Longboat Key couple sets sail around the eastern U.S.

The longest sailing trip Ron and Jean Schwied took lasted for two weeks. But on March 4, they are setting sail for an approximately 6,200-mile circumnavigation of the eastern half of the United States — a trip that will take upward of 10 months.

“I’m beginning to panic!” says Jean Schwied.

Her husband assures her that what they are embarking on isn’t crazy.

“We’ve been completing lists for our boat and home for months and have done planning for the trip for years,” he says confidently.

And the retired couple certainly has plenty of sailing experience. The Sarasota Sailing Squadron members have both been sailing for approximately 40 years. And they are prepared: They have their home rented out, they have all the spare parts they will need; and they have set up wireless Internet onboard.

The sailing adventure they will undertake is called The Great Loop, which hundreds of people have traveled before, and there are guide books and blogs full of tips from people who have completed their own trips.

“He’s been talking about it for 20 years, but we’ve never been able to do it because of work,” Jean Schwied says.

It will take them about a year to sail because the boat will travel less than 10 miles per hour and the couple is planning to sightsee as much as possible.

“(We’re) most looking forward to historical sites along the way,” Ron Schwied says.

They will dock up to spend time in Charleston, S.C., Annapolis, Md., the Canadian side of the Great Lakes, Cumberland Island, Ga., Chesapeake Bay and sailing the Hudson River near the base of the Statue of Liberty. They have some don’t-miss sites, but they are planning to travel based on word-of-mouth from the boating community.

“(We’re also looking forward) to the camaraderie of other people doing the trip,” says Jean Schwied. “We will make friends and contacts in the boating community. It’s very tight-knit.” There is a group called America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association, and the Schwieds will be passing through Norfolk, Va., in time to attend its annual meeting.

They will cook onboard and even catch their own dinner once in a while. They have plenty of electronic and hard-copy of books and access to Netflix for entertainment. Jean is bringing watercolor supplies and hopes to teach herself to paint. But the couple will spend just about every day onboard together.

“I’m pushing him off. He goes first!” Jean Schwied jokes about the possibility of getting sick of her husband. “Although he has the captain’s license.”

They have family and friends planning to join them for a few days at a time along the way. And because the couple has six grandchildren, they are planning to dock the boat and fly home once or twice to make sure they don’t miss too many swimming meets and gymnastics competitions. They will also use Skype and document their travels with a blog.

They have no expected return date and are looking forward to playing it by ear.

“It’s the journey; it’s not the destination,” says Ron Schwied. “It’s our bucket list.”

BY THE NUMBERS
75 — percentage of time the sailboat will be under power (using motor).
6,200 — approximate miles of the trip
7 — Average miles per hour the boat will be traveling
2 — times the sailboat’s mast must be un-stepped. It takes a crane to do this.
3 to 4 — times the couple will fly out throughout the year to see grandchildren and check on the house.
45 — average number of miles they will sail in a day