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, 3 Jul 2016 - 13:30

Successfully avoided the reefs and recently formed volcanic island in the Ha'apai Group and did not hit a whale. Have turned for the Vava'u island group of Tonga. 85 nm to go. Plan to arrive before

Posted: Sun, 3 Jul 2016 - 07:48

Passed Tongatapu in the night and turned toward the Ha'apai Group. Will navigate our way through the reefs during daylight hours trying to avoid whales. Expect to arrive in the Vava'u island group

Posted: Sat, 2 Jul 2016 - 06:51

Left North Minerva at 1430 hrs NZ time yesterday after cold front passed through. Caught a yellow fin tuna near the pass. Expect to arrive in the Vava'u island group of Tonga on Monday, but

Posted: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 - 07:02

Tired of eating crays. Looking for weather to sail to the Ha'apai or Vava'u Island Groups in Tonga. Maybe when winds back to the SE on Saturday.

Posted: Tue, 28 Jun 2016 - 07:20

Motored from South Minerva Reef to North Minerva Reef yesterday. Walked on the barren reef for crays last night. Waiting for weather to sail to the Ha'apai Group in Tonga.

Posted: Wed, 22 Jun 2016 - 07:06

Yesterday(Tuesday NZ time) at 2 pm, we arrived at South Minerva Reef = 800 nm from Marsden Cove in 5 days. Three other boats here. Weather permitting, we will stay here for several days trying to

Posted: Tue, 21 Jun 2016 - 06:59

Strong wind and gusts have propelled us further along than expected although it has been a boisterous ride with the beam seas. We should reach South Minerva at midday today and then perhaps decide to

Posted: Mon, 20 Jun 2016 - 06:58

Wind gusts are strong - 10 to 15 knots higher than sustained winds - and last 5 to 10 minutes. If we average more than 7 knots for 36 hours, we can arrive in South Minerva Reef before dark on

Posted: Sun, 19 Jun 2016 - 07:32

Sailing along with Southerly (cold) wind. Looks like arrival at Minerva Reef will be on Wednesday morning, NZ time (Tues afternoon USA time) since we do not want to enter the pass at dark although

Posted: Sat, 18 Jun 2016 - 06:58

After 25 hours of running the engine since leaving Marsden Cove, we started sailing at 1 pm Friday local NZ time. We changed course 30 degrees to the east a day earlier than planned to avoid

Posted: Fri, 17 Jun 2016 - 06:51

We have been motoring for 18 hours since leaving Marsden Cove at noon on Thursday, local time. We have been spewing more fumes than a VW diesel automobile - well, not THAT much. Hopefully, the wind

Posted: Thu, 16 Jun 2016 - 06:50

Sandy and Rankin have returned to Marsden Cove Marina. The two of us plan to leave for Tonga, possibly via Minerva Reef, in a few hours with a new main sail. We should head North for a couple of days

Posted: Fri, 3 Jun 2016 - 16:16

Returned to Whangarei Town Basin where there was frost on the docks this morning. Hoping for a weather window in two weeks after receipt of a new main sail. Apparently, we were not allowed to leave

Posted: Thu, 2 Jun 2016 - 03:45

Returned to Marsden Cove due to torn main sail. Hopefully, will have it repaired and try again next week.

Posted: Wed, 1 Jun 2016 - 15:08

Leaving for Tonga from Marsden Cove Marina today (Wednesday) at 1700 hrs.

Posted: Fri, 27 May 2016 - 13:15

We are motoring along making the long passage from Town Basin Marina to Marsden Cove. Hope the weather holds (ha, ha!).

Posted: Thu, 12 May 2016 - 19:17

In Whangarei preparing for passage to Tonga via Minerva Reef next week - maybe Thursday, May 19.

Posted: Thu, 7 Apr 2016 - 18:02

West Bay - Hen and Chicken Islands (the Chickens part). Nice small anchorage in calm conditions with lovely song birds on shore and clear water below for diving amongst the kelp and small schools of

Posted: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 - 00:00

Tacked against 10 - 15 kt SW winds to Smokehouse Bay to weather coming easterlies.

Posted: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 - 00:00

Sailed to Rakitu Island Cove, a lovely anchorage for a few boats. No cell service, but clear water, caves and walking on the island. Wish we could stay longer but easterlies coming this way.

Yachts In Transit

Gypsea Heart

Gypsea Heart

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