After reserving my build slot in June 2018, I started planning the trip to get the boat back to the states after hurricane season. With a spring delivery date there would be enough time to sail to the Baltic via the Kiel Canal and then back to the Atlantic Coast of Europe before setting off for Barbados.
This would have taken me all the way to Finland with only a few days on the east coast of the UK. But there was one little problem. A US citizen can only stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days within the last 180 days before they have to leave. This ruled out the Baltic Sea as it was over 128 days at a minimum.
So Plan B was to sail north, skip the Baltic and end up in Bergen, Norway around day 86. Then I would head for the Shetlands to start 90 days in Scotland. Exile will be rough with nothing to do but sail, fly fish, kayak, play some Old Tom Morris courses and drink scotch. It also means heading to the west coast which is a cruisers paradise. A second bonus is an easy visit Anfield and a ferry ride to Dublin to visit the Guinness Storehouse.
But then Covid hit, the world turned upside down, I couldn’t go to France to meet with Pogo Structures, have a test sail and complete the order. So right now I’m praying the vaccine works out and I can actually travel to France and pick up the boat.
If not it will be sea trialed in France, delivered to Southhampton and loaded with the mast up on a transport boat . $17,000 dollars later I can pick it up in The pickup will be in Jacksonville. Just think how much good beer and bourbon you could get for 17k.