We are Donna and Rex Couch, owners of BellaBlue. We’re from Austin, Texas. We started our boating experience earlier in our married life when living in Newport Beach, California. No strangers to the Grand Banks brand, BellaBlue is our third GB, the first two being classic trawlers. For years we made the crossing from Newport Beach to Catalina, a great weekend trip but always ending with the dream of someday heading south to Mexico. In 1993 we found ourselves between careers and took the opportunity to properly outfit the boat in San Diego and finally sail south. For over a year we were able to cruise Baja and the mainland of Mexico, seeing some fantastic places and meeting many great cruisers. Even before our Mexico trip was over Donna was reading about the Great American Loop. It looked like a great adventure – next time, we decided. Fast forward 25 years and here we go again. After working hard to build our commercial printing company, we are ready to retire and once again get back on the water. We found our 49′ Eastbay in Oxford, Maryland in October 2017 after traveling to four different states and six different cities looking for the perfect Loop boat. With a few upgrades to the boat now complete, we will start as ‘Loopers’ in April. Wish us fair winds and following seas…and a little luck.
Cruising America's Great Loop on BellaBlue
