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

Happy Birthday, Robn (Gras) Diekow!

Happy 70th birthday to Robn (Gras) Diekow!

Robn (Gras) Diekow sailing in the marina in Finike, Turkey.

Robn Gras was born 4 October 1949 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA to Ranulf Worcester "Ranny" Gras and Annette Elizabeth Peters.

October 26, 1969, when she was 20 years old, Robn, her parents, and two of her brothers left on a sailing trip around the world. 

In French Polynesia, Robn met a German single-hand sailor named Gerhard Diekow, whom she eventually married. They lived in Germany for a year, and then in Sequim, Washington, west of Seattle, where they raised their daughter, Antares.

Robn and Gerhard bought a sailboat and lived on her for several years, leaving on their own round-the-world trip in 2001. Unfortunately, Gerhard passed away in South Africa in 2010. One of Robn's brothers helped her sail her boat to the Caribbean where she continued her adventures.

 

Robn's sailboat Heidi in Pago Pago

Robn aboard Heidi

After a few years, another world cruising sailor, Dave Heath, also widowed, was sent one of her journal entries and one thing led to another. They are now a couple, dividing their time between their 2 boats and an RV.  

 

Dave Heath & Robn Diekow

You can follow Robn and Dave's adventures on their blog: 

https://alegria1976.wordpress.com/

Robn Gras' Family Tree:

Ancestors:

John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents)

Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (great-grandparents)

Ethel Gertrude Culbert & Norman Scott Brien Gras (grandparents)

Ranulf Worcester "Ranny" Gras & Annette Elizabeth Peters (parents)

Descendants (Children):

Antares Diekow, daughter.