We started sailing late in life, not having even stepped onto a sailboat until our late-forties. Given our relatively short sailing career you may be surprised to know that our current Gjoa (the Nordic Tug) is actually our sixth (and probably last?) boat! So, you'd think we would know what we wanted by now? Well, the only thing six boats have proven is that no boat is ever perfect. There is always something not quite right, or, that could be better. We've never had the time, means, or, inclination to custom-build a new boat, but, I don't think that would help anyway as the 'perfect' boat often depends on the cruising you're doing at the time, or, aspire to do. This latest boat has faults, just like all the others, but, it meets our current cruising wants and needs and we will make the best of it.
We started small and worked our way up to larger boats as we gained knowledge and experience. Only the last three sailboats were suitable for crossing oceans. We took many sailing courses, read a lot of books and did a few charters to gain experience on different boats. All our boats, except the last sailboat, have been full keel, traditionally-styled boats and they served us very well during a Pacific crossing, two North Atlantic crossings and Arctic sailing to 79N in Svalbard, Norway and a North West Passage transit in 2014/15.
Here's some information on the six boats which we've owned, loved (and sometimes hated!)....
Boat 6 - "Gjoa", a 1984 8m Nordic Tug 26, Purchased June 2021.
A major change from a sailboat to a motorboat more suited to coastal cruising. This boat is hull #59 of 184 that were built. See Please Welcome Boat #6 for further info.
Boat 5 - "Gjoa", a 13.95m aluminium twin headsail sloop (now cutter), twin keel, German/Swiss-built (2001). Purchased May 2017, sold August 2021.
It's a good all-rounder. It has the unpainted aluminum hull that is a must-have for us and it also has attributes suited to both high and low latitude sailing providing greater flexibility of cruising destinations. Many creature comforts are on offer (maybe too many) which adds to our maintenance work, but, makes everyday living better. We'd prefer a cutter rig and may change the existing twin headsail setup. For more detail and photos on this boat see Our New Boat
Boat 4 - "Gjoa", a 12.44m aluminum twin headsail sloop, full keel, German-built (1988/9) by Dubbel and Jesse. Purchased 2013, sold January 2016.
Tough and capable and suited us well for another North Atlantic crossing and our NWP transit of 2014/15, but, lacked many of the creature comforts that make living aboard full-time, long-term more enjoyable. This boat sold us on the many virtues of unpainted aluminium boats and I don't think we'd ever own another type again. Light, dry, strong, easily repaired and low maintenance, just can't be beat. The twin headsail rig is probably better suited for downwind passages. In the high latitudes there is either way too little, or, way too much wind and a cutter rig might have worked better for us there.
Boat 3 - "Black Sheep II" Purchased 2008, sold January 2013.
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| Gjoa - anchored in Huahine, French Polynesia, October 2019 |
Boat 4 - "Gjoa", a 12.44m aluminum twin headsail sloop, full keel, German-built (1988/9) by Dubbel and Jesse. Purchased 2013, sold January 2016.
Tough and capable and suited us well for another North Atlantic crossing and our NWP transit of 2014/15, but, lacked many of the creature comforts that make living aboard full-time, long-term more enjoyable. This boat sold us on the many virtues of unpainted aluminium boats and I don't think we'd ever own another type again. Light, dry, strong, easily repaired and low maintenance, just can't be beat. The twin headsail rig is probably better suited for downwind passages. In the high latitudes there is either way too little, or, way too much wind and a cutter rig might have worked better for us there.
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| Gjoa at the dock, East Cowes Marina, UK, May 2014 |
Boat 3 - "Black Sheep II" Purchased 2008, sold January 2013.
A 10.6m solid GRP, cutter-rigged, full keel, Bob Perry-designed Baba 35
Our first introduction to a cutter rig and we were sold on its attributes for short-handed sailing. It was our first boat with wheel steering, but, we had also installed a Monitor windvane on it which was a revelation. It steered us beautifully, using only the wind and with some minor adjusting on our part, all the way across the North Atlantic in our first major passage, in 2010, 51 days across from Savannah, Georgia to Stornaway, Scotland (we were on our way to Norway). The boat was Taiwan-built (1981), tough and also very pretty but, due to its fibreglass construction that "works" and total lack of insulation it was a wet boat, not really suitable for high latitude living aboard. It also had extensive brightwork that was impossible to keep looking good no matter how hard we tried.
Boat 2 - "45 North", a Bayfield 25, designed by Ted Gozzard and built in Bayfield, Ontario.
Known as a "pocket cruiser" with a distinctive "clipper bow" this was our first boat with stand-up headroom! Just 25 feet (7.6m), but, well-designed and built. With an inboard diesel engine it felt like we now had a true cruising boat. We didn't own it long, but, had a memorable summer spent on Georgian Bay with it. We went on our first one week cruise, by ourselves, on this boat. Leaving from Britt, it was an especially memorable September cruise to the Killarney area via the Bustard Islands and Collins Inlet. Out of the sight of land, we were amazed that we could find our way back via paper chart and compass. It was a thrill when the correct buoy popped up right in front of us.
Boat 1 - "Cygnet", an Alberg 22, built in Kingston, Ontario.
It was very, very exciting to have purchased our first boat in 2004 and we were extremely proud of it. Designed, in 1957, by the renowned Carl Alberg and built in the late 1970's, this tiny, twenty-two foot (6.7m), full keel boat was a true classic. We learned a lot with it and the hull was excellent but, the interior had been built out of chipboard and it turned to mush and black mould after a winter's storage outside. We had to rebuild the interior prior to selling it. No standing headroom was also inconvenient and an outboard in a stern well also didn't inspire confidence in big water.
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| Black Sheep II, a Baba35, shown at the dock in NY Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, June 2011 |
Boat 2 - "45 North", a Bayfield 25, designed by Ted Gozzard and built in Bayfield, Ontario.
Known as a "pocket cruiser" with a distinctive "clipper bow" this was our first boat with stand-up headroom! Just 25 feet (7.6m), but, well-designed and built. With an inboard diesel engine it felt like we now had a true cruising boat. We didn't own it long, but, had a memorable summer spent on Georgian Bay with it. We went on our first one week cruise, by ourselves, on this boat. Leaving from Britt, it was an especially memorable September cruise to the Killarney area via the Bustard Islands and Collins Inlet. Out of the sight of land, we were amazed that we could find our way back via paper chart and compass. It was a thrill when the correct buoy popped up right in front of us.
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| "45 North" in our driveway, Ontario, Canada May 2005 |
Boat 1 - "Cygnet", an Alberg 22, built in Kingston, Ontario.
It was very, very exciting to have purchased our first boat in 2004 and we were extremely proud of it. Designed, in 1957, by the renowned Carl Alberg and built in the late 1970's, this tiny, twenty-two foot (6.7m), full keel boat was a true classic. We learned a lot with it and the hull was excellent but, the interior had been built out of chipboard and it turned to mush and black mould after a winter's storage outside. We had to rebuild the interior prior to selling it. No standing headroom was also inconvenient and an outboard in a stern well also didn't inspire confidence in big water.
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| Cygnet at the dock, Britt Ontario, 2004 |
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