Gypsea Heart

Gypsea Heart is a 2005 Leopard 47 catamaran registered in the USA with home port of Luckenbach, Texas. Rankin and Sandy are her permanent crew and are members of the SSCA and ICA.

Recent Updates

Posted: Sun, 26 Mar 2017 - 03:48

Sandy and Rankin have sold Gypsea Heart and returned to North America where we plan to travel by Camper Van for the time being. We hope to return to New Zealand in the Austral summers. In the

Posted: Wed, 8 Feb 2017 - 17:39

Back in Whangarei to attend the annual swap meet. We usually end up buying more than we sell.

Posted: Fri, 16 Dec 2016 - 19:27

After enriching the New Zealand economy with three weeks of maintenance work in a marina, we escaped to the Bay of Islands. We are anchored between the islands of Waewaetorea and Urupkapuka. Both

Posted: Thu, 24 Nov 2016 - 23:14

Arrived at the Bay of Islands Marina. Tried to check in with New Zealand Immigration but were told there had been too many Americans applying for asylum over the last few weeks and we had to move on

Posted: Wed, 23 Nov 2016 - 07:39

Lovely sailing day yesterday with wind and waves gradually diminishing. The ocean was as calm as a lake last night reflecting the half moon as it rose. Lots of sun charged the batteries and the flat

Posted: Tue, 22 Nov 2016 - 07:39

Made 202 nm last 24 hours. Expect to sail into the heart of a High Pressure System later today and lose the wind. 294 nm to Opua, NZ. ETA is early Thursday NZ time.

Posted: Mon, 21 Nov 2016 - 07:36

Great sailing conditions. Made 185 nm last 24 hours. Would heave to and fix the generator, but no sailor could tolerate being passed by other sailboats. However, should the batteries fail to power

Posted: Sun, 20 Nov 2016 - 07:33

12 foot waves yesterday reduced to 6 feet overnight. Generator stopped working - probably a broken water pump impeller which is difficult to replace in these sea conditions but not impossible. In the

Posted: Sat, 19 Nov 2016 - 07:12

Planning to leave North Minerva Reef in a few hours bound for Opua, New Zealand. Should take 5 days. Many boats left Minerva Reef yesterday and many more, if not all, leaving today. Watching weather

Posted: Wed, 16 Nov 2016 - 08:46

Happy Birthday Rankin

Posted: Mon, 14 Nov 2016 - 07:42

NORTH MINERVA UPDATE: 21 boats anchored at North Minerva Reef waiting for a large High to arrive over New Zealand this week. Thank you Gulf Harbour for the interesting and entertaining special

Posted: Sat, 12 Nov 2016 - 07:54

NORTH MINERVA UPDATE: Front with rain passed through early morning with sunshine now. Fifteen boats anchored at North Minerva Reef waiting for large Low to pass over New Zealand next week. Some

Posted: Fri, 11 Nov 2016 - 06:54

A beautiful 22 degree halo visible from North Minerva last night. Does it portend a coming storm? Three boats anchored at North Minerva Reef, but a dozen or so arriving today. The world is getting

Posted: Thu, 10 Nov 2016 - 08:00

Still anchored at North Minerva Reef. Three boats left and two arrived for a total of three boats anchored. Expect several boats arriving from Tonga in the next day or so. We hear there has been a

Posted: Wed, 9 Nov 2016 - 07:57

Seven boats anchored at North Minerva Reef. The sun returned yesterday. We decided to delay our departure until a more reliable weather window appears - hopefully next week. In the meantime, we will

Posted: Tue, 8 Nov 2016 - 07:45

Five boats anchored at North Minerva Reef. Looking forward to seeing the sun again, if it still exists. Weather forecast in New Zealand not looking comfortable for a passage, so may delay departure

Posted: Mon, 7 Nov 2016 - 07:45

Seven boats anchored at North Minerva Reef. Considering a departure to Opua tomorrow or Wed with arrival Monday 14th before Low arrives, but we may stay here to harvest crayfish instead. The fleet

Posted: Sat, 5 Nov 2016 - 10:30

Anchored at North Minerva Reef yesterday (Friday) at 5 pm local time (if Minerva Reef has not switched to daylight savings time). Sandy caught a Rainbow Runner in the pass as she was reeling in the

Posted: Fri, 4 Nov 2016 - 07:39

Our blood red spinnaker struggled for 12 hours to drag ten tons of boat through the water like a race horse plowing a furrow in the sea. The light wind danced around the sail with no sense of

Posted: Thu, 3 Nov 2016 - 07:48

Fine sailing conditions last 22 hours, but wind diminishing and backing now. May fly a spinnaker after the radio net. 170 nm to North Minerva. ETA Friday (tomorrow) local time.

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Gypsea Heart

Gypsea Heart

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