11. Grey Wolf FPB78-2 Adventures from the Pacific to Antarctica – Building the Ultimate Expedition Yacht

What does it take to build a yacht capable of crossing the Pacific, riding out 100 knots at anchor, refuelling from 45-gallon drums on remote islands, and cruising among drifting ice and orca in Antarctica? In this episode of the Berthon Podcast, Sue Grant sits aboard FPB 78-2 Grey Wolf II with owner Peter Watson to talk through one of the most extraordinary private cruising programs of the last decade.

Peter’s FPB story began with Little Grey Wolf, an FPB 64 he bought in New Zealand. Instead of shipping her home, he made the bold decision to drive her across the Pacific. “I looked at shipping the boat back,” he says, “and then thought, no, let’s drive it back.”
The resulting three-month journey carried a crew of five, including a retired MOD naval architect and two apprentices, through Tahiti, the equatorial countercurrents, Panama, the Azores and on to the Channel Islands. It was on this voyage that Peter learned the practical truths that would shape his next FPB: carry the spares you may need, because help is thousands of miles away, and make sure everything on board is accessible.

While the 64 was crossing oceans, Grey Wolf II was under construction in New Zealand. The design was a collaborative process between Peter, fellow FPB owner Pete Rossin, and Steve Dashew himself. “It was very much a group effort,” Peter explains. “Steve designed the hull, but we all worked together to refine how she should be equipped and laid out.” He even spent nine months in the yard during the build, ensuring the systems, access and fit-out met the standard needed for high-latitude cruising.

Safety was at the core of the project. Peter insisted the yacht be built to MCA Category Zero. “I wanted the boat to be as safe as it possibly could be. The MCA standard is one of the best internationally,” he says. Grey Wolf II is the only FPB 78 coded to that level.

Once completed, she took the long route home. New Zealand to Tahiti, then the Gambier Islands, where fuel was hand-pumped aboard from 45-gallon drums. Past Pitcairn and Christmas Island, then into Chile. From there she and FPB 78-3 Iron Lady II travelled south together and spent three unforgettable weeks in Antarctica. “The wildlife was extraordinary,” Peter says. “Orca, penguins, seals. By the end I was almost penguined out.”

The conditions, of course, were real. Charts were unreliable, ice drifted unpredictably and anchoring required constant vigilance. “You might put the anchor down and be fine, then the wind shifts and suddenly the ice is coming at you. You have to decide whether you can push it off or lift the anchor and move.”

Between Little Grey Wolf and Grey Wolf II, Peter estimates he has logged close to 100,000 FPB miles. The capability, he says, is what keeps drawing him back. “You do not go looking for bad weather,” he explains, “but you know the boat can handle it. We had 100 knots on the nose in Chile and everything held without a problem.”

If you are interested in real world ocean crossing capability, practical design lessons, or what it means to run a family expedition yacht to some of the most remote places on earth, this conversation is not to be missed. Grey Wolf II is a remarkable platform, and Peter’s miles prove the point.

Listen now and step aboard one of the most capable private cruising yachts afloat

Steve Dashew - Dashew Offshore
Iconic yacht designer and one of the true legends of modern ocean cruising.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

Hi, my name is Sue Grant from Berthon, and I am sitting aboard FPB 78-2 Grey Wolf II with her owner, Peter Watson. We are in Lymington on a grey early-spring day, and we are going to talk about the Grey Wolf project. Grey Wolf II is the second of Peter’s FPBs, the first being FPB 64-6, affectionately known as Little Grey Wolf. Peter bought her in New Zealand and steamed her back across the Pacific to the Channel Islands and eventually to Lymington. It was a huge adventure, and you can read more about it on our website. While that voyage was happening, this larger FPB was being built in New Zealand and has since made her own remarkable journey back here, returning to the very dock her “little sister” once occupied.

So Peter, tell me a bit about that first trip home on Little Grey Wolf—the route and the crew.

Sure. It was very interesting. I’d done a lot of sailing, both sail and power, but never a trip of that scale. I looked at shipping the boat back, then thought, no—we’ll drive her home. Everyone thought we were mad, including Steve, who was convinced we would never make it. We assembled a great team: a retired MOD naval architect, a retired chief engineer, myself, and two apprentices—one from the yard who came all the way home, and one from Berthon who joined until Tahiti. Another apprentice joined later. Five people onboard Little Grey Wolf was a lot, considering she really only had accommodation for three, but we managed.

The route was unusual. “We went far north to pick up the countercurrents above the equator. From New Zealand we headed to Tahiti, then further north, using those currents to reach Panama. From there we crossed to the Azores and on to Guernsey. The whole trip took three months.

Meanwhile Grey Wolf II was taking shape in New Zealand. You must have learned a lot from that first voyage about what the new boat needed.

I’ve always admired Steve’s designs for their capability and comfort. They may look a little industrial—‘purposeful,’ as you say—but people are always surprised when they step inside. We learned two key things on the way home: carry every spare you might conceivably need, because in the Pacific you are a very long way from help; and make access easy. Working with Steve on this boat was fantastic. It was a true collaboration between Steve, myself, and another FPB owner, Pete. Steve designed the hull, of course, but we worked as a group on the interior and systems. Every FPB is a little different.

While back in the UK, you also completed your 3000-tonne qualification.

Yes, lots of paperwork, but very worthwhile. After that I spent nine months at the yard in New Zealand during the build. The New Zealand team are incredibly skilled—unbelievable aluminium welders, and the interior fit-out is superb. Despite all the miles she has done, the boat still looks almost new.

One of your major decisions was insisting on MCA Category Zero.

Yes. We wanted the option to take fare-paying passengers, but really it was about safety. The MCA standard is one of the best in the world. I wanted the boat to meet or exceed everything they require. Of the three FPB 78s, this is the only one coded to Zero.

After trials, you left New Zealand and came home via Antarctica—a spectacular route. What was the standout moment?

Antarctica, without question. Being down there among the wildlife was extraordinary.

Tell me about the journey south.

We went from New Zealand to Tahiti, then to the Gambier Islands, where we refuelled from 45-gallon drums. From there we passed Pitcairn, then Christmas Island, then into Chile. Chile is a wonderful country with lovely people. We spent time in a naval base and learned the British Navy trains the Chilean Navy. They asked whether the worst weather was the North Sea or the Straits of Magellan. I told them that crossing to Antarctica was far more adventurous. The weather cycles every three days. To get the smooth weather, you have to go through the rough weather.

And then you joined up with Iron Lady II?

Yes, we met them in Chile, travelled together down to Antarctica, spent about three weeks there, then returned north. We went on to the Falklands while they continued back to Chile. It was jokingly referred to as the ‘family cruise to Antarctica,’ but it was challenging. The charts are unreliable, the ice shifts constantly, and you must be ready to lift the anchor and move at any moment.

What about the wildlife?

Lots of orca—stunning drone footage—penguins, seals, everything. By the end I was almost ‘penguined out,’ but it is a magical place.

Between the two Grey Wolfs, how many miles do you think you have done?

Well over 80,000 nautical miles. Probably closer to 100,000.

And what do you love most about the boat?

The capability and comfort. We can take family or guests, run with or without crew, and we never go looking for bad weather—but if we find it, the boat handles it. In Chile we anchored in 100 knots on the nose and the gear held perfectly. If you want a family trip to Antarctica, this is probably the boat.

Thank you, Peter. It is wonderful to be back aboard the Big Wolf.

I’ve really enjoyed it, and working with Berthon has been great. You probably think I’m mad, but it has been an incredible adventure.