We are John and Jenny Greenwood, both 56 years old and very recently retired. About three years ago we first thought about crossing the Atlantic but 18 months ago decided that as we had no grandchildren yet, our parents were in quite good health and our youngest daughter had finished her studies, we had a 2 year window of opportunity to go the whole hog and do a circumnavigation.

We have chosen to join the Blue Water Rally and this company has tremendous experience of organising such trips. (See www.bluewaterrallies.com)

As well as all the preparation for the trip, we have also had to pack up and rent out our property in England and organise the renovation project on our French house. Luckily we have an excellent project manager and superb French artisans working for us. We had hoped to make Bouligné our base and to move all our furniture into the house before our departure, but as we have only just got planning permission after several months, the major works are only just starting. Consequently we shall have to store everything for six months and then move it into our 'new' house that we will not see for 2 years!

This Website
You will notice a variation of writing styles on this site as we all intend to contribute to it. We also have a designated 'Diary Room' otherwise known as the forward sail locker.

Our Crew
Actually it's just us, but our eldest daughter Leila and her boyfriend Chris have managed to wangle 4 months off work and shall sail with us from The Canaries, through the Caribbean, on to Venezuela and the ABC Islands and through The Panama Canal. They will leave us after a tour of the Galapagos.

Leila and Chris had never sailed before and so for Christmas we sent them on a 'Competent Crew Course' in The Canaries. They had horrendous weather, but passed with flying colours. They joined us for a 10 day trial in the South of France and they were brilliant. We have every confidence in them, plus they can work all the new camera gear, CD player,DVD player, ipod, chart plotter etc. Leila is a chef and Chris is a fireman. Both are very hands on, good listeners and very quick and eager to learn.

Max and girlfriend Salli will spend 3 weeks in Antigua over the Christmas period. Ziggy will join us just for Christmas week and we hope that Martin and Bianca, Amy and Mark will join us at some time.

We shall be looking for crew in The Galapagos for the very long Pacific crossing.