Peru, summiting six significant volcanoes, and submersing myself in the waters around the Enchanted Isles, I have yet to write a single blog about the trip.

Why? My house sold! I actually finalised the sale from Cusco Peru, scanning and sending pdfs of the Sale & Purchase agreement with the help of the hotel receptionist, me with very little Spanish and her with even less English. It worked out ok.

So I've been yacht shopping, been to Florida for a whirlwind time of meeting with brokers and surveyors, head down-butt up in the bilges of several contenders, and I now own a Cabo Rico 40/42 bluewater cruiser that is perfect for sailing the Pacific Ring of Fire, and here she is:

The bowsprit - a place to commune with dolphins

The galley - heart of my floating home

Sails set, new adventures await

Somewhere in St Petersburg, Florida, for now.....

Needless to say, a busy time this winter ( tho I did a bit of work, honestly, and skied many vertical feet, climbed with my son Llewellyn, and soaked up some more of Aotearoa to take with me on my journey)

As with any second hand boat, there's a mountain of tasks to be done before pushing off, and I'll be spending a full month at the marina in St Pete's getting her 'fit for purpose' as they say. Hey, I've haven't even settled on a name for the yacht yet, and have all that de-flag/re-name/registration bureaucracy to go through yet.

I'm planning on leaving NZ by 28th October, and a month later heading down to the Florida Keys, onto the Bahamas then focus on exploring Cuba before it changes forever. That's my shakedown cruise before the Panama Canal ejects me into the Ring of Fire.

Wow - it's really happening!!

Just watched a 'made for TV' doco in the How the Earth Was Made series on the Ring of Fire - worth a look if it's new territory to you:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs4yNL1M8Gg

More details later but I'll be letting you know how to track me along the journey, and I promise, I will be posting blogs with stories and pics.