Mary Helen (Fairwinds) goes home.

When Tom first saw Fairwinds, it was love at first sight. While we looked at other boats, her name kept surfacing as the benchmark for all others so, when his time frame moved up and she was still available, the match was perfect.

Boats can be "reborn" in a way. When it was time for Fairwinds to move to another situation she waited for a while. Everyone wondered why she hadn't moved but, I believe it's because the right family hadn't arrived on the scene. Everyone who has worked with me closely has heard me say that boats go where they are supposed to go. Can't help it......I've seen it too many times.


Look at Tom's face the evening before pulling out for his trip home with the now named Mary Helen. Look at the boat and the three happy, exhilarated crew when she arrived.








Tom wrote me an email giving me the highlights of the trip. To quote Tom, "The "Mary Helen" took wonderful care of us during our passage. She impressed us all with her stability and comfort! I loved her feel when she set in under sail, pulling strongly and evenly. When we motored, she purred along at close to 6 knots @ 2500rpm. I love the boat!!!"


A boat that only months before was feeling a little neglected is now the apple of this family's eye. She starts a new chapter now and will write new stories and create another lifetime of memories for Tom, Pam and their daughters.


Fair Winds and Gentle Tides, Mary Helen!

A New Home for SKYE

I knew it wouldn't take long for SKYE to find a new home.










The combination of a beautiful, traditional line, respected builder and unbelievably devoted and knowledgeable owners all helped. The survey and sea trial were my first of the spring season and will signal a very busy next couple of weeks, as the yards start to launch and surveys that have been postponed are scheduled.
This is an exciting time and one I look forward to every year. Boatyards come to life and old friends show up to carry out the spring routine of waxing, painting, chatting and once in a while, beer drinking. Probably nothing tastes better after a day of wielding the buffer or random orbital sander!
The camaraderie of a spring boat yard is great. It's hard work but, it's fun and the results are totally satisfying. Dave and Kathy, the new owners of SKYE, are no strangers to boats. They've owned many boats before SKYE but have already started building her story with a very entertaining account of sinking her mooring. I can tell that they are no strangers to resourcefulness and will carry on the wonderful stewardship that SKYE.....now PANDORA...has enjoyed.
If you see them on the Bay, give a wave!

Why Rock Hall?

Gee……Rock Hall……where to begin?

My route to Rock Hall was determined by boats…pure and simple. I worked for Getaway Sailing, a company owned by a Johnstown resident who kept his boats in Rock Hall. That’s how I showed up here late one night…. totally lost.

Over the years and many experiences later, I’m still here. Have I ever felt I was born here or was an old timer here? Never. My family hasn’t been here 200 years so I’m not from here but, it doesn’t keep me from adopting an attitude of belonging.

Belonging means that you work hard, respect what you should respect, honor basic civility, question what you should question and pepper it all with a good dose of humor.

Let’s put it this way. Everyone is welcome here. The world’s oldest pick up is right at home next to a spanking new Hum-Vee at the Shore Stop pumps. Tractors pull up regularly and there was a time when you might see Chester, a well known Chesapeake Bay retriever sitting on the tractor seat with his Elmer Fudd hat on waiting for his master to finish breakfast.

If you are visiting, kick back and soak it all in but, if you find that when you left Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York or Amsterdam, you left your sense of humor laying on the kitchen counter, turn around, go home and get it.

I remember one hot day last summer when I was in line to pay for my cup of tea. There was a long line at the register and there was a problem turning on one of the gas pumps. The “gentleman” came roaring in and really gave the polite young man behind the register a real dressing down using every name in the book just because the pump wasn’t working. The poor guy behind the counter handled him beautifully and when he had left, everyone in line was perfectly quiet and just looked at one another, wide eyed….as though we had just witnessed an encounter with an angry Martian. I mean……come on……it’s a problem with a gas pump, not the end of the world.

This is the land of the quirky. I have pulled up to the gas pump late at night to the sight shown above, found myself standing in a short line at the bank in my bare feet and no one noticed let alone cared, and have serendipitously gotten my flu shot at Jack’s garage (owned by Dickey) while paying for my brake job. It’s all okay. It’s Rock Hall.

Morse of course....

I'm always tickled to see how many of my customers share their passion for sailing with their four legged friends. Dotty and Has Royer just bought an absolutely pristine Island Packet from me and we are also in the process of selling their equally pristine Pearson.
When boats change hands we all become "new best friends" because of the many details involved in these transactions. It's not uncommon for us to speak every day, several times a day, till the deal is done. It doesn't end there, either. I want to make sure things are going as planned and there are no questions or frustrations so........we really get to know each other!
Last evening when Dotty and I were discussing one thing or another, our conversation turned to Morse....a great big orange tabby with an engaging smile who happens to love boating and people. So...here's Morse lounging on his favorite place.....the dodger.

I wanna go......

At this time of year I'm blessed to have so many good customers who have headed south sending me pictures of their adventures in paradise. Tammy and Chip bought an Island Packet 380 from me earlier and are living their dream. It just so happens that Tammy is an excellent photographer and writer so I really look forward to their posts from the Bahamas. When reading one of her entries this morning, tears started to roll. If you've ever seen the clear blue water, you know what I mean. The memories live in your head and in your heart so that when you allow yourself to think about it.........well.......your guard drops and the raw desire to be floating in that most magical world takes over. The colors are so vivid, ranging from turquoise to deep blue to deep purple and violet and pink....... and the sun is so warm.........I've got it bad.

Don't overlook older gals.....

Many times, folks who dream of sailing beyond the seen horizon think their dreams are only attainable if they win the lottery. Wouldn't it be grand if we could all afford to sail off in a brand new cruising boat? Well, it would be but, that dream can live for a lot less than you might think.
Sometimes a boat comes along that is a good design to begin with and, in addition, has had loving knowledgeable owners who took great care to maintain her.
SKYE is a Pearson 35......a 1976 to be exact but, when you take a look at her you wouldn't believe it. Her owners planned to take her south on an extended cruise. They planned and improved her for YEARS. The first summer's cruise proved so delightful, they bought a bigger boat to continue but, there you go! SKYE did her job! Here's the link and take a look.

Some notable up-grades include:

• Reverse cycle heat and air '09
• Refrigeration with freezer '08 by Frigoboat
• Lewmar 44 ST's '03
• Lofrans manual windlass '09
• Standing rigging replaced '10
• Dodger '04, bimini and full screen enclosure '10
• Completly re-wired
  
• Treadmaster non-skid '07-'08

Who says boats aren't selling? Last month two great IP's closed. One in Trinidad and the other in Newfoundland! I'm off to a survey next week in Virginia Beach and then on to Connecticut to preview another.
The Baltimore Boat Show indicated that people are excited about the coming boating season and want to enjoy life a little once again. Our Eastern line looked great and turned heads with their great downeast look and several folks took advantage of the special anniversary 18 with an unbelievable price tag for boat, motor and trailer.
The PY Cruiser was the queen of the show and had lines well out into the isle most of the weekend. Thanks to all who were patient.