Hylas 54 – Gypsea Rover – September 2011

A Frey’s designed Hylas 54 commissioned by two highly experienced American sailors in 2004; she was sailed across the Pacific and imported into Australia before being put on the market five years ago. Her previous owner, together with his wife purchased her and sailed her up the east coast of Australia and out to the Pacific Islands before a family illness resulted in her being placed back on the market. A “semi-retired” couple from Melbourne, after having sailed their Beneteau Cyclades in the Louisiades Rally last year, really caught the cruising bug and was looking for something larger and more substantial. After a 39’ boat, they didn’t quite have 54’ in mind as their definition of “something larger” but one look at Gypsea Rover and the amount of cruising gear already aboard was enough to change their concept of “larger”. Bryan and Sue will be sailing Gypsea Rover back to her new home in Melbourne in the near future where they will spend a few years getting to know her and working on changing their status of “semi-retired” to “retired” before casting off to who knows where for who knows how long.