Surf champ John John Florence and brothers Ivan and Nathan attempt perilous Vanuatu to Oahu crossing

Surf fans hold breath as famous Florence family, including newborn baby, set sail on three-thousand nautical mile voyage…

The tour truant John John Florence, along with baby Deb, wife Lauren, and brothers Ivan and Nathan, a two-time Surfer of the Year winner, have been, as BeachGrit readers will attest, sailing the unsellable yacht Vela back home from New Zealand to Hawaii. 

In 2015, John John Florence had declared, “My ultimate goal with sailing is to be able to travel fast, cover long distances, and go surfing. I want to combine the two.”

And Nathan Florence, whose hair is redder than his older brother, with skin as paper thin, literally and figuratively, wasn’t far behind.

Still, everything gets old, even degrading dialogue or the spitting of saliva mouth to mouth, and in 2023, John John Florence listed his 48-foot catamaran, a gunboat previously owned by Travis Rice before him, for $1.349 million. 

The sales pitch was compelling.

The embodiment of spirit and adventure, this Gunboat 48 is on the search for her next custodian!

Borne of Gunboat’s singular focus to quality and durability, “Vela” has spent most of her life travelling some of the worlds most spectacular locations with some of the worlds foremost watermen and adventurers.

Now its your turn to join the legend…..

“Vela” is currently lying in the North of New Zealand and has been a recent recipient of an extensive refit ensuring that she is 100% ready to go on her next adventure. Lightweight, robust and featuring North 3di technology flying from a Marstrom Carbon mast supported by ECsix carbon rigging, The Gunboat 48 strikes the balance between performance and comfort in a manner rarely seen on performance catamarans under 50ft.

The saloon space flows beautifully into the hulls and forward in to the forward cockpit, sail handling area which of course leaves the aft cockpit space open and free for socialising and watching the world go by.

Recently returning to her original metallic blue hull colour with black accenting provided by the forebeam, mast and trampolines, “Vela” is champing at the bit to get back to exploring!

Professionally managed and maintained, “Vela” is currently winterised with all sails serviced and stored with North Sails NZ.

As reported back then, 

“The yacht was made very famous, of course, in Florence’s video series of the same name when surf fans around the world wondered if he was through with professional surfing altogether.” 

Of course, as anyone who has owned a boat will agree, the great boat owning paradox is you might be able to buy ‘em but you sure as hell can’t sell ‘em unless you’re ready to take the biggest hit of your life. 

So the Vela is coming home to Haleiwa.

But not before many adventures in the South Pacific.

And, earlier today, John John Florence informed his two million Instagram followers that the Vela, along with his precious cargo of family and crew, have left Vanuatu for Oahu, some three thousand nautical miles to the south-west.

At their current clip of thirteen knots, real quick if you wanna know, it’ll take the gang 24 days to make it to Haleiwa, although this assumes constant speed with no stops, currents, weather delays, surf stops any sorta refuelling.

Many risks en route, including medical emergencies (five days away from a hozzy), crew fatigue (one bad decision, capsize), equipment failure, sudden wind gusts (cats flip if caught broadside with full sail) and so on.

Thoughts, prayers etc.