About Rick and JoAnne

JoAnne: She has managed fast food restaurants and has worked in retail sales for many years.  She has been the “Chief Cook” of the family and as such is the “Ship’s Chef”.  She loves baking and cooking. JoAnne is a trained sailor, and has several certifications from the American Sailing Association. She is an Amateur Radio Operator, Technician Class, Call sign KB0IRW.  JoAnne spends a lot of her free time playing online games, posting on Facebook and reading others’ Facebook pages.  JoAnne brews beer and mead as a hobby as well.  Her favorite computer is an iPad.  JoAnne has visited about 13 countries up to this time (as of March 2013).

Rick: He has worked in electronics and communications most of his life, the military and in civilian life and has been an electronics teacher at a local college in Colorado Springs for several years.  Currently he works as a security systems engineer, maintaining and repair electronic security systems for a large government agency.  Rick’s hobbies include computers, shortwave and ham radio, guns and shooting, bows and arrows, astronomy, physics and meteorology.  Rick has several certifications from the American Sailing Association and is an Amateur radio operator, Amateur Extra Class, Call sign N0NJY.  Rick blogs on several sites, is active in the community and politics and has become a “jack of all trades” to prepare for being a boat skipper.  Rick has visited approximately 50 countries at this time (as of March 2013).

Between them Rick and JoAnne have five children and thirteen grandchildren.  They decided to retire early and see the rest of the world in 2008.  They created a “Five year Plan” to accomplish their goals and are currently in the next-to-final phase of pulling up the anchor, that is getting the house ready to sell.  The last “phase” will be the purchase of their cruising vessel.  They have spent the past five years getting rid of debt, saving money, getting rid of “stuff”, downsizing the house, upgrading their skills and becoming prepared to jump off of the land and into a world of cruising islands and coastlines, crossing oceans and visiting foreign lands.

Rick and JoAnne brew beer and mead (honey wine) and have several overlapping hobbies including the aforementioned Amateur Radio, computers and especially reading.  JoAnne reads 3-5 books per week. Rick tries to keep up with her but he reads much more technical material than he does fiction.

Rick and JoAnne have been married since August 1977 and along with their daughter Kristy and her husband Carlos renewed their vows in September 2012 (and then went on a road trip to South Padre Island, Texas).

Together they act as a team in most things (although some disagreements do occur!) including sailing and preparing for their “new life”.

Rick and JoAnne can be reached by visiting the Contact Page on this site.  (See panel on the right)

(Right hand panel: Original information)

Rick and JoAnne Exploring Ireland

This site is here to share the story of beginning a life of cruising and as a simple log or documentary for our children. The site is dedicated to all of those who have the dream of someday sailing away, to explore the world, visit foreign lands and to get there under their own power, and the power of the wind.

We’re still learning and will share as much of the experience as we can with others in the hope that our plans and dreams can be realized by others as well. We ask you visit our blog later as it starts to take off.

We welcome email. See the contact page.

Rick and JoAnne