Chartering the Megan Jaye

The Megan Jaye at sail courtesty of Magical History Tour

Continuing with the origin story of John Lennon’s ‘Grow Old With Me,’ Lennon had been inspired by his sailing trips around Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor in May of 1980. During this time, he had his assistant pick up books about sailing at the local bookstore. Soon, Lennon began to envision going on a considerably longer sailing journey. 

One of the Lennons’ advisors, Takashi Yoshikawa, recommended a southeasterly trip departing from New York June 4, 1980. This direction would take Lennon to Bermuda.

Lennon informed Tyler Coneys of Coneys Marine. Coneys had delivered Lennon’s small sailboat at the beginning of the month, and he had been spending time since teaching him to sail.

“We went out sailing one night, and he said, ‘Yoko said I can go to Bermuda, but we gotta do this in like, we have like 10 days…You gotta get it together right now ‘cause we have to go on this date.’”[1] Coneys subsequently planned a five day, 600+ mile sailing trip to Bermuda.

Working with Michael Yacht Brokers in Newport, Rhode Island, Coneys selected Hank Halsted to pilot the trip.[2] Halsted – known as Cap’n Hank – was the captain of the MeganJay, a 43-foot, Hinckley aft-cockpit centerboard sloop.

 Thirty years old, Halsted had just returned from a trip to the Caribbean. Coneys and Halsted spent the ensuing time preparing the boat for a planned departure June 4. Two of Coneys’ cousins – Ellen and Kevin Coneys – were selected as crewmates.

After breakfast on the morning of June 4, Lennon’s assistant drove him and the Coneys to Republic Airport in East Farmingdale, New York for the short, chartered flight to Newport. Once there, Lennon made some last minute purchases, buying health food and also purchasing a guitar from a pawn shop.[3]

At 8p.m. on the evening of June 4, just before sunset, the Megan Jaye pulled away from dock. Lennon’s life-changing sailing trip to Bermuda was underway.

[1] Madinger, Chip, Raile, Scott. Lennonology. Strange Days Indeed: A scrapbook of madness. Open Your Books. 2015. p.513.

[2] Womack, Kenneth. John Lennon 1980 – The Last Days in the Life. Omnibus Press. 2020. p.114.

[3] Womack, Kenneth. John Lennon 1980 – The Last Days in the Life. Omnibus Press. 2020. p.115.