Dear friends,
We have spent much of this past year with our Sail for Science project on hold.
After two successful years of collecting oceanographic data while sailing from Canada to the Caribbean, contributing our observations to oceanographic databases, delivering numerous presentations, and participating in conferences, we have demonstrated that our concept of using a sailboat as a platform for collecting high-quality oceanographic data is entirely feasible.
However, during our voyages aboard SV Oceanolog, we encountered a number of technical challenges, largely due to the fact that our boat is now 60 years old! Several structural issues have made her unsuitable for extended open-ocean passages, while our ambitions reach well beyond the Caribbean.
After much consideration, we have decided to sell our house and move into a condo, using the proceeds to purchase a more modern, bluewater-capable yacht.
This means we must now say goodbye to Oceanolog, which has been our home for the past three years. It is not an easy farewell. So many memories are attached to this boat—not only of our own adventures, but also of all the wonderful friends who contributed their time, skills, and enthusiasm to keeping her seaworthy.
We sincerely hope that she will continue to serve as a floating home for her new owners for many years to come.
Meanwhile, we are already in the process of acquiring our next yacht, and we hope to share some exciting news with you within the next week or two.
This is not the end of Sail for Science—just the beginning of a new chapter!
Stay tuned, and fair winds to everyone!