50th Anniversary of the Voyage of the Merry Maiden

Fifty years ago today, the Merry Maiden set sail for a voyage around the world.

The Gras family in 1975 after returning home from a trip around the world. Left to right: Ranny, Seaton, Ann, and Adrian.

Ranulf Worcester "Ranny" Gras (1917-1994) was an engineer employed with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), working on NASA and Apollo space programs. Wanting to spend more time with his family, he proposed they travel the world on board their 60-foot yacht, the Merry Maiden.

On October 26, 1969 the Gras family set sail from Salem, Massachusetts. The voyage lasted six years. They returned home in 1975.

The Merry Maiden

Along with Ranny were his wife, Annette "Ann" (Peters) Gras; their daughter, Robn Gras who you met previously in this post; and their two youngest sons, Seaton Gras and Adrian Gras.

Only four of the five members of the family returned home. Don't worry - nobody was lost overboard. While they were travelling in the South Pacific, Robn met a German sailor in Pago Pago. She left the crew and married Gerhard Diekow. 

There's much more to tell but we'll have to wait while one of Ranny's sons writes a biographical piece about his father for us. When it's ready, I'll be sure to post it on the Culbert Family History blog. 

Left to right: Adrian, Seaton, Ranny and Ann

Ranulf Worcester "Ranny" Gras' Family Tree:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-grandparents)
Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (grandparents)
Ethel Gertrude Culbert & Norman Scott Brien Gras (parents)
Descendants (Children):
Gerald Scott Gras
Robn (Gras) Diekow
Adrian Duncan Gras
Seaton Andrew Ranulf Gras