The New, the Old | www.the-mavericks.de

Dear Readers,

there is joyful news. We have found a ship. 🙂

Who now for some time following this blog here, is probably the same in the next paragraph, the hands meet above the head, shake your head or just going to laugh aloud. For the new one is - as already described in the headline - the Old!

We have a Contest 33 bought! 🙂 However, you have to differentiate. It is not the same, as, we have ever had. But an almost completely identical sister ship.

This has a very simple reason: Cati and I have mourned the old one and a half years, because it was perfectly simple in the size. Our exact neck size. This is an excellent sailor with plenty of space above and below deck and above all, very important, with style. A true classic of the modern age. We loved it. That's why I came a week after the visit of the steel hulls while surfing through the web again on the same track, as two years ago.

There lay a Stavoren, am Ijsselmeer. Holland. Similar situation as it was then - and that made the offer more sympathetic. Because Cati and I enjoyed the many trips to Holland at the time loved at least as, as the ship, dass wir in Hellevoetsluis (south of Rotterdam) ugly duckling slowly from one to a beautiful swan transformed. Granted, There was a lot of work, denn die alte Contest (Yard number: 13) was probably already 10 Years forgotten in the water, when we took favorable. In mid-May they finally erstahlte to its former glory and was converted by us from the Staandemast route across the North Sea coast of Holland. From there, I have sailed single-handed and then nonstop to town and brought happiness together with Cati through the Kiel Canal in the loop. Then came the offer, the “Gipsy Girl” to take over - and we have struck.

Die high Contest 33 on the Kiel Fjord

After a summer on the Baltic Sea, a wonderful trip with my uncle in threes to Sweden and back, and some smaller trips to Denmark and I have found Cati, that “Gipsy Girl” perfect for this type of travel is. We have also been working a lot, to bring them into the appropriate state. But for our long trip plans, it is simply too high. 15 Brings it weighs tons with full tanks on the scale, At what- designed for two-and-drop in wind sometimes difficult. In addition, we accrued the costs are too high - because if something breaks, it really cost much money. All, what is purchased, must always “a size” be. A new Furlex is on the agenda, then at some point new sails. The contest is there much cheaper to maintain.

All these thoughts brought me to, again after a little browsing on the Internet Contests. And there it was suddenly. One Saturday morning we made to the way Stavoren. We were barely over the limit, got the same feeling on, as before on our many trips to the boat two years. Optimism. Voltage. A shared responsibility, to find a ship and prepare for the journey together. Arrived at the IJsselmeer then fit it all. A nice boat brokers welcomed us, already had a staircase to the ship rolled and turned on the heater. “Looks like you around and if you've seen enough, comes into the office, there is coffee.” We were flabbergasted, because we had to visit a free hand. And the hands on board immediately felt at home, resorted to the familiar and ubiquitous handrails under the carpet, targeted at the right bottom board. They knew everything.

The new contest is a year younger than the old, Yard number 64 of total 188 Ship. A critical point in our old lady was on the underwater hull osmosis, Contest of the many owners report - and our new one is not spared. Some places repaired and an open bladder could recognize it immediately. But before we osmosis have been no more fear. Clear, It comes to us a lot of work to, But we also have a steel hull. And after the restoration of the hull is well known, stable, than delivery of the vessel.

While Cati swarming took a close look at the cabin Optical, I made myself at the Electrical Engineering and. Unlike the old everything here is still in its original version. We could not find the function, because no batteries were on board. But it all made a good impression. Especially the relatively new Furlex on the foredeck, The new Genoa, also the relatively new Webasto heating system and good sprayhood. The winches are against older, than in the old contest, turn the engine for a lot of new - and the same, as it was on my “Maverick”.

An additional vessel was obviously not planned in our budget and so I managed only through the help of my dear sister Susie - and Postbank - raise the money. I'll still have to pay back a few years. But at least we now have the boat in the yard, with which we are in May 2014 want to go on long trip. It's a great feeling to know, looks like the yacht, that anchors in our daydreams in front of a beach of the Exuma Cays 🙂

Was funny, I've paid the ship exactly on the same day, where we have bought exactly two years before the old contest!

The plan now, to let the ship lie still until May in Holland and then to sail to Kopperby. There it comes back to shore, the hull is sandblasted and then peeled or turned the whole summer to dry in the wind, it regularly rinsed with fresh water, so that the acid from the laminate is. “Gipsy Girl” comes back into the water in March and will carry us over the summer on vacation. Where to go, is not out yet - but we do like last year, again a possible, two days in a row nonstop sail, to create greater distances. At the end of the summer, the contest then rebuilt under water and coated. Had a great desire, to put a Kevlar mat in the bow area - then it would have ice class 😉 Well … and then maybe I'll make my dream true, I have since I 14 I carry with me. I would like to take on board, Port of Hamburg live and save my rent. Whether early as next winter, or until the spring … let's see.

As far as the plans. Let's see, if it all goes according to schedule. Fixing the Boot, equip it, To save a travel fund. First, I am now after buying the boat really, correct blank! Also, If you know someone, where I can give a lecture - or watering flowers or mowing the lawn - every part-time job is welcome 😉

Regards!

… a happy John