Caribbean Style

RUM Cay - Mayaguana for Lizzies Bday
2 tuna, 2 mahi-mahi and a couple of Wahu strikes

All dressed up as girls, bikinis, shelf butts and moustaches.. Mint
Of course the night ended with blood!

Ran out of fuel the next day.. 50 gallons yeah right.. luckily we had a load of fish to give away so managed to get that problem sorted out.

Nothing doing and the wind still having a northerly component we decided to continue to the Turks and Caicos Islands for a little English influence.

We were greeted with a gearbox empty of oil, and very friendly English couple and a very cheap marina!!

Birthday No.2 for the week.. Penny Ropati.
Penny wanted both the boats on the marina and a boozey lunch on the beach (the rumba) and a barby in the evening.

In true penny style she was the first one drinking (Jager and red bull) and leading the charge with tequila all arvo. This resulted eventually in Herby deciding he was a turtle and tying to ill the neighbouring boats guitar with stones (funnily enough we haven’t seen them much since).

Oh yeah for pennies birthday I shaved a Mohawk into my head,, the idea was soon taken up by Herby and Jake… she now had a bunch of complete Muppets to play with!!

Turks and Caicos was the source of cheap wine and some great hospitality by Simon and his wife at south side marina..

Our next entertainment was at south Caicos island

we had a crazy night boozing with the locals and some serious domino training (which I have yet to win a game to-date).. a lot of fun with people who vary rarely se tourists at there little out of the way fishing village.

Via Big sand Cay for a barby on beach and a few final beers in this beautiful country…

Were off to the DR. This little leg of the trip holds a lot of memories and importance for me. Firstly this was the last sail Brent and I did on our original boat the FRENCH TICKLER, this being the originator of the Bahamas missions for our group of mates with myself, brent, Jon boy, Richy, Steph and Kirsty all being involved in a mad learn to sail mission. Secondly WE are sailing with the Lost boys of which one is Pete Vandy,

his and practically my brothers Paul and Jon boy did this crossing in the DOUBLE BRUYN 2 years previously before crossing the Atlantic. SO I have the Double Bryun's charts and marks.. therefore in the sprit of brotherly competition “the race is on”, LOST, CAN’T and the DOUBLE BRUYN.. Exciting stuff especially if you forget all that handy cap stuff .

Staying up all night and a fairly rough and windy ride gave us the chance to beat the DOUBLE BRUYN and LOST, though being that my boat is longer than both and the conditions were in our favour ……..I have to concede that the result was “inconclusive”.. haha great to wind Jon up!!

Our approach to Luperon in the DR was exciting and.. hilarious… sailing into the harbour and picking our way through the reefs and shallows I spotted the FRENCH TICKLER.. and was pretty damned excited… pointing and explaining where it was I ran aground in front of about 100 boats at 5 knots.. needless to say despite my efforts to save face by dragging the boat off we had to sit through an entire turn of the tide….

Luperon is cheap and full of very friendly faces, a great town.

We had about a week to explore the island, surf, party, and drive around the country.

We had some hard case 4 wheel driving missions Jakes (Lost boys) Bday in Santiago on the day we collected Jas Healey and Daniella from the airport, this Bday was the longest extending 2 full days.. 4 wheel driving, fried chicken, nightclubs and piles of booze!!

Whether was on our side again with a great window appearing, cutting our Tour De DR short and allowing us to jump for Puerto Rico in perfect mill pond like conditions. 250 miles up wind was a walk in the park.

Great arrive in Puerto Rico until we woke in the morning realising were anchored in sewerage like water (not a good start… but we had NO IDEA!!) going ashore we found that the visa waiver program does not include private vessels… you have come onto US soil with out a visa, “Sailing in US waters is a privilege not a right” we (me, Ann and Herby) were faced with either being deported and excluded from the visa waiver program permanently or paying the $540 visa waiver charge (EACH).. being that we rely on us for transit we decided to part with the cash.. not stoked SO just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse……

While trying to get the paperwork sorted to be allowed to stay in PR a crazy squall came though the bay… (bad anchorage) the lost boys by this stage had gone to town and we were not allowed to leave.. both boats start dragging anchor towards a large rock wall… “fast” we begged to be allowed to bail to the boats and eventually we were allowed this “privilege” racing out in the dinghies for both boats, me failing to get Lost Boys motor started or find another anchor, managed to beg the help of a great guy with a powerful tender!!

He used his tender (in reverse) along with a bow line between the 2 boats to save the lost boys boat about 2m from being badly damaged.. we managed to get it dragged out to a navigation buoy and tied off. Mean time Herby is on CANT with the engine running and second anchor poised in case of further dragging!!!

HAHA dramas on boats.. we were “in a way” lucky that we were held at customs or the boats may have had decent issues.. and some custom scratch work.

Next and in the same day the engine failed due to biomass in the diesel.. lucky for us by this time the Lost boys are experts in this field and are able to hook us up with the gear to get running on a plastic Tote tank.

Not all Beer and skittles… sometimes you gotta mix it up with a rum punch!!

Were off for new pastures and hopefully better luck.

One bad day in amongst a great adventure is definitely manageable… and what we remind ourselves that people pay $4000-7000 a week to charter boats in these waters… so we are still on top!!

Via Bouqueron where we had a few great days tarpon fishing, exploring and dwelling on our recently reduced budgets we ended up in Ponce after a great upwind sail.

Here we found great provisions, explored the town, anchored in the middle of the party area for the whole city. We got to watch concerts from the boat, entertain the locals with out hardcase attempts at the local dances…oh yeah and some drunkin tarpon spearfishing.

Gotta mention 2 full days at Burger king taking advantage or Free WIFI and aircon……. Love those plastic seats!!

Layne (Herbies Dad) arrived on 19 May, we packed him onto the boat, fuelled, serviced and fully stocked for an over nighter towards the Spanish virgin islands. A couple of short steps over night and we were back in paradise.

Empty anchorages, white sand beaches and amazing mountainous terrain.

We (Lizzy, Ann, Herby, Layne and I) are now in the British virgin islands.

Words Cannot honestly describe this place… All I can advise is that if you ever get the chance.. charter a boat here… don’t be a CAN’T!!

We have sailed in racing regattas, dived among boulders, swum in rock pools, caught crayfish that are just sitting on the rocks (not even in the water)… there are hundreds (probably an ridicules exaggeration!!) of islands to explore, you can see 10 at any time(again!!) sitting (in the boat… just amazing. Hundreds of charter boats.. with a suprisingly proportion of Cats.

All I can really do is add some pics… as my raving is over.

Haha.. i got no pics here.. so will add em next time

Adios

A view from 5' 2"

Health and Safety Log/Incident reports

What: Black thumb nail
How: Spaced out moment staring at the waves while leaving finger at edge of hatch - super efficient Gary slammed it shut
How bad: neeeearly cried
Treatment: refused to let Jas drill a hold in it so had to suck up the throbbing

What: Sore face
How: Face planted into the cockpit reaching through the door and sconed face on bucket edge
How bad: golf ball cheek, not v impressive bruise, mostly embarrassing
Treatment: wodka…

What: Galley-ho overboard
How: don’t really recall, but both once from dingy to boat (think I was blinded by 6 million candle strength spotlight) and once climbing ashore on way to dance comp
How bad: So bad I carried on into the pub dripping wet, and my 2 week old camera died.
Treatment: Lost Gary’s fantastico spag bol over the side, missed the karaoke Borat performed, missed el Snako placing in a dance comp, gave away my captains hat to the local fish fry lady then didn’t recognise her the next night, kissed the pavement a bit, and Jas had to roll me home.

What: Belly Burn
How: Cooking a mean feed of wahoo we were given in my ‘kini
How bad: didn’t notice till the next day
Treatment: ……didn’t notice till the next day (Ann and Herbs arrived so all bets were off)

Weirdo’s with 3D shades and glam rock wigs met me at the airport on St Paddy’s day, and then you’ve seen the rest of my welcome gig with the Lost Boys putting on a show in green top hats and loincloths (?), so I think the tone was set for the next few weeks.

Was great to see the boat improve piece by piece as Jas got his mechanic/builder/plumber on! Had a ball, the trip was awesome, I didn't want to leave.

Some highlights I can remember in no particular order are:
- The traffic lights disco and finding some of the crew up a tower
- Supervising the shark tank swim at Atlantis
- Eating Liz’s ‘extravaganzas’ and Gary’s chilli sauce
- Feeling bad about feeding the iguana’s cheerios, then seeing the tourists arrive half an hour later
- Watching the boys swim back to the boat with about 6 crawfish after a half hour snorkel
- Getting the sails up on Can’t
- Having a beer with Hawk
- Jake’s form when he finally made it to our boat after being stranded and drinking alone on Lost that night at Nassau (see Gary’s vid)
- Catching a ‘Dolphin’

Things that sounded like fun that I can’t recall just now:
- several Borat outings
- wind-down drinks at the end of any night

- much sun the first week i was there...
- running around a lot in Nassau
- Meeting Sue and Corey the first time
- Ann nearly being picked up in Nassau by a lovely local lady
- Getting a ride home that night with the friendly local con-stab…


Thanks to the Can’t crew and the Lost Boys for an epic trip. Hope the weather is not ‘less than favourable’ for the rest of your journey, and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Big hugs from Paula B

48 hours with cabin boy Gary (aka Captain Sandbank)

The sea starts to build as we get out past the banks. I'm at the back of the boat trying to set the set the lure and adequate distance from the boat. The ratchet wines away as the line drifts out the back of the boat. The Lure has been in the water about 20 seconds, flying fish are jumping everywhere behind us infront and to the side. Then I see it, the water violently rising as a light green flash pummels towards the lure. It's all a bit of a shock and let out the yell "BIG DOLPHIN INCOMMING", BANG! The line smokes of the reel, its at this point that cabin boy Gary realises that he hasn't tightened up the spool, being mesmorized watching the dolphin strike. There are two ways to know this, one how quickly the line is peeeling of the back and two the intense pain as my thumb still rests on the line and burns away! Quickly locked it up , but the boat was doing a steady 7 knots and wasn't going to stop quickly. As soon as the slighest drag waqs on , the acrobatics began, it was a pretty large fish, at least a metre and really thick, the whole thing lastest only a few seconds before it bit through the steel trace! Gutted
Got some good sailing going on the CAN'T raced along at 7-9knts , then we got another strike. This time it was nowhere near as impressive and managed to drag the Dolphin up to the boat. Unfortunately we had no Gaf and the boat is about 4ft out of the water. Jason made a valiant attempt to land it but it was too heavy and broke off at the hook.
Continued the good sailing into Highbourne Cay and set the anchor. Just as we were doing so, heard a strange beeping noise coming from inside the boat. OH NO! turns out a pipe had come of the engine and turned most of the cooling water into steam! So stopped for some maintenance, meanwhile the boys showed up (narrowly avoiding a reef at the last minute when Liz radioed them, "lost boys, lost boys you are approaching a reef turn around".

After that dissapointment, they redeemed themselves by showing us the remains of the 2 filleted Mahi Mahi. Which was delicious.
Got up early in the morning and headed over to the stunning and unihabited Alan's Key.
Anchored up and headed ashore to have breakfast. Were there for about a minute before the 1st of the Iguana's came down. Our respectable captain decided it would be a good idea to feed them some Cherios. Iguana's like Cherios. Soon enough about a dozen had gathered for the Cherio feeding frenzy. I'm not expert on Reptile digestive systems but im sure CHerios aren't that good for them so resigned to taking pictures. They got a bit mad when the Cherio supply was withdrawn and it looked like we might have to make a bolt for the dinghy as the edged closer and closer.

Luckily the lost boys showed up and upon smelling the occupants, mainly Jacob I think they scattered into the forest. Went for a dive around the rocks and Jas got 3 decent sized Crays and headed out into the ocean towards Nassau.
Got a stirke not long after leaving the banks, Liz got the fish up to the boat but again its pretty hard to get a fish this size into the boat without a gaf and it too got away.
Had just about given up all hope of landing a Mahi Mahi when just as we were approaching the banks again one struck. Paula handled it perfectly and insted of risking getting it in the ocean , decided to drag it into the Banks and try and get it with the dinghy. Jas jumped over and grabbed the fish like a pro, at last we have finally got one on board.


With a good wind in the rear quarter , sailed on to Nassau at 7knots pretty much the whole way. Pretty awesome day.

Nassau and Beyond

Nassau was a crazy week... hello Penny, Anne and Herby, and goodbyes to PB and Anthony! We scored a great spot in a Marina that had a swimming pool and perks, so it felt like luxery living there for a week after a month on the boat. Anne and Herby rocked up with a whole heap of fishing stuff (thanks Guys!), so the crew were chomping at the bit to get out to deep water!




We pretty much tested the patience of our neighbours at the Marina with our carzy dance parties!





We were next to a German couple who were getting married on their boat, so the Lost and Cant crew were invited to ceremony and reception, being photographers/videographers, with Jas and Liz the official witnesses, and generally just boozing on their spanish Cava.

We soon found ourselves a routine of getting smashed and ending up at Atlantis, a huge resort that apparently has the world biggest outdoor aquarium.












Disaster zone for boys that love to swim with sharks! This place is soooooo big that it ususally took a few hours to get out of it, and more when totally incapacitated by vodka/rum/tequilla...
One night at Atlantis saw Jas and Herby attack the Hammerhead sharks and Manta Rays with Steve Irwin style enthusiasm, Jas letting off fire extinguishers in the garden, Liz and Anne spraying an empty bar with post-mix soda. We scored a ride home in a stretch limo... lucky cos I dont think many of us had legs left to stand on. In general, we shouldnt be left alone, especially Jake, as in one case he found himself on Lost with no dingy and no where to go, and alot of rum.


Buts its not all kicks and giggles, Jas and Herby attacked the list of jobs that needed doing on the boat, and Liz, Anne, Penny and PB pushed through hangovers to shop and re-stock.

Lost and Cant left Nassau and headed back to Allans Cay for another iguana encounter. We left there with 2 new crew members; Ron Jon the Iguana and Larry The Maori the Gecko. Im sure they found Cant a peaceful home for the few days we had them, until we couldnt find them anymore.



A weather window came through and we chose to take advantage of the winds, and pushed through from the Exumas to Rum Cay, a 120 mile sail overnight. Jas and Herby took the helm through the night while the girls slept.... thanks fellas!
We thought about sticking with the wind to Myaguana and just stopping at Rum Cay for a rum, but 5 days later, we are still here. We have made pals with a guy named Bobby, who pretty much runs the island, and has a whole heap of fun toys for us to burn around in.





We went cattle hunting on the first night, and surfing, using paddle boards and jet skis. Jas and Herby rigged up one of the rods and caught Jake, who was scurfing behind the boat. Pretty impressive watching the boys real in a 80Kg!!!





Every night we have a massive feed at the island marina with fanastic shashimi tuna, snapper, conch.... Yum Yum! Tonight, we are goat hunting and having a spit roast.
The weather should be turning and we will prob push out in the next few days... Rum Cay has been amazing!

Abacos and Eluthera

After weeks of being in Wal-Mart and getting the boat ready, it was time to leave and attack the Gulfstream! Randy had scared the crap out of me with his stories of what lay ahead, but with my new Lucky Bean in my pocket, and being in the priveledged group who carried them, I was assured by Jas I’d be ok!!



We sailed out of West Palm, Bahama bound and with no wind at all, there was nothing else to do but get boozed. Not a puff of wind in sight, the Gulfstream was nothing more than a mill pond. We motored through the night and came onto the banks in the morning, spending the day swimming, chasing turtles and dolphins, fishing and swimming with sharks!









And not a speck of land in sight! Standing up on a sand bar about 40 mile from land... impressive! Absolutely one of the best times ever…. Great people, amazing water and cold beer! That night Cant and Lost rafted up together and partied on!





We made it to Double Brested Cay the next day, and in true style we had a bit of an adventure getting stuck on a shallow sandbar… poor Richie Rich implanting his top lip in our boom, then stormed a local pub where Pablo and Jas dived into the fish tank in search of dinner…the massive cray that crawled around inside!







We made our way to Green Turtle Cay. It was a rough day sail, but we found some surf, and Jas and Pablo braved the double overhead waves and ventured out! where everything seemed to go wrong. The dingy transom broke when I tried to go too fast, Jas took the boat apart chasing water leaks, and then on our way out the motor overheated. One U-turn later, us and the Lost Boys were back at Green Turtle.



A few days later we left Green Turtle for Marsh Harbour to pick up PB, and in true kiwi style, she was welcomed on St Pats day by the Lost Boys....






We all went nuts in Marsh Harbour on the piss, and when the pub shut we had a dance party at the only set of traffic lights in town...
From Marsh Harbour we crossed to Eluthra and went to Royal Island where the boys went for a dive in a wreck and caught heaps of amberjack... yum yum! Our time in Eluthra was not as sunny and hot as PB was hoping, but we had some great times.



In Spanish Wells, Jas and Pete borrowed the island school bus and went for a midnight drive, Anthony got his Borat on in Governors Harbour and won the karioke competition with "im too Sexy" (check out the facebook pics!) and PB went for an unexpected swim on her way to the pub! all in all, a great time!





We headed off to the Exumas and Allans Cay for an Iguana Brekkie and crayfish for lunch. PB caught a Mahi Mahi on the way back to Nassau which we killed and ate straight away. The best fish ever!!







Arrived in Nassau for a crazy week, with PB and Anthony leaving, and Penny, Anne and Herby arriving.... Beware Bahamas!!! Jas and Herby are re-united!

Liz

Myself, Jon and the Allan’s (boat owners) put an offer together and agreed to take the boat for a sea-trial the next day, then proceeded to do the old standard and go get wasted together.
The sea trial went very well, the boat seeming to sail well in light winds and all looks good.

Decided in staying an extra night being that it was wing night in cocoa and we were practically locals by this time. We were sitting in the bar with a bunch of our new found friends yarning about random stuff when the conversation went to hard case plays on words, I told everyone of a t-shirt that Rob and I saw in London that said DON’T BE A CAN’T kicking around the double meaning… it seemed to be a perfectly suited name for my new found boat….. How many times have we all be told “you can’t ………… haha so there we had it!! Out with morning glory (sorry Glory!!) and enter CAN’T.




Boat found and a birthday out of the way its time to let Jon Buoy head back to the real world and pick up Lizzy for the last inspections of the boat and to close the deal.



We motored to the same boat yard that the Double Bruyn was inspected and re
Paired a couple of years previously. All ship shape. Bottom was tapped; prop turned, chins rubbed and heads scratched.



Couple of days on the hard, lots of midnight hours worked the deal closed and its all go.



Back in the water for a boozy day sail to cocoa village.

Weeks of crazy hours worked, 1000’s of dollars spent and the boats raring to go.

Then Pete, James (to become the lost boys) and Pops arrive from NZ and its off to find boat number 2.. mixed up with some partyin.. A couple of days and basic boat surveys later the boys have secured themselves a great deal on a 30-foot Irwin that includes everything along microwave oven and blender. Bring on the Magarita’s.




The boys headed south to move onto their boat and get things organised and in walks Anthony (Boort)

After much help from our new best friends Randy and Emerald, the Allan’s and everybody else that had half a chance to help us we cast off with a farewell from the ground crew we set sail south to west Palm. Yeh hah the adventure begins!!



Randy followed us down the inter-coastal waterway throwing water bombs at us from every bridge (what a good bugger.. almost got arrested for our entertainment)

A few words on our friend Randy.
This a man who goes by many names due to a very very interesting Past in pirating, came to our circle when Jon and Paul meet him 2 years ago in Cape Canaveral, he sailed with them to west palm and shared in their many crazy adventures.
Jon introduced me and Rand and a pretty cool friendship developed with all of us!!
Randy is the originator of the lucky bean, which is now universally worn by our wider sailing team all over the world.
He has a heart of gold and incidentally one valve of titanium.
Randy and Emerald helped us by carting us all over Florida, scoring us free stuff for the boat, tricking me into realising that I really liked having binoculars on the boat and generally entertaining us.
Randy was involved in the boat mission from the day Jon and I arrived in cape Canaveral until a couple of hours before we cast the lines off for the Bahamas.
Great guy with a huge bionic heart “guess what”

Heading to west Palm
A couple of days and a very drunken rum night for the crew at the half way mark we arrived at west palm to meet up with the lost boys (boat name Lost) under full sail… what a great feeling.

Pops and I made quite a mess of this night on a random island but we weren’t the only ones!!

The building of a 2 boat flotilla, sailing party

We arrived about 5 minutes after Jake Simpson was brought in from the airport.. so in standard fashion we rafted the boats together and did the old standard Bethells style reunion.

A couple of days, a lot of beers and a few incidents including several contacts with police and the coast guard.. sleeping in hotel gardens, running naked of reserve islands and spring break beach parties and we are ready to cast off for the Bahamas (too many rules here!!)

What a great feeling, a year and a half saving, months looking at boats, weeks and weeks of working crazy hours to get the boat ready and thousands and thousands of dollars spend buying gear, safety food and about 130 dozen beers and we are ready to go… yeh hah!! Good Bye Wal-Mart!






A final trip to the fuel dock and grocery store for fresh food and of course more beer and its out into the ocean heading for the horizon!!

The adventure begins...

SO.. after much "encouragement" and abuse.. here it is!!

Brief back ground

For the last year and a half I have been on a mission, saving all my pennies, working all sorts of crazy hours, living in peoples basements, sharing a room and bed with Jonboy.. doing everything I can to get to this point!! This point is where I have the cash and the time to buy a boat and go sailing.

Florida the start point for the original french tickler mission, the Double Bruyn legendary Atlantic mission which I had the pleasure to be a part of for the last 1400 miles in august (with Smarty and Capt Jon) and many other adventures like Dan's barely twisted / ultima noche is my chosen start point.. looking for a boat capable of sailing where my adventures take me. The short term mission to go to the Bahamas and into the Carribean. This short term plan can and will change along the way ... just like a "real" adventure... long term who knows.. there are a million crazy, amazing places I would love to check out.

Now all i need is a boat and a crew!!!!!!!!!!!!

So here goes......

The last few months in a few sentences....

Finished work in London 16 December and headed to Poland with for Paula B's Bday (without Paula.. long story see Jon and the Smarts blogs for details) then through Florida for 5 days boat hunting on the way to NZ.

Drove about 15 hundred miles and looked at about 10 boats with nothing outstanding.

Next stop, NZ for a family Xmas and a catch up with loads of mates.

Bailey and Ella ... literally tearing it up Xmas morning.... no sleeping in today!!

Off to the coromandel for a bitta camping and Perri promo (we were the weirdest and drunkest promo chicks you have ever seen, but we sold some booze... more than we drank.. .. I think.

Urapukapuka island in The bay of islands... DOC camp site... great back to basics camping,,,my parents, sister, kids and Anthony soaking up the awesome whether, loads of fish and cold Double Brown.. heaven!!

A little boating teaser and confirmation of Anthony's boating skills!! Obviously and crew member in the making.... Cabin boy #1/Borat impersonator

3 weeks soon turned into 4 of surfing, diving and camping all over Northland.. with a quick trip to Aus camping the Wollongong coast with Liz.

40 degrees, nice little waves, a fun catch up and an invitation to come sailing...... Galley scrubber #1!!

Back to NZ for a leaving Barby at Lisa's place and couple of days with mum and dad and of course the traditional Sunday Barby at the vandies.. walk on Bethells and delivery at the airport with a few beers!!

gotta love the Vandy clan.

Oh yeah!! seem to have pick a couple of extra salties along the way..Pete vandy, Jacob Simpson and one of their mates (James.. to become a beer drinking buddy I'm sure!!) are joining the madness, buying a boat and coming to play in the islands.. haha great stuff.

Back to Florida about 19 January to continue my boat hunt.

The adventure begins!!

Armed with a map showing all the boats i want to look at around Florida and a rental car and its off to work I go.

Day 1 I looked at 3 boats all looked promising.. things are looking good, more boats for sale.. and in my price range than in December.

Made my way to St Augustine where i found a boat i really liked and put a deposit on, did some boozing and a little investigation and decided to continue my quest. Great place, oldest town in USA and has a really cool live music scene and loads of crazy fun people!!

Next stop is Tampa... looking at boats of course but I ended up being roped into going to Celeine Dion concert... front row tickets were a steal at $400 USD each (of course i didn't pay!!) I think i was the only straight dude there!!

By this time I've looked at about 20 boats and nothing is really outstanding... time for a change of pace...... enter Jon Boy

We do the tradtional talk about boats all night in a bar with blaring music and not talk to another sole then go hedge jumping all the way home... "standard stuff"

Captain jon and I Crusie the coast looking for boats and generally playing about.... meet randy and emrald (cool freinds of jons)... looks like nothing on the radar for the weeks boat hunting... by this time I/we have seen a lot of boats. Paper work is all i have to show for it... and an emptying bank account.

A happy birthday call from Herbie and Ann along with a suggestion we check out a 41' Gulfstar (They found on ebay) on our way south changes things for the better!!

Enter Cabin boy and Galley scrubber number #2!!

At first glance, the boat is a very big, very white with soft decks but within 5 minutes Jonboy and I were trying to keep the smiles off our faces... the boat is in good shape... new sails, mint engine, amazingly large interior that is all new upholstery... and without all the facy stuff on it that needs to maintained.. in fact this boat has nothing on it at all.

Not the best looking boat in the marina and its a little bigger than i want but... it is really really a cool machine.

This looks like it could be the boat for me

Time to head to pub for a beer and a bit of business talk........ TBC