Making the Pacific Escape

It’s always exciting — and inspiring — when someone slips under the Gate, points their bows south, and sails for the South Pacific. That’s exactly what local sailor and businessman Bill Edinger did on Sunday (we think). After he sold Spectra Watermakers and spent his "retirement" as a full-time volunteer for Spaulding Marine, Edinger had been planning to set sail with his wife, daughter and a longtime friend for a three-month cruise in Polynesia aboard his 45-ft Cross trimaran Defiance. 

"My wife and I had been talking about it for a while," Edinger told us. "Even if you have a lot of plates in the air, you have to step back from under it and just go." After waiting for the torrential, biblical "atmospheric river" to pass on Friday, Edinger and crew had plans to sail on Sunday (we haven’t been able to confirm if they were able to make their departure time — if we don’t hear anything from Bill, we’ll assume all is well). 

Edinger  said he was looking forward to both the journey and the destination. "I love the passagemaking. Also, Polynesia’s about as close to paradise as you can get." He expects the crossing to take between 20 and 24 days before arriving in the Marquesas. We wish Defiance smooth seas, and look forward to hearing about her travels over the next few months.