History of the Cal-40
In 1963, a man named George Griffith asked his friend and marine architect, Bill Lapworth, to design a new type of boat. They talked Jack Jensen of Jensen Marine in Orange Country into building it and Persephone was launched in 1963. She instantly dominated the local racing scene. A year later, hull #2 Conquistador came out of California to win the Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) off Florida, a highly coveted title. In the years to follow, the Cal-40 boats went on to win an unprecedented string of victories in major ocean-racing events. What was originally considered a radical and even dangerous offshore design became legendary among racers and highly influential in boat design to follow.
Like me, Cal-40s love to surf. Their relatively flat bottom is part of the revolutionary design that makes her so fast downwind—she surfs! But like with everything on a boat, there is always a compromise. The flat bottom makes for her equally notorious upwind ‘pounding’. She has a streamlined fin keel, a spade rudder, and is comparatively light for an offshore design. The cockpit is spacious and ends in bridge decks both fore and aft, and is lined on both port and starboard sides by 1” thick teak coamings, onto which I added small wooden extensions to make for more comfortable seating. The interior was designed for offshore racing, with multiple bunks in the main cabin area, but no sit down navigation station. I decided to cut the starboard bunks in half, keeping the fore half a small seat bench and food storage and turning the other into a permanent nav station. The head is on the port side opposite a large hanging locker, and the forward cabin has a drawer setup on the port side and a double v-berth. I’ve made a great deal of changes to the interior to make it more livable for cruising and living aboard, but essentially Cal-40s are simple, strong, relatively inexpensive, and sail like a dream!
Swell’s History
Swell was built in 1966—the 68th Cal-40 to come out of Jansen Marine. From the limited history I’ve uncovered from documents found on board, I now know that Swell was originally named ‘Maria’. Records of her first owner trace her to a J.L. Williams out of Mercer Island, Washington. Williams had her rated and certified for offshore racing in 1973. An original customs document shows a change in ownership to three new owners in 1987. Edward C. O’Brion, Larry Cowan, and Maurice Rattray kept her moored at the Shilshole Marina in Seattle, Washington. Sometime after, another document suggests she was relocated to Sausalito, California under the ownership of a Mr. Lowden Jessup. That’s all I know of her whereabouts before our purchasing her from Mr. Tim Yox, who had kept her in the Santa Barbara harbor. He informed me that she had been named ‘Forever Young’ when he’d purchased the boat and had renamed it ‘Alisio’ which is Spanish for ‘trade winds’. Because the boat’s name had already been changed multiple times, and not discovering her ‘original name’, Maria, until well into the voyage, I re-christened her as ‘Swell’ in the company of friends and family after the proper oral request to Poseidon on my 25th birthday, April 28th, 2005. Despite that she has been ‘Swell’ to me ever since, her previous names seem to have maintained a significance under my ownership as well.
At purchase, Swell was in decent condition, but her light coastal use and relatively old age left her in need of more work than we’d originally presumed necessary to prepare her for offshore voyaging. She did have a newly installed Yanmar 51-hp diesel engine, which saved worrying about an unreliable motor. Plus, the tiller had been replaced with wheel steering, which would be easier for my strength. One of the previous owners had added a hardwood ‘skeg’ between the rudder and keel which would serve both as additional protection for the exposed spade rudder and possibly help the boat track better downwind. It had a functioning Furuno radar, a depth sounder, a folding max prop, a hefty Maxwell anchor windlass, a gimbaled 3-burner Seaward propane range/oven, and her sails were in good condition. But Swell would need a great deal of work to be converted into an open ocean cruiser.
Over the two years that followed, under guidance and collaboration with mentor and sponsor, Barry Schuyler, I worked with local marine professionals to overhaul Swell and simultaneously learn about safety equipment, mechanics, electrical systems, rigging, sail and fiberglass repair. Enormous thanks to Barry for his vision, financial support, and patience through the refit process and to the many who helped in countless ways. Special thanks to Neil Pryde Agent, Marty Spargur, James Lambden of Above the Waterline, and Mike Jansen and Mike Jansen Jr. of Jansen Marine (all out of Santa Barbara) for your generous contributions of skill, time, goods, heart, knowledge, and patience in preparing Swell for this voyage. The 18,000 miles of safe sailing behind me are a testament to the quality of your work and profound expertise.
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Swell’s Specs
Tankage:
- 66 gallons of water in two plastic tanks and one bladder
- 110 gallons of fuel in original tank under cockpit and stainless tank added under port berth
- 30 gallon holding tank
Engine:
- Yanmar 4JH2E model diesel 51-hp engine with Walter V-drive
- Hurth transmission
- 80 amp alternator
- ‘Dripless’ PSS Shaft Seal by PYI
Anchoring:
- 33lb Bruce anchor with 250 ft of 10mm chain plus 200 feet of 3-strand nylon rode
- Spare 33lb Bruce anchor
- 22lb Danforth stern anchor with 40 feet of chain and 250 ft of 3 strand nylon rode
- Emergency folding ‘fisherman’s’ anchor
- Maxwell 1300 Windlass (replaced motor 2011, replace gear box 2012)
- Prepared and spliced a heavy, 300ft emergency towing/mooring line
- Chain snubber and long back up snubber that can be used to pull up chain from winch at mast
Safety:
- Givens 6-person liferaft
- ACR GlobalFix EPIRB
- Backup handheld Garmin GPS
- Iridium Satellite phone
- Self-assembled ‘Ditch Bag’
- Self-assembled Medical kit
- Mer-Veille radar detector (highly recommend this for solo sailors, inexpensive and effective, available through Ceil et Marine in France)
- Bilge Pumps: Rule 3700 gph pump with automatic switch, one Henderson manual pump, and one Edson manual pump
- Parachute flares
- 2 Flare Guns
- Fire Extinguishers
- Bear Spray! (For downwind pirates… J)
Navigation/Communication:
- Regional paper charts
- Garmin 176C chartplotter
- MacENC navigation program for Mac computers
- Icom VHF
- Icom M802 SSB radio
- Pactor III modem (installed by Shea Weston of Offshore Outfitters, San Diego)
-Sailmail/Airmail
Sails:
- Full-batten, 3 reef point mainsail and cover by Morelli Sails in Ventura, Ca.
- 1st headsail—Morelli, 130% furling Dacron headsail
- 2nd headsail—140% Kevlar reefable furling headsail, donated by Holly Scott of Charlie’s Charts
- 3rd headsail—130% furling Dacron headsail donated by North Sails, San Diego
- Trysail by Port Townsend
- Hank-on storm jib donated by Fred Gamble
- Hank-on back up headsail donated by Katie Cox
- Hank-on, large light wind genoa donated by ??? (please get in touch if this was you!)
- Backup furling headsail—90% Dacron upwind working jib, donated by Russell Clark
Other Stuff:
- Custom Dodger and mainsail overhaul by Bennet Garr Sail & Marine Canvas, Santa Barbara
- Added ‘Turtle’ over companionway hatch (Steve Vukas)
- Changed interior layout to remove forward post and center leaf table. I converted the table to mount on forward cabin bulkhead where it can be stored while not in use.
- Added nav station, nav shelf, & seat to starboard side, and galley bulkhead extensions—built by J.K. Meyer Construction, Santa Barbara
- Reed’s heavy-duty sewing machine (donated by Tim)
- Waeco Cold Machine refrigeration cold plate and compressor (Thanks Dad for help with install!)
- Saltwater foot pump in galley
- Achilles SPD-335 inflatable dinghy (donated by Achilles) with Yamaha 15 hp engine (Thanks to Yamaha for discount!)
- Honda 1000-watt portable gasoline generator
- Bosun’s chair with 4:1 purchase ‘falls’ for pulling myself up the mast alone (donated by Marty Spargur)
Cal-40 Specs
Length Overall: 39 ft 6 in long (12 meters)
Length at Waterline: 30 ft 6 in (9.3 meters)
Beam: 11 ft (3.35 meters)
Sail Area: 699 square ft (65 square meters)
Displacement: 15,000 lbs (6.8 tons, 6804 kg)
Draft: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
The following is a list of some of the upgrades, changes, and additions made to Swell under my ownership:
- Reinforced rudder post by inserting stainless sleeve into original post
- Replaced aft side windows
- Added middle cabin hatch
- Overhauled forward/companionway hatch
- Installed Icom 8802 SSB with backstay antennae, tuner, and Dyna-plate
- Installed Monitor windvane (Thanks to Monitor for discount)
- Glass over hull to deck joint: The seam between the deck and the hull was originally ‘caulked’ with ‘dolphinite’ and thru-bolted. It leaked badly even in the rain, so we took off the original teak toerail, which was held on by the bolts that jointly fixed the deck to the hull and glassed over the rail from bow to stern. We glassed in a smaller toerail and replaced toe rail jib sheet tracks by installing heavy-loading stainless ‘D-rings’ spaced along rails (Thanks to Cliff at floating drydock.)
- Added propane tank storage system under rear of cockpit
- Used Spartite to replace wooden mast step blocks where mast passes thru deck
- Installed two self-tailing Antal W52 winches in cockpit
- Replaced mast track (donation by Mike Jansen) and add trysail track
- Re-wired almost entire 12V electrical system—added custom Blue Seas panel display with battery voltage displays, Amps IN and Amps OUT displays
- Designed and installed stainless ‘grab arch’ at helm
- Install Simrad AP16 Autopilot (Thanks to Simrad for discount!)
- Replaced cockpit rudder bearing
- Reinforced deck where pole had been removed in cabin by glassing in a 1” by 4” wood beam across the cabin ceiling
- Glassed in floor between head and closet to make shower pan and added drain underneath
- Installed 110V and 220V Xantrex battery chargers
- Added stainless fuel tank under port berth
- Installed 4 AGM batteries: 492 amp-hour AGM house bank, 92 amp-hour start bank joined with voltage ‘combiner’
- Installed Bilge Pumps: Rule 3700 gph pump with automatic switch, one Henderson manual pump, and one Edson manual pump
- Installed watermaker–Katadyn Power Survivor 160E
- Fuel system—added double Racor fuel filters to engine and Walbro fuel polishing/priming pump (this pump is SO helpful!!)
- Designed and installed custom rotating solar panel setup with 2 85-watt BP solar panels on a stainless pole (reinforced and bolted to the hull) that also serves as support for the davit arm I use to raise and lower the outboard engine on/off the dinghy (I eventually added a wind generator to the top of this pole!)
- Enlarged lower cockpit drains and plumbing
- Changed thru-hole setup–Glassed over engine intake thru-hole near engine and led all plumbing to one thru-hull in forward side of upper bilge
- Added emergency bilge water intake for engine
- Install interior ceiling grab rail
- Re-rigged boom with internal high purchase pulley system for topping lift and outhaul, and added small winches previously on the mast (boom donated by Mike Jansen)
- Setup 3-point, (jiffy??) reefing system at mast with option to run lines to cockpit
- Re-rigged mainsheet to run to winch at front of cockpit
- Designed ‘mast-fixed’ spinnaker pole system
- Reinforced bow anchor bracket
- Added spreader lights and tricolor mast light
- Re-wired mast
- Replaced bow & stern chainplates
- Added bigger bow/stern/deck cleats
- Replaced sheaves at masthead and reworked halyards and
- Installed wind indicator at masthead
- Reinforced/replaced the (lower/upper) tangs
- Custom heaving line
- Reinforce lifelines at bow & add halyard storage rings
- Install removable solent stay with at mast storage system
- Added leather chafe guards on spreaders
- Replace topping lift
- Prepared and spliced a heavy 300ft emergency towing/mooring line
Other Upgrades by Liz
- Replaced all standing rigging with 5/16” wire with Norseman ‘swage-less’ fittings (under guidance of Jansen Marine)
- Added used Lewmar 40 self-tailing winch to mast (under guidance of Jansen Marine)
- Added fixed cabin table supports (donated and fabricated by Jim Cotton)
- Re-plumbed head (Dad & me)
- Re-plumbed water hoses to head sink (Dad & me)
- Installed outside shower on aft deck (Dad & me)
- Repainted interior
- Built ‘Lazy Jacks’ for easy sail furling
- Installed Garmin GPSMAP 172C & antennae (Dad & me)
- Built & installed outboard bracket (Dad & me)
- Installed interior fans
- Added spice rack
- Built bookshelf
- Installed cockpit speakers (donated by Fred Gamble)
- Fixed lightning plate to hull and static dissipater to mast head (Dad & me, Costa Rica 2006)
- Raised waterline (Dad & me, Costa Rica 2006)
- Added water storage bladder under forward berth (Panama 2007)
- Replaced cracked thru-hull valve for head intake (Panama 2007)
- Replaced broken forward engine motor mounts (Panama 2007, Thanks to Marcos Villegas)
- Installed Mast steps (Marquesas 2007)
- Added cockpit seat extensions (with help from Chris McGeough, Kiribati 2008)
- Replaced damaged forestay and installed Selden-Furlex Roller Furling System (FP 2008, Thanks to Selden/Furlex for Discount)
- Re-insulated icebox (FP 2008)
- Glassed wooden skeg between keel and rudder to hull (FP 2008)
- Glassed rear of keel and repaired cracked rudder (FP 2008)
- Stripped ‘bubbling’ paint to hull three feet all the around waterline (FP 2008)
- Repainted waterline stripes (FP 2008)
- Replaced cracked bow anchor mount (FP 2008)
- Installed an aluminum plate on deck in front of windlass on deck to protect chain from chaffing (FP 2008)
- Replaced and reconfigured broken engine motor mounts (FP 2009)
- Installed Air Breeze wind generator (FP 2009) (donated by Patagonia)
- Replaced failed solar regulator with Blue Sky Energy Solar Boost 2512i(X) solar charge regulator (FP 2009)
- Installed stainless aft arch with optional sun shade (FP 2009)
- Replaced corroded original bronze shaft tube with epoxy tube (FP 2010)
- (Thanks to Fin Beven and Doug Grant!)
- Built galley steps both port and starboard sides (FP 2010)
- Install Mer-Veille radar detector by Ciel et Marine (FP 2010)
46 Comments
Jean Mondeau
August 17, 2012Its great to see you did so much work on your boat. If your ever interested in more great ideas, you can view my blogspot at jeanmondeau.blogspot.com I highly modified a cal 2-27 and made it a blue water cruiser. My current passion is to help fellow travelers with their pocket cruisers realize their dreams.
lizzy
August 18, 2012Jean, how fantastic! Your passion makes the world a better place. Please keep helping people turn sea dreams into horizon-bound reality!! thanks for letting people know I will post your site in my ‘Resources’ links! Best! Liz
Leah Salazar
October 6, 2012Hi Liz!
My husband and I met you in front of Gina’s Pizza a couple of months back in Corona Del Mar. I hope you are doing well. I’m sorry it took a while for us to write. Let us know where you are and how it’s going!
Take care and be safe!
Richard, Leah & Richard III
Kurt Gurtuna
December 11, 2012Hello,
I am the first “BN” who took care of “Maria” starting (spring 1968) in 7th grade and sailed/raced and cared for Maria until graduating from HS in ’72.
My father comissioned Maria and raced the 1967 SORC on her.
Maria is from Milwaukee Wis. Owned and bought new by Joseph D. Bonness Jr. Of Mil and who gave me my first
sailing.
Maria dominated on Lake Mich. I’ve been on Maria in two of the worst storms in Lake Mich on the Chicago-Mackinac Island. Waves breaking down the double reefer main and #4 storm jib…..13 years old I drove Maria surfing on 25 foot waves….. Such memories.
“Maria”. Will always be my boat of boats.
I spent my very best, great seasons racing, delivering and caring for “Maria”.
Kurt 360-420-6799
steel targets stands
May 12, 2013Excellent blog post. I certainly love this website.
Thanks!
Peter
July 30, 2014I should have read the list of things done to Swell before I asked question – … collector plate on hull, and static dissipater at mast head. (good idea)
Bravo for all the work. And well, I read your latest posts. Very sorry to hear about the strife. No one is alone in this regard. God bless you.
All the best,
Peter
Steve
October 23, 2014Hi, was surprised to learn that your boat was “Maria”. I crewed for Joe Williams when he owned the boat and did some work on it for him, way back. Glad to see the boat is in good hands. His family who spent a number of years cruising the boat, are still active in sailing. Joe himself passed away a number of years ago.
Steve
Captain Liz
November 1, 2014I just got this wonderful email from Mr. Joe Williams full of more awesome history of Swell…or Maria :D enjoy…
Hi Liz –
A good friend of mine forwarded me the link to your site and gave me your email – the boat that you’re sailing all over the world is the boat that I really grew up on, and was named Maria from new until well after my family sold the boat.
The boat was originally built for a guy from Milwaukee, WI named Joe Bonness – he is the one who sailed it in the SORC regattas in Florida. To our knowledge the hull was always light blue, and at one point Bonness added a bowsprit to move the headstay forward (long J measurements and short booms were rating-friendly in the early 70’s). He sailed the boat hard. In about 1974, he gave the boat to Marquette High School in Milwaukee for their school auction. It had its own trailer from days trucking it to FL to race.
My parents – Joe Williams and his wife Carol, bought the boat in ’74 or ’75…and there is a fun story behind it. A very good family friend owned a Cal 40 in Seattle named Hooligan and during the annual Opening Day of Boating, he convinced my dad to bid on the boat….he was from Milwaukee, knew the boat, and had a cousin who was willing to go to the auction and bid. Then they drove out to the marina to see Hooligan – my dad didn’t really know what he was actually bidding on, but Tom was (and is) so enthusiastic that you just can’t easily say “no” to him.
When the appointed time came to call Tom’s cousin, he and Dad walked up to the parking lot to the phone booth — put the dime in, but nothing. Calls had gone up to 15 cents and neither of them had a nickel. So they borrowed one from a guy walking by. Turns out it was some lucky nickel. My dad on the phone (as told by Tom): “Uh huh. Yep, Hi it’s Joe Williams. How did it go? Uh huh. Yep. Oh sh*t.” — they won the auction without even going to their max bid.
Starting with Maria, every boat anyone in our family has ever owned has always had a nickel under the mast for luck. I wonder if it still had that nickel when you bought it.
The purchase price was $22,000 and my parents sold the trailer to a guy from Vancouver, BC for $9000. Pretty good deal for a 40’ boat even for back then.
The boat arrived and it was hammered. My folks (and us kids a little bit) worked hard on it and brought the boat back to beautiful condition. We raced it in the Pacific NW, winning some but always having a lot of fun. We removed the bowsprit so that we would be the same as the other 20 Cal 40’s that were actively racing in Seattle. It was a glory time to be in the Cal 40 fleet. We were truly a one-design fleet and had a camaraderie that very few groups attain. Many in the fleet are still very good friends, including Tom’s oldest son Mike. We’re racing together tomorrow on my current boat.
We never thought about changing the name from Maria – it was carved into the teak propane box on the house forward of the mast and in the teak ring on the binnacle. During one race, we cracked the tiller – didn’t break it, but it made some big cracking sounds and got a bit flexible. So we put on the wheel at the front of the cockpit – which transformed the cockpit into the best social center you could ever ask for. We cruised the boat extensively in WA and British Columbia, Canada. Two parents, four kids, a black lab named Ms., and a Siamese cat named Jinx. We put a fireplace in the boat – for our weather it was awesome. I still have a scar from where I touched the polished chimney and burned a silver dollar-sized spot into my arm. We changed the pulpit to what it has now so that the huge genoas would lead more fairly along the rail…the clue was back at the forward cockpit winch…180% genoa, deck sweeper – and only Barient 26’s to sheet them with. That was a lot of work.
On the starboard side, aft of the ice box and in the top drawer is where I wrote the date that Maria was launched — May 27, 1966. That’s my handwriting in the drawer (if it’s still there). It’s actually not the right date – but my youngest brother was born on that date, so my Mom and I thought it would be fun to pretend that Maria and my brother were “born” on the same day in 1966.
When my parents sold the boat, it was tough for me — but honestly I was the only one using it and I was a sophomore in college. We sold it to the group you mentioned on your site – Mauray Rattray had sailed with us a fair amount and put together the group that bought it from my parents.
Maria stayed in the greater PNW for many, many years – she was always known as “the blue one” to anyone talking about Cal 40s. I lost track of the boat and had no idea she went to CA or that she had ended up with you. It’s really cool to see her now sailing in the So. Pacific.
I still use 6807 for some padlock combinations and passwords – that’s a number that will always mean good times for me.
I’m so glad you’re still sailing her and taking her to new places.
Best Regards,
Joe Williams
Bill
November 8, 2014Awesome that you know so much history about your boat. They do become like members of the family and it’s nice to see the love that was bestowed upon her by other before.
Rob Hoehn
February 6, 2015Liz:
Love reading the history of your boat. I sailed in the Northwest for a few years – reading these stories is such great memories. I remember thinking how weird it was seeing small fireplaces in sailboats up there – I learned pretty quickly why they do ;).
Safe travels and good luck on your adventure!
Rob
PS – I belive you have a typo in your story. The island is called “Mercer Island”.
Coy
April 19, 2015Had a read of your blog and I just wanted to say you are a hero and an inspiration.
I am 21 years old and from Seattle WA but am currently chasing my dreams in New Zealand. I recently purchased my first sailboat. It is a 1950s 29′ one-off Keeler and I am slowly teaching myself how to sail.
I have so many questions to ask you. You are living my dream and I would be thrilled to accomplish half of what you’ve done by 34. I want to sail solo from New Zealand to Seattle but I need a bigger boat and some advice/experience.
Keep up the awesome work you are a big inspiration for a young bloke like me trying to sail around the world solo.
Jan-Dirk Lehmbach von Lülsdorff
May 4, 2015Hallo Liz,
an Ihrer Anzeige habe ich Interesse. Ich möchte Sie bitten in meiner Website meine Petition zu beachten. Sicher interessiert Sie mein Gedanke für Ihr Projekt.
Bis bald, Ihr Jan-Dirk
Chou
June 13, 2015非常高兴能看见这么多人能在同一个网站上分享各自旅行的经历，我羡慕那些环球旅行的人，常幻想着什么时候能和他们一样来一场玩转地球的旅行，同时结交世界各地的旅行伙伴。欢迎你们来中国旅行，我将带你们品尝各地的美食。来自中国的朋友 周
Kevin
June 16, 2015Liz:)
Wonderful site!
Wonderful person!
Wonderful life!
:)
All the best!
Lena Captain
August 15, 2015Hey Liz,
First, I am completely reenergized by reading about your adventures, you are an inspiration reaffirming my own hopes and dreams as a sailor. I wanted to let you know that the original location of Maria/Swell is probably Mercer Island, WA not ‘Merder Island’. I am from Mercer Island, and surprised how close to home your story hits, this is a pretty small island. Thank you for documenting your beautiful journey.
Best regards,
Lena
Captain Liz
September 2, 2015Hi Lena, So happy you are feeling empowered and inspired. don’t let go of your dreams…i’ll be sure to make that correction for you and wow, how amazing that Swell’s first sailing days were there on the Lake where you are! Be well and follow your joy. Xx liz
Faraday
September 27, 2015Hi Liz,
Just found out about you and discovered your website/blog/epic story…
I am so completely impressed with what you’ve done and overcame to get out there on your own boat.
Like you I learned from my dad on our boat as a little girl, he still lives on the boat mostly based in Central America and Cuba. I went to get my captains license after high school graduation and then worked on sailing yachts for the 12 years that followed. The last 4 years of those 12, I ran a 76ft modern classic. Working in my 20s as a female in the industry was as awesome as it was really hard, so I really do appreciate the hard work you have put in to get that boat where you wanted it.
I am stoked for you!
I moved to land to have our son 2 years ago and we live in Bowen, Queensland… It’s a little costal town inside the Whitsunday islands in Australia. We have baby #2 due in 5 weeks. I’d be lying if I said moving to land has left me feeling complete. After 31 years of living on the ocean it’s been a tough transition. However dad has promised to sail here next year so we intend to do as much as the voyage with him as possible. We will be leaving from Panama.
So I guess what I want to say is I hope to see you out there and shake your hand. Also if you end up coming this way, PLEASE get in touch! Your very welcome here if you want to sleep in a queen bed and have a long hot shower and meet some like minded yachties…. The local yacht club will welcome you with open arms. Although there is no surf, we are inside the reef. We all paddle board like crazy to make up for it.
Ok I hope I don’t sound like a crazy fan, just wanted to write and wish you all the best.
Safe sailing,
Faraday
Captain Liz
November 10, 2015Hi Faraday! Thank you for your awesome note. what an amazing sea life you’ve had!! I hope our paths cross down the line somewhere and thank you for the warm invitation. I do hope to head towards Australia in the coming years…Congratulations on baby#2!! so exciting… Much love to you and your family. :D liz
Susannah Hart
September 28, 2015Amazing site. Keep me updated.
Suze
Tim Layne
October 22, 2015So happy to have read your story and thanks to Yachting Magazine for posting the story. It must be nice to have parents so willing to help you achieve your sailing goals and ambitions. After 35 years of working as a Naval Architect I recently started constructing the the hull of my retirement boat and plan to move aboard within two years. It will be a 47′ Proa outfitted with the rig and other parts suitable that I can salvage from my damaged 33′ racing catamaran.
Jeff W
November 4, 2015Can I ask what the original purchase price was?
Jeff
Claire
December 13, 2015Liz, you are a true inspiration! I’m a writer, blogger and author of the forthcoming Princess of Pirates: How I Ran Away to Sea,’ which is about my epic months sailing aboard the Dutch schooner Ooosterschelde.
I blog about sailing and travel from a woman’s perspective at princessofpirates.wordpress.com. I don’t know if I could ever do what you do, since I’m such a social person, but I’m interested in learning more! I would love to do an interview or post about your adventures sometime if you’d be interested. I wish you the best in your future voyages!
~Claire
Alanna
January 27, 2016Let me start by saying you are THE absolute coolest ! We’ve been following your journeys and loving all your inspiring pictures and content. Brilliant. We work a lot with Zeal as well (love those guys) and wanted to reach out to you about a collaboration if you’re interested… I don’t know if I’m that technically unsaavy or what (!) but I can’t seem to find your email address on here so I’m just going to post here and hopefully the message gets to where it needs to go.
At the end of the February, we are planning an evening to raise funds for the overhead costs associated with The Latitude Project’s upcoming initiatives in Latin America. The concept of the events (in Nelson, Victoria & Vancouver) will be to showcase a photo & a short blurb (printed below the photo) from about 15 ocean-inspired people like yourself. People who have chosen to weave their love for and draw towards the ocean into their lifestyles and career paths.
We want to focus on the ocean in celebration of our ongoing See the Sea program, where we take kids to the ocean (many for the first time in their lives.) More on that in this Sea Stoke article if you’re interested.) http://seastoke.com/issue/issue-four/article/the-latitude-project/
Before we go on too long, we are wondering if you would be interested in being showcased.
We know your schedule must be packed, so we’ll lay out exactly what we’re looking for from you:
-One ocean-inspired photo (of you or taken by you) that we can print in high quality for each of the 3 events. Photos will be raffled off at the end of the evening and everyone who attends the event will have a chance to take it home.
-One short blurb in response to: Why are you drawn to the ocean?
Our New Years resolution was to start planning things way in advance. Unfortunately we’ve failed (can’t win ‘em all?) and the events have snuck up on us. The bad news here is that we are requesting a ten day turn around to have the images printed and ready to be admired at the events. (Just to clarify, all printing and associated costs will be dealt with on our end- all we are looking for from you is a little email with a file attached.)
We really admire the work that you do and what you stand for in the world. We’d be honoured to share all the incredible things you do with Latitude’s incredible friends and supporters; we know they would find you as inspiring and interesting as we do! Please kindly let us know either way so that we can plan accordingly.
Either way, keep living the good life!
xo
— Alanna & Jenn
Bill
May 5, 2016Liz,
Thanks for sharing so much of your travels and journey. As a fellow Cal 40 owner, I’m especially intrigued with the specifics of your vessel and have a few immediate questions.
Please tell me more about your cockpit seat extensions. How have these worked for you (pros and cons)? Might you be able to send me photos?
Please also tell me about the additional hatch you installed behind the mast to allow an additional through-deck access point from the main salon. Why did you do this? Did it work out the way you intended? Would you do it again? If not, why not?
How do you like your cold-plate/refrigeration system? Has it been stressed in terms of maintaining your stores? What might you do differently if you had to do it over again?
And tell me about your fuel and drinking water holding capacity. Has it been enough?
I reside in Annapolis, Maryland, and own Artemis, Hull #23 (1964, and her original name). I’ve embarked on a massive refurbishment project and have replaced just about everything: toe rail, bulkheads (either replaced or reinforced), engine, standing rigging, winches, boom, plumbing, electric infrastructure, new engine shaft and prop, new ceiling core (balsa installed, with a new cross-support beam), an entirely new head, and the beginnings of a new Nav station/cold-plate system on starboard side immediately across from the galley (still in the design phase). I also replaced entire sections of the fiberglass deck and everything now shines with a new AWLGrip paint job. I also designed and fabricated new cockpit hatches to access the quarter berth areas below (as I use these areas for storage of sails, lines, and other things). And I, too, removed, glassed-over, a number of through-hulls and consolidated this system (I believe I reduced the number of through-hulls by 7!).
I still have plenty more to do, of course, including the design and completion of the galley and the propane system. Note: Artemis was overhauled in the early 70s and a settee was installed on the port side of the main salon, forward of the galley, and a double-wide side-berth installed on starboard (with a drop-down shelf that hides half of the berth and with a cushion that acts as a back rest for those seated on the portion of the berth still visible).
I’d really like to speak with you more about Swell (and perhaps see her myself!). I noted your online conversation/interview with James Lambden off the coast of Santa Barbara. Does this mean you return to home on occasion? I often get out to San Diego on business and have good friends that are members at SDYC. I’m sure several of us would like to “grill” you more learn more about your experiences! Perhaps we could coordinate schedules.
Again, many thanks for sharing. It’s great to gain insights through your experiences. Please drop me a line.
Bill (and Artemis, #23)
nattershiloh@yahoo.com
Scott Barber
May 19, 2016Hi Swell and Captain,
I came to your captains log by way of feline affection. I first read your sad cat story about Amelia getting lost. I have always wondered what it would be like to have a cat aboard a sailboat. Needless to say your writing has painted a wonderful and sometimes scary picture. Thank you! Now a little about me. I grew up in the shadows of George Griffith and Cal 40’s. I consistently sail in the Griffith series out of San Pedro and Mr. Griffith was a member of my families yacht club. So it seams like the wind Gods blew me to your blog on the eve of my very first adventure open ocean racing on the Cal 40 Psyche. I will be going on the PAC Cup race leaving San Fransisco July 11th arriving by the 20th. Your blog is a comforting account of the experience I might have. I too will be blogging and GoProing (verb). Join us in Hawaii! or follow the boat in route on pacificcup. org
Joe Bonness
July 8, 2016Cal 40 “Maria” Sail # B7 later 6807 was the second of five Marias my father owned. Raced her hard in Lake Michigan and on the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit. She held up well in several tremendous storms. In one epic St Pete to Lauderdale race she was the only Cal 40 to keep her stick. We had installed a set of running back stays that must have steadied the mast enough to take the pounding. The waves were big and square with the gale blowing against the Gulf Stream, Maria would take off air born in the troughs and pound hard when she landed. Finishing in Lauderdale with a broken gooseneck and all the porthole glass cracked.
Hard to believe that’s coming on 50 years ago.
Joe Bonness III
Captain Liz
July 23, 2016Hi Joe, Thank you for this wonderful history! I’m so grateful to you for contributing this story to the page. Amazing to think of all the sea and lake miles she has traveled! Did your dad bring her down the Mississippi to compete in the SORC races? Had I known Maria was her original name when I renamed her, I would have changed it back. It fits her so nicely. Thanks again for your contribution to my knowledge of her history. I’m smiling thinking of her surviving that treacherous race!
Joe Bonness
February 27, 2017We had a trailer built special for Maria and had her trucked to Florida several times for the SORC, followed with a cruise in the Bahamas. The driver was pulled over every year and paid a $300 fine for oversize each trip.
I see the old boom roller furling has been changed over to jiffy reefing. In the Bahamas we were crossing from Spanish Wells to Nassau. Hit with a powerful storm, winds over 65 knots we spent an hour rolling down the main. Reefed her so far down that we had to cut slides loose. It was quite a fiasco sheared the pins out of the roller furling worm gear shaft and had to hammer in replacements during the storm. When we arrived in Nassau the harbor was all torn up, the world largest sailing catamaran had sunk at the dock a fine end to that excursion tour.
We only had the family on board Mom, Dad, two teenage sisters and I was 13. I was stuck below and thought we were hitting the shoal bottom when we would land after going air born between waves.
Joe Bonness
Captain Liz
March 6, 2017This is priceless, Joe!! Keep the memories coming!! Love, Liz and Swell (Maria)
Joshua
July 25, 2016Thank you for your time and effort. I am hoping to sell all my possessions and buy a 50ft sailboat to cruise around the world. 34 years old.
Peter Giegold
August 6, 2016Hi Liz
Swell´s specs , love this , youre worth every sec out there.
Happy sailing
pathism
May 4, 2017I wish to continue writing and documenting the voyage in hopes of inspiring others to live out their passions, face fears, discover the unlimited benefits of self-awareness.
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Boat Windows
April 29, 2019Excellent work. Had an interesting time reading this.
Don Gentry
December 10, 2019Liz,
It’s heartwarming to find (formerly) Maria again. I crewed on her for 5-6 years from the early to mid-80’s. O’brien was the sole owner then acquiring partners later on. We did fairly well back then and had tons of fun (I remember Hooligan mentioned earlier as being a formidable competitor!). Each year the Roaring 40’s group ran a weekend buoy race on Lake Union (Seattle) – imagine a large group of Cal-40’s racing buoys in a relatively small area – GREAT FUN).
I knew her as a lean, mean racing machine so it’s very different to see her so well equipped for cruising. Again, so glad she is still going on adventures and is being well-cared-for!!
Fair winds to you always and give her a pat for me…
Don
Captain Liz
April 16, 2020Awe Don, thanks for the note! It’s so wonderful to hear from former Maria sailors!! Yes, please do not worry, she is very loved and well card for. All the best to you. :D Liz
Kurt Gurtunca
November 10, 2020Hello Again Liz,
I wrote in a few years ago and so great to see that Joe Bonness III did. I owe my long life of sailing / racing to his fatherJoe Jr. who hired me to join the crew and take care of Maria. Such amazing sailing times on Lake Michigan.
It was the summer of 1968 and I was 14.
Did every race and delivery and took care of Maria up to October 1971. I would ride my bike 7 miles to the marina every day and just couldn’t wait to get aboard, open the hatches, put out the ensign and I was home.
I will go through my early photos of those great sailing days which were taken mostly with my little classic Brownie. Many are B&W.
So happy that you have the boat and have brought a couple of us together here.
Joe’s account of the storms he went through in the Bahamas on Maria were related to me by my father who was down racing at the time. He caught the lines when they were docking and told me about all the damage they had and all the portholes broken from pounding airborne falls. I did a few of those on Maria but that was the classic Gulf Stream most only hear about.
I still remember how Joe and all of the crew were the happiest when the wind was in the upper 20’s -low 30’s, broad reaching with what we called the Bullet Proof” 3.5oz narrow, zipper shouldered chute. Maria, was the ride. Rooster tail, spray !!!! Perfect control at the tiller And surfing rides , well a Cal 40 dream.
Cheers
Kurt
Captain Liz
February 23, 2021Dear Kurt, Every word is a thrill to hear. Thank you for taking the time to share your stories and memories of your time aboard Maria. Oh how she has been loved!! And will surely continue to be… please send those photos if you find them! I would LOVE to see them!! Best wishes and thanks again, Liz