Ginger and Peter Niemann s/v Marcy & s/v Irene

Peter and Ginger Niemann began a liveaboard, sailing and cruising life in 2004 when they bought a 47-foot sloop, Marcy. She was in disrepair, but they fixed her up and departed on a four-year circumnavigation. Their journey took them from Seattle westabout via Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn. Highlights included South Pacific islands, New Zealand, Australia and Madagascar; rounding Cape Horn and exploring the Beagle Channel and Patagonian canals, and returning home via Hawaii and Alaska.

Back in Seattle, Peter and Ginger got jobs, recharged the cruising kitty, found a new boat, Irene, a 50-foot ketch, and departed again in 2016 on an eastabout circumnavigation via the Northwest Passage, Europe, the Suez Canal, Singapore, Japan and Alaska. As Covid struck, they spent 300 days onboard without being permitted to step onto land in any country. They returned to their homeport, Ballard, Washington, a seafaring district of Seattle, in August 2021. They sail double-handed enjoying teamwork and communication of sailing far.

In 2022, Peter & Ginger's two circumnavigations were recognised with a CCA Blue Water Medal.