Calypso, Bristol Channel Cutter #006, will set sail for the Intracoastal Waterway and the Bahamas in early October, taking Jeremy and Nica Waters and crew Julian and Madeleine on adventures as-yet undreamed.
The players:
Wooden masts need varnishing!
CALYPSO
Designed by Lyle Hess, made by the Sam L. Morse Company in Costa Mesa California, this particular classic 28′ fiberglass boat has been a part of the Waters family for more than 17 years. She started life in 1976 as Zurimum and sailed with Rip and Penelope Jane from San Diego to Panama. She became Newsboy with Mike Firestone, and sailed across the Gulf of Mexico to Clear Lake, Texas. She became our Calypso in 1992 and sailed the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean for 3 years before heading to the Chesapeake Bay, where she contentedly remained a weekender until the decision was made in January of 2009 to take her cruising once again. We’ll start our latest adventure with her on October 9 (weather willing) as we head to the Turkey Shoot Regatta and then turn our bow south.
CREW
Jeremy and Nica (Dad and Mom, skipper and mate, captain and cook . . .) and Julian and Madeleine
Jeremy – well-accomplished at anything he puts his mind to, Jeremy’s passions include technology and engineering (and the occasional spear-fishing!) He has been sailing since he was 2, and he has sailed extensively in the Med as well as the Caribbean.
Nica – the consummate party-thrower, Nica loves cooking, reading, and hanging out with the family. She is really excited about revisiting the cruising life and seeing it through the eyes of her children!
Julian – turning 10 right before we leave, Julian is excited about homeschooling, shell-collecting, and “being in a place where you can see the bottom.” He will likely have designed our next boat by the time we return.
Maddie – social and introspective, 8-year-old Maddie is anticipating many peaceful hours reading on the boom (her favorite place to hang out). She is nervous about leaving her friends behind but is slowly beginning to realize she will meet many more “out there.” Look for many, many cards and letters from this avid communicator!
S/V Calypso 
I love your blog. It looks great. I still need to do my last entry….procrastinating due to denial that this trip is over…..and yet I know we are also at the beginning of planning the next one. I will look forward to seeing your future posts! Nice work!
Super job of tackling that learning curve! Your images and descriptions are great and I (along with many others) will look forward to seeing many more pictures and hearing about your adventures as we plug along back here. You make it hard to think it’s OK to stay ashore and keep doing what we always do….
Best of luck and Bon Voyage!
Whoa Nica! This is great. Judy and Lester told me about your upcoming year after you were the MVP of packing the cabin. How fantastic this will be.
I have bookmarked your site and look forward to reading of your adventures! – Julie
To set sail on a journey with your children….what a wonderful adventure you are gifting your family with. We are all looking forward to your updates. Both Olivia and Charlotte are very intersted in hearing about what kinds of sea life Maddie and Julian run into. Best wishes for a wonderful adventure and fair winds to your family! E. Staas
Hi, Maddie. How are you doing? I hope you are having an awesome trip!!! Keep asking to make pancakes. We all miss you very much but we hope you are having a good time.
From,
Mr. T’s class
Hey guys,
The class misses Maddie a lot. We got your postcards today. It was great to see that you went to St. Augustine. The day you added that is the day we started studying Juan Ponce de Leon. Pretty cool! I hope you guys are having a fantastic time with good weather. Take care,
Mr. T and class
The class wants to know if you have been sea sick? Please respond.
Hi Nica, My name is Deborah and I live in Lomita, California. I sort of stumbled upon your blog but am so glad I did. You are now book marked and I’d like to follow along on your adventures. I am a mom who retired from the corporate world to stay home with my son Trevor and made the decision to homeschool. We have been doing it for 10 yrs..Trev is 15 yrs. now. What a gutsy thing you are doing. So adventurous! What a treasure box of memories you are making. When I read about the part where you all were looking for sea glass in this otherwise very remote location, I got this pang of “I so wish I were there”. I collect sea glass….and anything else that interest me along the waters edge. How did you make the decision to just get up and go like that? How long is this excursion for? I’ll be praying for your safety and good weather. Be safe Waters Family!! God speed. Fair Winds and Calm Seas. Deborah Leon http://www.mermaidspurseseaglass.com
Hi, Excellent Blog! I found it while looking for information about Hatchet Bay. I wonder if you happened to meet our friends Sue and Earl Lamar on SV My Bonnie. They were on Hatchet Bay while you were.
Hello Jim – I think I remember seeing My Bonnie in Hatchet Bay – a large woody ketch? The crew were getting ready to varnish, so we did not disturb them. We were only in Hatchet Bay for one night.
Hi, I uploaded a couple of pictures of SV My Bonnie to my Facebook. You can look up my account by this email address. Also, there are pictures of my boat, SV Lady Longlegs. I am busy reading your entire blog the last couple of days. I’ve almost gotten caught up now. Thanks for sharing your sailing life with all of us!
Here is a link to a better picture of SV My Bonnie. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?id=100000680362598&pid=39544&fbid=101410506558294
Great Blog, and good to hear you on the Cruisetimers Net. We’re on the West Coast of FL this winter, stopping in St Aug and Vero and Miami along the way.. Bentley
bes@jimages.com
Hi Guys,
Love your site. My wife and I have a BCC and one child and another on the way. We were wondering if we could pick your brain a bit about voyaging with kids and how it worked for you being in a smaller boat. My email is CalderStratford@gmail.com
Thanks,
Calder
Hi
Great blog of some fun cruising by the sounds of it. I was wondering whether you might be able to shed some light on a little mystery. Is this the BCC28 Calypso that is for sale in San Diego at the moment? While it is possible for there to be two calypsos of the same design the two boats look slightly different. If indeed they are one in same you might be able to answer some nagging questions.
Many thanks in advance
Cheers Dave
Hi, Dave,
Sorry I just saw this. No, our Calypso is definitely not for sale. We were not aware that there was another BCC named Calypso in any case! Some questions you might ask include what the hull number is, where the boat was built, and where it’s been . . .
Nica
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Hello Jeremy,
I love reading the updates on your travels! Partly because I am the son of Rip Jane who originally had this boat custom built by Sam L. Morse in San Diego! I understand she isn’t for sale but if the thought ever crosses your mind… 🙂
Happy Sailing!
Hi, Pedro! No, she’s not for sale (we’re getting her ready for another cruise, with the intention of heading off in about 2-3 years), but will definitely keep you in mind if we hit that point! Thanks for finding us. We’re also on Facebook at s/v Calypso, if you want to follow us there!