Noëpe ~ A place amongst the waters

Noëpe ~ A place amongst the waters


 July 2025 ~Noëpe, a 1995 Hallberg Rassy 39 sailboat is our place amongst the waters, a medium for exploring the places, people, and creatures along the water's edge and our home for the foreseeable future. We are sad to be leaving the comfort of our home in the White Mountains, and bidding farewell to family and friends, but exhilirated to be moving aboard and broadening our horizons. life is short and if not now, then when.

The photograph above holds clues to the origins of this adventure. Jessica and I first met at the Black Dog Tavern on Martha's Vineyard in February of 1988 and sparks flew. Add some red wine and shrimp Alfredo and you have lovers for life. But, things happen, young men go wandering and young women get tired of waiting and join the Peace Corps. Love prevails and they are reunited on the island of Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga 15,000 miles to the West.

It was from these shores that I began dreaming of a boat. Something just big enough to get me out to that little island in the bay, so that I could see what was there. I ordered plans from the pages of Wooden Boat magazine and waited for the plans to arrive, but the economic restraints of volunteer wages in Tonga delayed the build until our return to Boston. That little skiff is long gone but our penchant for messing about in boats endures.

We are currently packing up our home of 28 years and preparing to sell the never-ending project and much of it’s contents. We will visit family and do some sailing in our wee boat this summer but in September we will head South to the Chesapeake Bay and move aboard Noëpe. We will cruise the Chesapeake Bay and get to know our vessel for a couple of months before heading south along the eastern shore of North America. We are bound for the Bahamas sometime in December / January. Weather and will being the determining factors.

"Why Work When There Is So Much More to Life" was the theme for the Utne Reader magazine our first Summer together. We lost sight of that ethos for a time but have regained our bearings and are on course for a life of hedonism. We hope that you will find some pleasure in these posts, and that it will fuel your own dreams.


Jessica & Scott


 

Comments

  1. Jim HJuly 21, 2025 at 6:48 AM

    Can't wait to see/hear more! Already miss you. Be well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gary ThouinSeptember 23, 2025 at 5:50 AM

    well. what's happening!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue KSeptember 27, 2025 at 3:27 AM

      Love the story and miss you! Stay safe and enjoy what life has to offer you both!

      Delete
  3. Mike & AnnOctober 1, 2025 at 6:20 AM

    Thinking of you, love you guys 😘

    ReplyDelete

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