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To circumnavigate the world in a sailboat has been a lifelong dream.
I want to express my thanks to the many people who helped make this
dream a reality. My wife, Saundra, joins me in thanking everyone,
however my biggest thanks goes to her, my First Mate and my Partner
for almost 47 years for persevering over these last three years. My
Partners at my law firm, Gray Harris & Robinson, PA, have been
very supportive and, although I've been back in the office a total
of thirteen months during this three year sailing odyssey, Tom Cloud,
Fred Leonhardt, Stumpy Harris, Kent Hipp and other partners have not
missed a beat servicing clients and filling in for me during my absence.
I would like to give a special thanks to Phil Finch, Paul Quinn, Jay
Brennan for their help and Bill Boyles, who handled my personal real
estate transactions and acted as my attorney-in-fact. My secretary,
Dianne, has maintained all shore side obligations and has been our
constant link not only with clients but coordinating visiting crew,
getting mail and ordering spare parts.
To prepare
Sea Gem for this voyage I must thank Jim & Jo Alton of Alton
Enterprises, Titusville, Fl., for their excellent and very professional
work customizing and in a manner of speaking, bullet proofing Sea
Gem. We could not have gone without their expert work. Frank Monachello
and Mark of Marine Pro did all of the engine work installing a new
Racor fuel filter system and an automatic oil changing system that
made it easy. Jim Mazza of Mazza Marine reworked the electrical
system to allow us to use the European 220 volt- 50 cycle electric
current (U.S. is 120 volt- 60 cycle-far less efficient! Why must
we be different?) and installed two separate and independent refrigeration
systems, a 12 volt and a mechanical system running off the engine,
and built a new refrigerator that keeps food better than the one
at home. My old school buddy, Bill Pease, did all my electronics
including a great "real time" satellite weather picture
system. He has now retired and takes his 46 foot Hatteras to the
Keys for the season each year but has always been available to consult.
Mary at M&M Systems in Melbourne has helped us with our marine
computer work. Gary Herman and the folks at Worth International
Enterprises have been in charge of our website and have done a great
job.
A special
thanks goes to our family who have not only tolerated our absence
but also encouraged this great adventure. Our daughter, Terese Vincent,
managed some rental properties we have in DeBary, and she and our
son-in-law, Tommy carried us and baggage to and from the airport;
our son, John, also worked airport duty and managed our properties
generating a couple of great land sales; my brother-in-law, Jerome
Hagood sent spare parts; my brother-in-law and my nephew, Tommy
and Michael Hagood serviced our two Mercury outboards souping up
the 6 horse to 9hp, and refinished cockpit lights and throttle controls;
our daughter-in-law, Stacey, had our third granddaughter, Savannah,
during our absence and is going to have our first grandson this
July; she and our other granddaughters, Caroline and Kristen sent
us pictures and cards; and our son, Lee, keeps us informed of his
activities in the northwest U.S.
Thanks to
everyone mentioned and unmentioned in our web site logs who helped
us in this great adventure circumnavigating this world of ours.
J. Charles
"Charlie" Gray
Captain, S/Y Sea Gem
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