After the Nordhavn 57 Ice Dancer returned to Hawaii, I interviewed the owner, Dick Barnes, by email about his 6,200-nm loop around the South Pacific. Here are the highlights: >What your average speed and fuel burn? We have a Flo Scan fuel monitor that is integrated with the GPS. It reports nautical miles per U.S. gallon on a continuous basis. Fuel usage depends upon vessel loading, current, wind waves, swell and wind. From Hawaii to Nuku Hiva, we made 7 knots and made 1.7 nm/gal. with SE and E winds of 20 plus knots on the port bow. From Marquesas to Tuamotus we did 8.2 knots with 2.2 nm/gal in calm conditions. From Societies to Christmas Island we ran at 6.5 knots at 2 to 2.25 nm/gal with head seas and winds. We slowed on this leg because it was unclear whether we could get fuel at Christmas, which we did. But, we were prepared to run all the way to Oahu by conserving fuel early on. From Palmyra to Oahu, we did 7.5 knots at 1.8 to 2.0 nm/gal. >How big a crew did you carry? Three total: my wife (the Admiral) and a mate. >When did you acquire Ice Dancer? Did you bring her across to Hawaii >from California? We finished commissioning Ice Dancer in February 2003. First trip was from Dana Point to Baja California, departing on St. Valentine's day. In May/June we ran from La Paz to Seward, Alaska, and spent the summer cruising Prince William Sound and the Kodiak Island group. In the fall of 2003, we returned to San Diego and in the first week of November crossed the Pacific to Hawaii. In 2004, we logged 3,000 nm exploring the Hawaiian Islands. After the French Polynesia trip, our total mileage hit 21,200 nm. >Where are you planning to next cruise with Ice Dancer? We are working out the timing details, but current plan is to go back to the South Pacific in the spring and end up in New Zealand. At some point we would cruise the east coast of Australia, and then follow the west side of the Pacific to Japan, the Aleutian Islands and back to Alaska. >Why the name Ice Dancer? Where is her home port? Ice Dancer is our Nordhavn 50's name because that is our hobby, ice dancing, which we have done competitively. Also, Anchorage, Alaska is our home and home port and dodging and dancing with ice is something that happens. >Briefly, what was your boating experience prior to ice Dancer? We have owned several boats: fishing, river, inflatibles and skiffs. All were smaller and faster, but less comfortable and much less range than our trawler.