Cal 27 and "Great Loop"

Listmates: Last week I attended a talk and slide show by two local young women who had sailed the "Great Loop" in a Cal 2-27, taking two years to do it. You can read about it and see pictures here: > http://katieandjessieonaboat.com/ They were in their mid-20s. One had sailed but not extensively, and the other had not. They shipped the mast to the Gulf coast and then powered down Lake Michigan and the Mississippi and Tennessee-Tombigbee, through the Gulf, across Florida, to the Bahamas, back up the ICW, up the Hudson to the Trent-Severn waterway, and thence to Lake Huron and home again. Their disasters were minor and mostly mechanical. The duration of their trip was attributed to (1) not being in a hurry, and (2) stopping to work and replenish the bank accounts from time to time. They had been close friends from early childhood so being on a small boat did not drive them to revolt. Their crew was a friendly brown dog named Reggie but nicknamed "Low Tide" because of the way he smelled after a while. When they returned, they sold the boat to a couple who will make the same loop. Makes sitting at my desk seem kind of dull. Chris Campbell