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.
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.
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.
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
