Annapolis - Saturday - November 29th

Well, Marcia has been working in Hagerstown Maryland since Nov 1st. This process started in Aug, when she interviewed there. A construction company in Chicago has positioned a team there to work with an east coast power company, Allegheny Power and Light, to construct a highline and substations across the Allegheny mountains. This was quite an opportunity for her, and for us. At present, I remain in our home in Woodbury, putting a wrap on Island Sunset and preparing our home for an eventual sale. For now, we will see each other every three weeks, Holidays and of course, vacation(s).

Island Sunset is manufactured by Catalina Yachts - which is this country's premier sailboat mfgr. Where others build hulls by the hundred, Catalina does them by the thousands. Island Sunset is #4144 of a total of about 6,700 of that exact hull, built over a period of 20+ years. As such, our boat is not one to tackle an ocean as-is, nor is it really luxurious below, but it is safe when sailed inland, or along the coasts and because it is a Chevrolet, not a Bentley, Catalina as a company has been responsible for getting tens of thousands of sailors into a safe, economical sailboat.

At the Bentley level, Hallberg-Rassy, from the island of Ellos, Orust, Sweden, produces a line of yachts from 31' to 62' that are simply ...

Grand ...

On Thanksgiving weekend, the Dealer in Annapolis was so very kind to take time to show us two used models he is brokering for others. A 36' and a 39'.

These are the finest sailboats money can buy. Solid, immaculate, every detail thought through and applied. Rated by Lloyd's as "Unlimited Ocean Voyages" - right from the factory. Here is a link to their website which contains a plethora of information. Their history, their models, past models and a tour of how they do, what they do.

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I was raised in a small western Minnesota prairie town, where two county highways intersect. My father a Ford mechanic - my mother a school teacher turned home maker. I tried a year at the University, but marriage and children beckoned.

Marcia grew up in a thriving Bolivian city at the edge of town with grandparents and aunts and uncles. Her mother a baker of pastries and later, a bookkeeper. Lotsa family there. She was a foreign exchange student who received her goal of a Masters at age fifty.

Neither of us knew we would succeed in life much beyond these humble beginnings. To good jobs. A wonderful home with pool and woods. Sports cars for each of us. And of course, our health. She, surviving cancer. Me, a nervous breakdown.

In Oct of 1985, when Bill handed me the key and fob for my 911, I cried.

I cried while having pizza on the floor with Marcia of our new home on our first night of owning it.

Many a day has transpired working on Island Sunset while tears streamed down. My being so fortunate to own her again after twenty five years. And a wife who enjoys sailing and dreams with me of Island Sunsets in a far off land.

And, standing on the edge of my slip, dreams of the day I would fold the lines, place them on board and launch our boat downstream. Never to return to winter again.

Embarking on a journey of water instead of land. Wind instead of gasoline. Charts instead of maps. Whose outcome is completely unknown and totally uncertain. One of discovery and excitement and at times, sheer terror. But one of a beginning and conclusion to a dream.

Maybe, within the Good Lord's Graces, were we to be so very fortunate, Roger might someday hand me the key to our next home aboard a suitable Hallberg-Rassy. Tears will most certainly well up again ...

To be able to own something so very nice that most sailers only dream of. That we now dream of ...

"It's the stuff that dreams are made of ... "

Bogey - Maltese Falcon - 1930

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Altho just hasty snapshots, enjoy our time looking at what we dream to be our next home ...

 

We both like houses painted something different than "Norwegian Drab".

 

Annapolis has a downtown area much like the French Qtr in New Orleans. A small pocket of Quaint amidst a large metropolitan town.

At one end is a series of harbors. 60' cruisers and sailboats are not uncommon ...

 

Do I look like a tourist? I was trying to.

 

We had a nice lunch overlooking the harbor.

 

 

 

Alex Haley's "Roots" with "the African - Kunta Kinte" landed in Annapolis.

 

 

The Hallberg-Rassy 36 footer

A bit confusing, but, this is kinda like a bunkbed setup. With the upper bunk being hoisted out of the way for now.

 

A small compartment for more stuff, or, to extend your feet into. (Behind the left cushion, above.)

 

If, you are on complicated waters or the ocean, an independent area for charts is really nice, in fact, mandatory. Located here too are the electrical panel, radio, radar, etc.

 

The V-Berth. You will not see any bare fibreglas anywhere. The white between the strips is reflected from the flash and in normal lighting, does not show.

The craftsmanship of the woodworking is beyond normal furniture or cabinet grade work.

It is indeed impeccable.

 

The owner's berth with fan and light.

 

Track for the curtains over the ceiling hatch.

 

The Galley. All doors and drawers will not open unless the latch is twisted.

 

The engine room. When the doors are opened, multiple lights come on. The green thing is a Volvo four cylinder diesel engine w/transmission. The yellow tank is the water heater for the sinks and the shower.

 

The ceilings are just as immaculate as everything else.

 

The 39 footer ...

The tubular towers are for leaning against at sea when the boat is heeled over. Makes it easier than trying to hold on with one hand, while doing whatcha gotta do with the other.

 

Radar and GPS Receivers.

 

Impressive.

 

My favorite image !

 

The cushion backs are velcro'ed to the side of the hull with more storage behind.

 

Getting more complicated. The chart table is "Full Sized" meaning, one can roll out a normal chart without folding it.

Unlatch the panel and it swings down exposing a very neatly wired harness for the breakers and instruments. Just what one would expect.

 

They make the table with a little hatch in the middle. Lift it out and there are racks for you favorite wines or cordials or liquor. Nice ... I do not have to use a drawer any longer.

 

 

A bit bigger engine. The white thing is a separate diesel engine coupled to a generator for on board power.

Now a serious question.

Were Marcia and I to own this boat, could I fit in that tiny room?

You bet I would !!!

 

Valves for the stainless steel diesel tank.

 

A nice handle for helping you to topsides.

Note the little hole drilled in the side. The companionway has two slats to button it up. Each has a latch on both sides. Insert just one and latch it and if a wave comes over the transom and breaks towards the companionway? The slat will not come off.

 

 

Marcia stated clearly

" I am home, where is my drink?

And ...

"I could live here ..."

Btw, Hallberg-Rassy were the first to place chairs like these in the saloon of a sailboat.

Nice, eeeh?

 

Later ...