Cutting the Corner to Complete the Loop

By the highly unusual route that their chartplotter recorded, you might think that Tom Morkin and Liz Tosoni were really anxious to get around Mexico’s Cabo Corrientes late last month. After all, arriving at nearby Puerto Vallarta would signify the completion of their 13-year circumnavigation aboard their Vancouver, B.C.-based Spencer 51 Feel Free.

But even after cruising for 25 years, they haven’t figured out how to get their boat to jump over a headland like Corrientes. The fact is, most (but not all) charts for Mexico — electronic or otherwise — are way off because they are sourced from hundred-year-old surveys. (Fortunately, this problem is being remedied by contemporary cruising guide authors, whose chartlets are based on actual GPS coordinates.)

Regular Latitude 38 readers may recall reports and feature articles by Liz and Tom over the years. Not only have they ventured to many far flung places, away from the so-called ‘cruiser milk runs’ during their travels, but they’ve also financed much of their voyaging by an uncommon means: teaching English in Asia and elsewhere for stints up to a year. We also like the fact that they’re both keen fisherfolk, using lines from on deck as well as chasing their prey with Hawaiian slings. In fact, they’re so deep into the practices of self-sufficiency that they also make their own beer on board!

"We’re happy to report that on March 28, 2012 Feel Free and crew completed their circumnavigation of the great blue marble," writes Tom. "We departed Mexico on March 28, 1999, so that makes it 4,745 days, or exactly 13 years — if you are counting." We plan to have more on Tom and Liz’ recent travels in an upcoming edition of Latitude 38 magazine.