From the Latin rhapsdia, section of an epic poem, from the earlier Greek rhaps idein, to recite poems

1. Exalted or enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing.
2. A literary work written in an impassioned or exalted style.
3. A state of elated bliss; ecstasy.
4. An ancient Greek epic poem or a portion of one suitable for uninterrupted recitation.
5. A musical composition, usually instrumental, of irregular form, that often incorporates improvisation.

Rhapsody - the boat!

Rhapsody to Central America - the plan

Rhapsody - the adventure!
(ships logs)

OK, so we're at it again :-)

After falling in love with sailing in 2005 and getting our first sailboat, Mandala, a Catalina 36, and sailing her all over California in 2006, we have decided to take the next big step and try full time cruising for the next couple of years. So, here in March 2007, we have purchased Rhapsody, the boat, to take us where she may !

The Plan is to leave San Diego in November 2007, and sail down the Mexican Riviera for 6 months, with leisurly stops at all the nice places along the way. Then we will spend six months cruising the west coast of Central America, mostly around Costa Rica and Panama. After transiting the Panama Canal, we will then spend another six months working our way up the east coast of Central America back to the USA, including six weeks or so in Belize, and stops in great places like Roatan, Tulum, Cozumel, and Cancun, before ending up in Houston, or New Orleans, or some other Gulf Coast City, 18 months after we left home, in June or so of 2009, to see what happens next.

Hopefully some of our friends and family will join us for parts of the trip !!

If we still like it after that, the possibilities abound. For now, tho, this trip, The Adventure, our Rhapsody to Central America, if you will, remains as exciting as can be. At the same time we know that, as of this writing, we only have about 6 months to rent the house out, put all of our stuff in storage, fix the many things that need fixing on the boat, as well as make significant improvements to her, move our lives onto a boat, learn how to sail her, master all of her systems, and still find the time to plan a journey of serious magnitude and complexity. Oh yeah, and we want to learn Spanish too! And make a movie and webpages about the trip! Anyway, you can find out how we're coming along in this whole process (and hopefully find yourself reading about our actual trip), by clicking on the link above, which takes you to the Ships Logs for Rhapsody.

And, as always, thanks to the many that read of and share in so many ways in our journey.

- Pat and Trish