(Yes, this is Jeff circa 1999, shortly after we met!)
Jeff and I met in Harbor Springs at the LTYC Regatta way back in 1999, I was at the tender age of 20! We both have slightly different stories of what exactly happened that weekend, but we both distinctly remember sitting outside Irish's by the pay phone. We were chatting (Jeff's attempt at flirting?) and I was trying to act 'cool'. I remember saying that I was going to sail around the world someday (I think I was reading 'Maiden Voyage' by Tania Aebi for the 3rd or 4th time) Jeff said "me too, I just haven't found the interested party yet" I raised my hand and said 'here I am'....
The next full year was filled with road trips, me helping him with his business in Chicago and various other places, and the quest for 'the boat'. We also did quite a bit of practice cruising around the Florida Keys on Jeff's Dad's Compac 19, now thats close quarters!
Finding the right boat for distance cruising is a bit like finding the perfect mate. Its a long journey filled with a lot of duds, but when you find it you know... (funny I should say that, Jeff and I are on our second perfect boat now! but that's another story for another post).
Jeff and I drove to Nova Scotia to look at a boat. We flew to California. We looked at, picked apart, and denied boats all over the US and Canada on the Internet. And finally in September of 2001 we found a 35' Wauquiez Pretorien for sale in Hollywood, FL. Jeff had spent a fair amount of time on a 33' Wauquiez Gladiator in his youth sailing with family friends, so he knew the construction, seaworthiness and sail performance fairly well. Another positive for the Pretorien, Hal Roth who was one of the world's leading authorities on sailing and adventure writing, owned one as his final yacht! You don't get much better than that.
So now its 2001, we own 'the boat'... whats next?
Posts
3 comments:
Pretoriens are amazing boats - that's what my dad had when we were growing up and what *everyone* suggested we get- unfortunately, they hold their value!! We couldn't find one for under 85K! But found our other 'perfect' boat! xo
Can you comment more on Wauquiez boats. It appears that you now have a 43' Wauquiez, is this the 'second perfect boat' which you allude to?
After much searching I *think* I want the perfect boat to be a Wauquiez Hood 38 Mkii, but I haven't found *the* one yet, so your comments appreciated.
All the best (I got here via the Yahoo sailing kids list)
I'm enlightened so much fun going back to the beginning!
Post a Comment