Cape Cutter 19 Association Forum

It's with very mixed emotions that I have quite suddenly decided to offer Zephyr for sale.

It's been a long held wish of mine that, in time, my wife would grow to enjoy sailing with me. I can't say I'm there yet, but we recently spent a number of days living aboard in Falmouth. She enjoyed the pottering, the anchoring in the sun, wearing stripey tops and feeling all nautical. But, and this is a bit but, she came out with a statement which I must act upon before she changes her mind.

She's always hated every boat I've ever owned, so I've been cautious with what I've had. Zephyr was a cautious purchase; more than suitable for me to go forth and have my own adventures. She has been perfect for that, whilst at the same time allowing me to take Nicky on short trips and the odd night. Back to that statement. She could have said that she hates sailing, and that I'll never get her on a boat again. She didn't. She said, "We need a bigger boat, one I can stand up in, and which has a proper loo". So that's it, I'm on the hunt for something to meet that need. Zephyr, at her very best, can only come second to Nicky, and if a bigger boat means that Nicky comes sailing more often then that is what I must do.

Zephyr has always performed admirably in the time she's been my trusty sailing companion. She has always performed above and beyond what I expected. She has always been the centre of attention wherever we've been together, to the point that I actually had cards printed with her details on to hand out to people enquiring about her. I've invested a huge amount of time and quite a bit of money getting Zephyr how I wanted her to be, so someone is going to benefit from all that. She has changed my life, but now it's her turn to change someone else's.

I don't think this will happen with immediate effect, so I won't be dropping the forum and website roles too soon. We still need to get a committee structure in place and I'm still committed to getting that done before I head off to pastures new.

Hello Russell

Life is a compromise, you just have to find the right compromise for you.

My "crew" says she hates sailing, she doesn't, she hates: The cold, the wet, the wind and any angle of heel beyond 5 degrees.

She accepts the limited headroom because we are use to sleeping in small tents, providing that we spend nights in palatial marinas with all facilities.
My cockpit tent certainly helped to increase the acceptability of sleeping on board.


I hope you find your ideal boat to match your crews expectations.

Hi Russell,
Well that is a surprise, but nothing lasts for ever and I certainly hoped that my wife Kathryn would come to enjoy sailing when we came to Greece rather than just put up with it occasionally in the UK. We spent some time with friends last week who were sailing in our area on their very splendid Jeanneau 45... What a mighty vessel (Ariel of Hamble) you can check out their blog. I'm pretty sure their investment was greater than the purchase of our apartment near Chichester but they have a wonderful time with it cruising the Med / Aegean for the past few summers. Meanwhile back with Kaliope season by season Kathryn has come to enjoy our day sailing more and more. We sail on our own, we sail with our cottage visitors and she is a very well used craft and much loved. Yesterday it was blowing F4 to 5. We were down at Platanias harbour so I could check my mooring anchors and gear. So after swimming around for an hour checking all the ground tackle in 2.5 meters of clear warm water, Kathryn said, 'how about a sail'... Isn't it a bit windy? said I. Put a reef in the main and off we went with a single reef and staysail. Kathryn beat to windward for an hour or so towards Skiathos. There were significant gusts. Then some broad reach legs back to Platanias. After K had spent 2 to 3 hours on the helm she said to me 'you're not board are you?' No I answered I was loving it. The joy of a small boat and a warm climate. Kathryn loves sailing in the way we have got used to and in the environment we enjoy. She does not like the idea of many nights on board and finds any 30 to 50 foot yacht we have ever slept on cramped and uncomfortable. Luckily we are all different and there is a boat to suit all tastes and desires out there. But I am a lucky guy (not a rich one) and if I could just persuade a friend to buy your Cape Cutter it would be perfect... A Platanias home fleet of Cape Cutters here in the straights of Trikeri, Aegean Sea... Anyway must go, Kathryn's about to put a tack in .... Ready About :cool:;)

Zephyr for sale is of course a surprise, but there is never be a perfect boat.

Russell is seizing the moment and rightly so, as its rare for a wife to endorse a boat purchase and believe me I know, I have had a few... boats that is, not wives..

My hull is now bonded and becoming another Cape Cutter in Rochdale so perhaps the odd picture when we have agreed on a name.

When I turned up at home one day with my first boat, just a Laser Pico, I got a slapped face and the stoney silence treatment for a week. That was 14 years ago.

Hi Russell

Funnily enough we have just gone the other way. Here's a link to my lovely previous boat http://yachtrisga.wordpress.com/ she is gorgeous, had two cabins, heads, massive upper deck area she was a real "little ship" and very special. I'm handing her over to her new owner on Saturday.

The CC19 is a fantastic dayboat, great fun to sail and camp out on. A bigger boat will bring just as much fun and now you have had so much enjoyment out of a small boat you will appreciate your new bigger boat even more.

Good luck with the search and keep us informed of progress.

Dave

She's a beauty Dave. It's very emotional selling boats.

I'm now boatless.

Zephyr was hauled to Holyhead today and freighted to Dublin before being trailed by her new owner to Galway Bay. It looks like a brilliant place to be based, and I hope her new owner enjoys sailing her as much as I did.

Hi Russell,

did you had a look to a Cornish Crabber 22 or 24 to replace Zephyr?

There are some 2. hand boats looking for a new owner.

Kind regards

Frank

Thanks Frank. They're both a bit too expensive for me, and I'm not convinced that the Crabber 22 would be big enough.

I'm going boat shopping again for the next couple of days, so hopefully will report back if I get something.

popeye wrote:Hi Russell,

did you had a look to a Cornish Crabber 22 or 24 to replace Zephyr?

There are some 2. hand boats looking for a new owner.

Kind regards

Frank