Jan 24
The Plan
There are three of us: Matt Holmes, Jonathon Haradon, and Jonny Waldman — a photographer, a teacher, and a writer, respectively.
We’re all native East-coasters who headed west after college and have since spent as much time outside as possible. Thing is, we don’t know much about sailing. Jonny went to sailing camp when he was, like, 12, but really, none of us had seriously sailed before 2005.
BUT>> We’ve been friends for at least a decade — Matt and Jonny were roommates at Dartmouth; Jonathon and Matt were roommates in Los Alamos, NM — and have tons of leadership and outdoor and adventure experience. Together, we’ve survived a tornado, two flash floods, an avalanche, getting wedged stuck in a slot canyon, and falling in a crevasse. We’re banking on technical climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering, and backcountry skills to see us through.
Sometime in the summer of ‘05, we started talking about bigger, badder, more committing adventures. We looked at our bank accounts, our calendars, and our obligations, and figured out that we could begin circumnavigating in the summer of 2009.
SO>> This is a big adventure for us. A really big, wet, expensive adventure.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Matt, John and Jon,
I stumbled across your website today while continuing to do research and due diligence for my own extended cruise, which coincidentally is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2009. I am currently living and working in Tampa, FL.
Much like the three of you, I have limited sailing experience and the last couple of months has been a serious learning process trying to find an acceptable hull for my budget. I am currently looking at Tayana 37s, Pacific Seacraft 37s and 34s, Westsail 42s and Valiant 40s (though there arent many of these in FL). I found a Tayana 37 that is 20 minutes away that I think would make an acceptable boat and I am thinking about putting in a offer next week. Definitely a mixture of excitement and trepidation at this point.
Regardless, I just wanted to touch base with you guys as I think it would be beneficial for both parties to keep in touch as we go through our respective refits. Ill let you know what happens with the Tayana. Good luck with s/v Syzygy.
Doug
February 7th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Hey Guys,
Email from Calgary, Canada.
A friend sent me your ZPG site, and it tickled my curiousity so much I had to read all about your expedition!
I wish you well, and hope you’ll get a chance to visit New Caledonia (NC), it’s a french island east of Australia. My brother lives in Nouméa, so if you are heading that way, let me know and I’ll let him know you’re coming.
Also, you should check out the smaller island of Ouvéa, part of NC. It’s a wedge of white sand, and the whole of NC sits on the best lagoon in the world, so I hope you guys are heading that way! Most amazing scuba you can shake a shark at!
Cheers.
April 1st, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Hi All,
Sounds like a great adventure! Hope to see you all in Maine. When I get out of medical school I expect to do lots of sailing. If I can help you let me know.
Best,
Evan
July 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hey guys!
I’m in the catamaran just down the dock from you. There’s something terribly fun about reading your perception of what you did, versus what we saw walking past you. =) Right on, best of luck with everything!
July 30th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
that last note is really funny. great trip guys.