The Crew

 

Welcome to Adventure Blue!

We're Damon & Janet Gannon, a couple of sailing scientists and nerdy ocean lovers.  Over the last three decades, we have studied marine mammals, fish, seabirds, harmful algal blooms, and other marine critters from the Gulf of Mexico to the Bay of Fundy, and from the estuaries out to the edge of the continental shelf (see some of our scientific publications). We've been fortunate to work at some of the greatest marine laboratories in the world (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Duke University Marine Lab, Mote Marine Lab, and the University of Georgia Marine Institute), at some remote field stations in stunningly beautiful places (Bowdoin Scientific Station and the Grand Manan Whale & Seabird Research Station, both in the Bay of Fundy), and aboard a variety of research vessels.  We're taking a break from our academic “day jobs” to sail our boat, s/v Fulmar, to explore the marine environment and meet the people who work to protect it.  

 

Janet climbing Fulmar's mast to fix a lazy jack that Damon had rigged improperly.  

We're assisted by our first mate, Loki, a canine of indeterminate pedigree from Sapelo Island, Georgia.  His interests mainly revolve around the practical applications of Optimal Foraging Theory.  That is, he likes to eat and takes a lot of naps.  His primary role aboard the boat is bunk warmer and security officer.  He alerts us when we have visitors, be they humans, dolphins, manatees, fish, or birds.  Those of you who remember your Norse mythology know that Loki’s namesake is a god with a reputation for being a wily trickster.  Our Loki may not be a deity, but he definitely lives up to his name.

 

Loki, supervising Damon and his students during a fishery survey in Doboy Sound, Georgia.

How did we become sailing ocean lovers?

Janet learned to sail on Pennsylvania lakes in a dinghy made of Styrofoam. No, really, we’re not joking.  It was called a Sea Snark and is one of the most popular sailboat models of all time.  Janet’s dad bought it in the 1970s for about $100 and sold it 20 years later for $200, becoming the only person in history to make a profit on a boat. Janet did more sailing at a YMCA Camp, not because she was all that interested in sailing, but because "the sailing instructor was cute,” she says. 

 

Janet sailing in the Florida Keys.

Damon learned to sail in his family’s Catalina 27.  His parents were novice sailors but brave enough to spend weekends and summer vacations cruising the rocky coast of Massachusetts with two small boys. This was in the early 1970s, before GPS, AIS, and electronic charts of any kind. 

 

Damon sailing with his mom, Carol, on Sarasota Bay in Ohana, our Pearson 28.

 

Damon conducting field research in the Gulf of Mexico on how Florida Red Tides affect the marine food web. The glamour of marine biology! 

Over the years, we have worked aboard and operated a variety of research vessels and workboats.  Damon earned his captain's license from the U.S. Coast Guard.  We have owned five sailboats: a Howmar 12, Com-Pac 19, Morgan 22, Pearson 28, and our current boat, Fulmar, a Pacific Seacraft 37.  You might say that we have a sailing addiction.  We will be working on research projects and public education.  Some of our work will be in collaboration with an organization called Sailors for the Sea.

 

Ohana, Janet & Damon's Pearson 28, Gulf of Mexico.