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Countdown to the Blue Planet Odyssey Rally!

Crews are rushing to finalize preparations for Jimmy Cornell’s Blue Planet Odyssey departure on Saturday, January 10, 2015.

By Jan Irons

Updated: January 8, 2015

In the final days before the planned January, 10, 2015, departure of Jimmy Cornell’s Blue Planet Odyssey, crews were busy with final preparations at Stock Island Marina, near Key West, Florida. For boats in the Caribbean, there is another departure from Martinique on January 18. The Odyssey will be stopping at some of the places on the planet most affected by climate change during the roughly 18-month circumnavigation.

Unlike other rallies, Odyssey crews will be participating in meteorological and oceanographic studies by collecting and transmitting data during their travels. In amongst other preparations this week, Monday’s big event was a NOAA seminar presentation giving the boats the scientific instruments they’ll deploy as they cross the Pacific Ocean. All the boats are scurrying to find a place to stow the scientific instruments.

Learn more about the Blue Planet Odyssey and track the progress of the boats at http://cornellsailing.com/sail-the-odyssey/blue-planet-odyssey/

Blue Planet Odyssey

Blue Planet Odyssey flags flutter in the breeze aboard the Odyssey rally boats. Jan Irons

Aventura

Jimmy Cornell’s latest Aventura – A Garcia Exploration 45 Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Anne Posner accepts the NOAA weather instrument to be stowed aboard Joyful, a Wauquiez Pilot House 40 to be deployed as they cross the Pacific Ocean. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Benjamin Riddle, Gypsie, an Irwin 52, is making sure all the laundry is done and ready for departure. Gypsie may not depart until later due to last minute complications, but they’re making preparations just in case everything falls into place for them for Saturday. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Ransom with Tim and Ceci King taking a break after loading their NOAA scientific buoy on their 39 year old 49′ Hinckley Ketch. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Chapter Two‘s crew, John Hardy, reorganizing to distribute weight on the Lagoon 44 owned by Pat and Janet Hayes. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Food, food and more food being loaded aboard all the boats and stowed for the initial legs of the journey, stopping in Jamaica and then on to the San Blas Islands in Panama before transiting the Panama Canal in mid-February. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Gusto‘s multiple headsails and sails await stowage to where they’ll live underway. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Chapter Two at Stock Island Marina Village in Key West, preparing for a Saturday departure for Jimmy Cornell’s Blue Planet Odyssey round the world rally. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Steve Kauffman, crew on Joyful, installed a new windvane steering system in preparation for long passages across the Pacific. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Jeff Posner, owner, and Steve Kauffman, crew, on Joyful sort through a myriad of spare parts in preparation for their upcoming adventure. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Janet and Pat Hayes, aboard Chapter Two, a Lagoon 450 catamaran, are busy inventorying spare parts and provisions so they know where everything is located once they get underway. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Crew, John Hardy, also aboard Chapter Two, is still stowing and redistributing weight in anticipation of Saturday’s departure. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Frustration aboard the Atlantic 42 catamaran, No Regrets. Bill Hickson and Zeke Holland regroup after finding one of their diesels and both sail drives need more attention than could be absorbed at the dock. The boat was hauled Tuesday morning and the crew is scrambling to get parts and be ready for Saturday’s departure. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

No Regrets‘ unhappy saildrive. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

No Regrets‘ empty compartment where a diesel engine is supposed to live … Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

No Regrets‘ Zeke Holland is concerned but the three owners are working as fast as they can to get ready to go. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Dick Bower aboard Gusto attaches his Blue Planet Odyssey number. Jan Irons

Blue Planet Odyssey

Janet Hayes, Sue Wallace, Cici King, Doina Cornell and Daphne Lyman are all smiles after the Women & Cruising Seminar put on by Doina Cornell. Jan Irons