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Morris Yachts founder Tom Morris sailed into Charleston, South Carolina, last month after a 52-hour sail up the Gulf Stream from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-a distance of about 420 miles. He’s singlehanding the Morris M42 back to Maine from the winter boat show circuit and taking his time getting there. I spoke with him on his cell phone shortly after he landed in Charleston, and he reported nice easterly breezes for most of the passage.
You might recall that the CW Boat of the Year judges fell in love with the M42 in Annapolis last year, voting it Best Special Purpose Cruiser. It’s known best as a gentleman’s daysailer, but Tom’s proving that the boat can cruise, too.
For anyone making the northbound trip up the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Tom recommends detouring 20 miles west of the usual route in Albemarle Sound to Edenton, North Carolina. You’ll have to sail under the Highway 37 Bridge (65-foot clearance) and you’ll find Edenton on your right. “It’s the prettiest small town you’ll ever see,” he says. “Walt Disney couldn’t have imagined better.”
For another tale of a Morris Yachts executive testing his handiwork under sail, click here.
