The Time Has Come....

[Gypsea Wind]

After our third incredible season aboard Gypsea Wind, the time has come. This season alone our family has spent almost 4 weeks on the water to include destinations such as Key West and the Chesapeake. The only problem with each of our adventures is we have to decide who to leave with the grandparents as our family has outgrown our boat. Everybody enjoys their time aboard Gysea Wind, just not at the same time. There is a rotation on who gets to go next and who is staying behind. After returning from Key West with stories about dolphins, snorkeling and turquoise waters, it seems unfair to those left behind to hear about the adventures the others had. The solution to this problem is getting a bigger boat that we can all enjoy together.

We were sure that Gypsea Wind was going to be our "forever boat". We spent years looking at the Macgregor's and attended specific boat shows yearly that had a Mac on display. Every year we went to see them, we were sure that next year was the year that we were going to purchase one. In 2012 my wife and I decided that we were ready to get more serious about buying a Mac. In the summer of 2012 we traveled to Costa Mesa to visit the factory. While we were there, we toured the factory, had all our questions answered, and even went out with Mike Imron on a 26M that was docked at Roger Macgregor's private home. The 26M was exactly what we were looking for. We were undecided on color and options and put off the purchase while we researched these things. We liked the cruising packages offered by Blue Water Yachts in Seattle. We decided to attend the 2013 Seattle boat show in January to meet with Cheryl and see one of the Blue Water Boats they were going to display. When we arrived at the Seattle Boat Show, we loved the way that Blue Water Yachts had set up the 26M. It was by far the best rigging and options we had seen on a new Macgregor. Sheryl then dropped a bomb on us - Roger Macgregor was closing shop and there were only two 26M's left for purchase from Blue Water Yachts. There was some discussion about the rumored Tattoo production that would come on line in Florida at a future date, but it sounded like an unsure thing. We decided to purchase the 26M from Blue Water and signed a contract at the show. We ordered about every option available and then some.

In May of 2013 we drove from our home in Fredericksburg Virginia to Seattle to pick up our new boat. While we were there, we had another in water demo and a sailing lesson at Blue Water Yachts. Cheryl and Todd spent almost an entire day going over the boat and equipment with us. We left Seattle pulling a 26M and it was a head turner all the way across the U.S. This boat had everything needed to cruise including radar, chart plotter, generator and a dinghy with a 2.5- 4 stroke outboard. We were so committed to this boat that we built a "Boat House" on our property that we keep the boat in when we are not on the water. Gypsea Wind has been spoiled in her enclosed 30 x 40 building.

We have spent our free time sailing and cruising the waters of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Florida. We even attended the NC Sail "Pirate Sail" in NC where we were able to visit with other Mac owners. At first, our family fit. But after 2 more additions, things have changed. I have seriously looked at keeping our Macgregor as our second boat for trailering to exotic locations when just the wife and I want to get away, but the reality is that we cannot afford two boats. The next one will be slip bound and not trailerable. We haven't decided what the next one is yet, but we realize that our trailering days are over with this move.

We have read so many stories about folks sizing down to a smaller boat, but we need to go the other way for the next number of years. Maybe sometime in the future, when the kids have grown and moved on we will be able to find another Mac/Tattoo/Other that we can trailer to far off places. Our list of places we want to cruise is extensive, and can only be accomplished with a trailerable boat.

The wife and I are sad and the kids are protesting, but this will be better for our family in the long run.

Thanks for all the great ideas and discussions on this forum. This site has been invaluable to us and we have been entertained with all the stories and mods.

Bryan and Kim

[bahama bound]

Man ,we have been looking seriously for about a year and its really tough .we go back and forth daily !

[Catigale]

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

[Gabby_SC]

Also looking at larger boats, but really like this forum site. Maybe Admin would let past users "Stick around" and use the specialty forum under" castaways " or something like that.

[kmclemore]

Maybe Admin would let past users "Stick around" and use the specialty forum under" castaways " or something like that.

!	kmclemore:
	Lots of folks on the site no longer own Macs (or, indeed, never have owned one and are simply lurking until they buy one!). No special license or approval needed... just hang around and join in.

[kadet]

Also looking at larger boats, but really like this forum site. Maybe Admin would let past users "Stick around" and use the specialty forum under" castaways " or something like that.

SHOOSH if you don't say anything they won't know and if they ask tell them you bought such a big new yacht you use the Mac as the tender

[dlandersson]

Is your boat still in one piece?

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

[Tomfoolery]

Is your boat still in one piece?

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

Is your sanity still in one piece?

[dlandersson]

LOL

Is your boat still in one piece?

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

Is your sanity still in one piece?

[Gypsea Wind]

Is your boat still in one piece?

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

Still in one piece....yes

[Gypsea Wind]

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

Six teens and you? your crazier than me!! We are a family of six. The perfect number (besides 2) is three to four comfortably....

[EZ]

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

So that's 7 people total? Isn't the X rated for 6?

I guess overloading a boat is not a big deal for some.

[kmclemore]

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

So that's 7 people total? Isn't the X rated for 6?

I guess overloading a boat is not a big deal for some.

Well, capacity is based on weight... and teenage girls don't weigh a whole heck of a lot.

[Catigale]

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

So that's 7 people total? Isn't the X rated for 6?

I guess overloading a boat is not a big deal for some.

The Mac does not have a capacity rating and placard like smaller boats. The factory recommends a crew of six but obviously that doesn't account for the spectrum of crew ranging from jockies to sumo wrestlers. You can overload this boat with 4 and be fine with 10, all while complying with "regulations"

[EZ]

I have cruised for a week with six teens on my

How big a crew are you talking ??

So that's 7 people total? Isn't the X rated for 6?

I guess overloading a boat is not a big deal for some.

The Mac does not have a capacity rating and placard like smaller boats. The factory recommends a crew of six but obviously that doesn't account for the spectrum of crew ranging from jockies to sumo wrestlers. You can overload this boat with 4 and be fine with 10, all while complying with "regulations"

I think you are correct from a technical perspective. I just question from a legal perspective. If something went wrong beyond the operator's control, would they be liable b/c the number of people on board exceeded factory recommendation? The 4th of July capsize incident years ago with 11 people on board (three of them children) comes to mind.