If you're lucky enough to live to 100, the years between 50 & 75 are your third quarter. That segment in life could be the waning of your physically agile years, so it's a good idea to stay active. It's also a good time to challenge your brain to keep things limber up there - by mastering something new. We decided to go sailing, and this is a chronicle of our journey.

The Boat

This is what our boat, Florian looks like. She's a Robinhood 36 (made with the Cape Dory 36 mold), currently in Maine, getting some love in the boatyard where she was built. She'll be on a truck, headed to Pacific waters in April 2012, and we'll be waiting for her with big smiles and excited hearts.  Florian arrived without incident in April 2012, and she's been re-commissioned and settled into her new slip in Ventura, CA as of mid-May.  We count down every day towards the weekends so we can climb aboard her trusty beam whenever possible.

Here's an article on the Cape Dory 36 published by Sailing Magazine - from their used-boat-notebook feature page.

Here is a great 1997 Latitudes & Attitudes article about building the first Robinhood 36 from the Cape Dory hull mold, which includes some wonderful history and anecdotes about the Cape Dory crew, and Andy Vavlotis in the story.
The crew at Robinhood Marine, saying farewell to Florian before she headed west.
Andy Vavlotis is in yellow. 

Florian in a working slip, waiting to be recommissioned (April 2012)

Florian headed to Pacific water for the first time

Florian's galley

Florian's cockpit

Florian in her slip at Ventura CA

Florian


Florian's deck

Florian's v-berth





Florian's first 5 minutes in Pacific water - April 2012

Florian moving from the truck to the water April 2012

1 comment:

Bill le Skeep said...

Don't know how I missed this entry on your site. Florian looks like a CD copy for sure. Very classic lines. What is Ventura charging for slips? As we think about final retirement location planning, CA is always in our interest list! I think we're going to stay with the Typhoon in retirement rather than go big again.