The same Catalina 36
The Catalina prepared through Missions 1 and 2, with repairs and improvements informed by the Mexico proving voyage.
THE LONG WAY HOME · MISSION 03
THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE RUM RUN.
Same boat. Bigger test. Earn the confidence to go farther.
PROVE THE BOAT OFFSHORE
The rehearsal before the long way home.
Mission 2 tests the Catalina’s navigation and energy upgrades. Mission 3 takes that same boat into the next stage of offshore preparation, building on what the Mexico voyage reveals. There is no boat purchase inside the TLWH funding ladder.
I’ll use the Bermuda Triangle Rum Run to expose weaknesses in the boat, equipment, procedures, and my own preparation. The goal is to find what needs work, correct it, and carry those lessons into the circumnavigation. The name brings the personality; the offshore rehearsal gives the mission its purpose.
$580,000 cumulative net
An additional $50,000 beyond Mission 2, targeting ocean-ready systems, safety equipment, and redundancy.
An offshore proving mission
The Bermuda Triangle Rum Run. Specific ports, passage legs, timing, and seasonal weather windows will be developed during preparation.
TEST. LEARN. CORRECT. REPEAT.
Find the weaknesses before the world voyage.
This mission builds familiarity with the vessel and the demands of offshore sailing. The work includes the boat’s systems and the skipper’s routines: communications, watchkeeping, weather routing, maintenance, provisioning, and decision-making.
01 · REVIEW & REPAIR
Apply the Mexico lessons
Review the problems, repairs, and improvements identified during Mission 2. Address maintenance and equipment needs, then test the changes before extending the boat’s range.
02 · PREPARE & PRACTICE
Strengthen offshore routines
Develop and practice communications, watchkeeping, rest, provisioning, maintenance, and emergency procedures. Build familiarity with the boat’s systems and the equipment needed for the planned passages.
03 · PLAN & PROVE
Put preparation to work
Plan the voyage around readiness and appropriate seasonal conditions. Use the offshore passages to evaluate the vessel, equipment, weather decisions, and onboard routines in real conditions.
04 · ASSESS & IMPROVE
Prepare the next step
Document what worked, what failed, and what needs more practice. Turn those findings into repairs, upgrades, and preparation requirements for Mission 4. Completing the voyage does not replace the next readiness review.
MISSION 3 FUNDING
$580,000 cumulative. $50,000 for the next step.
The additional Mission 3 allowance targets ocean-ready systems, offshore safety, and redundancy. It may also address repairs or weaknesses discovered during the Mexico voyage before the Bermuda mission begins.
The Catalina remains the planned challenge boat. This allocation prepares and tests that same vessel for the most demanding mission completed up to this point.
These are conservative planning estimates, not a claim that every dollar will be required. Actual costs may be lower. The vessel’s condition after Mission 2, confirmed equipment needs, and the final passage plan will make the budget more precise.
The campaign’s verified net total accounts for processing fees, refunds, dispute adjustments, and the provisional 25% reserve. The reserve is a planning allowance, not a final tax calculation. View live campaign progress.
Projected costs and actual spending will be identified separately as details become available. An itemized Mission 3 budget has not yet been published.
MONEY UNLOCKS THE MISSION
Readiness gives the green light.
FinancialCompetenceOperationalVesselExpeditionPassage
Reaching the milestone funds the mission. Departure still depends on skipper competence, a sound vessel, completed preparation work, tested safety and communications equipment, financial reserves, and a suitable weather window.
Passage planning will include weather routing, provisioning, crew rest, port requirements, contingency options, and abort and recovery plans. The aim is to build offshore experience through disciplined preparation and decisions.
Current published plan: the offshore proving objectives and funding milestone are outlined here. A departure date, final route, and completed readiness checks have not yet been announced.
THE MISSION LOG
Bring home the lessons.
This page will grow with repairs, equipment updates, training notes, route planning, photos, and offshore reports. The work and costs will be documented as they happen.
After the Rum Run, the mission report will cover the actual route, distance, duration, costs, repairs, and lessons learned. Because this is the strongest pre-circumnavigation test, those findings feed directly into Mission 4, Phase 1: corrective work, additional training, shakedown, and final readiness aboard the same vessel.
Revisit Mission 2: The Tequila Run · Return to all four missions →