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Molly and Jessie Rard, age 12, were the stars of the Seattle Boats Afloat Show as camera crews and reporters gathered around their boat, Ruby Slippers. Of course parents Jim and Jeanna were there too but the girls were the center of attention as reporters wanted to know how they felt about leaving for two years to sail the South Pacific, and maybe around the world.
"We're not sure what to expect," said Jessie, sporting her new short hair for the trip. "It's really exciting to think about visiting all the exotic places."
Sporting the same new do as her sister, Molly is undaunted by the trip and is looking forward to learning to sail on the ocean. "We'll have to get used to watches. At first our folks will be doing them with us but I hope it won't be long before we can stand watches alone." The boat, Ruby Slippers, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49P, has two double-berths aft so each girl will have their own "bedroom." Both were decorated with stuffed animals but that was just for the Boat Show. Asked what hobbies they were going to take along, Jessie was going to learn to crochet and Molly said she'd have lots of books and the binoculars. The girls are also taking scuba lessons so they can, "really see all the tropical fish." With two years in the South Pacific ahead of them, there should be lots to see through those binoculars. "I'm jealous that they'll be seeing in real life what the rest of us are studying in books," said Haller Middle School principal Eric DeJong, where the girls were to enter seventh grade this year. Instead they will home schooled aboard the boat. But, even though they may be thousands of miles away, the girls will still be in contact with their friends. Through satellite technology, they'll be able to have a video conference with their "classmates," hopefully every week. There is also a website (www.rubyslippers49.com) where everyone can go for updates on the trip. Along with the girls updates, there's also information on the boats and the many sponsors who've helped prepare the boat. In addition, the girls will also be doing articles for SAIL magazine on their experiences. A lot for two 12-year old girls? No problem for Molly and Jessie. | |
| Jim and Jeanna bought a Ranger 33 in 1976 and a year later a Tartan 37, which they lived on for twelve years. They own Marine Servicenter, brokerage and boat yard and one of the lines they sell is Jeanneau which they chose for the trip. Originally they'd hoped to pick up the boat in Europe and sail the Mediterranean for a while, but world events have spurred them to head for the South Pacific instead.
With the change of plans, there was considerably less time to get the boat ready. It usually takes people months to prepare for such a journey, but they did it in only a month. Of course it does help to have a boatyard. Jim did most of the work himself with help from his brother Roy and friend and circumnavigator Mark Schrader. Plus the guys from the yard chipped in when they could. The boat is a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49P, with the "P" standing for performance. Basically Ruby Slippers is a stock boat but... anyone that knows Jim knows there's bound to be some modifications. The boom has been lowered eight inches for more sail area. The forestay has been moved forward on the bow for a larger foretriangle, so the boat will basically have three headstays. One for a storm trisail that will stay on deck, along with a North 120% and a 90% staysail on roller furlers. He'll also be carrying a 150 Triradial from Quantum, a Code 0 spinnaker, a symetrical chute from North and a asymetrical spinnaker from Staaf sails sporting, what else, ruby slippers. "This hull averaged 11 knots with a top speed of 22 knots with a poled out headsail and a reef in 30 knots of wind in the Trans Quadra race across the Atlantic," Jim says. It sounds like they're going racing as opposed to cruising but Jim likes to go fast. To that end, he's also put in a "hawse pipe" that allows him to move the anchor chain six feet further aft to keep the weight out of the bow. He's also added eight more "house" batteries, placing them under the floor in the center of the boat, again to keep weight out of the ends. But it's not all go-fast stuff. The winches are electric so "the girls can run the boat," he smiles. Mounted on the stern is a Nera Fleet 33 Satellite unit, Raymarine 4KW Radar and camera unit. The custom post, manufactured in the boat yard, goes through to the hull, with the upper part being removable. The Nera Fleet 33 Satellite unit will allow Molly and Jessie to connect with their classmates back home and do postings on their website. There are also Icom SSB and VHF radios, but basically they can "just pick up the phone" to contact people. There are two Raymarine cameras on the boat, one facing forward from the electronics post on the stern, and the other facing back from up forward. This will, of course, allow them to add video to their transmissions, but also has some side benefits. "I can steer from below with the autopilot in really bad weather, " says Jim, "and still see forward using the camera, using day/night or infared capability. Security in port is enhanced because they can see on deck or in the cockpit if need be, without opening the hatch. A new safety device by Raymarine proved to be an important factor in taking "our babies" to sea. "We'll wear a prototype wristband which sends out an electronic signal. If someone falls overboard, and the wristband signal gets 35 feet away from the boat, the autopilot shuts down and a MOB (man overboard) position is automatically marked on the chart with GPS position. Plus all the alarms on the boat go off." This definitely has added to their peace of mind and is expected to come on the market very soon. With lots of electronics you need lots of batteries as mentioned above. To keep them charged Jim is using two smaller alternators as opposed to one. "Two small alternators are better than one big one, plus you've automatically got a spare, " says Jim. When asked about other spares for the trip, Jim just smiles and says, "We've got LOTS of spares." We don't usually do articles on people planning to do a trip because, more often than not, it doesn't come to pass. But that's not a worry with Jim, Jeanna and the girls. I once watched Jim make a sheerpin for an outboard propeller out of a section of ovenrack in Tonga, so if there's no spare part, there's no doubt Jim will come up with something that will do the job. I've watched Molly and Jessie being launched with bungie cords to dizzying heights through trees in their backyard, while Jeanna quietly keeps everything in hand. The Rards are a pretty safe bet. The family will have left by the time you read this, leaving Anacortes, Washington on September 30, on their way non-stop to San Diego. There they'll join the Baha Ha Ha race to Turtle Bay, and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. The family adventure truly begins there as they head for Central America, with stops planned at Costa Rica and Panama. They'll then head down to the Galapagos Islands and from there to the Marquesas Islands and the South Pacific. Of course there's more voyage planned after that but that's plenty of adventure for now. We look forward to following them on their website. Smooth sailing. ...back to 48° North title page.
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Forestay has been moved from the anchor well and two more stays added for reefing and staysail.
Jim adjusts the Raymarine camera on the stern which shoots day/night and infra red.