Lara and I have been working on our plan to go off on a sailing adventure in the fall of 2009. We have set up the following time line to work toward that departure date:

Purchase a boat by spring of 2008
Keep the boat on Lake Champlain during the summer of 2008, where we can work on it and compile a list of upgrades we will need for our trip.
Have any changes or upgrades accomplished during the winter of 2008-2009
Use the summer of 2009 for a series of sea trials off the coast of New England. Correct, adjust, fix, and organize.
Fall of 2009 Provision the boat and sail to the Caribbean for the fall/winter of 2009.
From there, we have not mapped out an itinerary. Perhaps Europe, and maybe we will move through the Panama into the Pacific.
Since the summer time we have been searching for a boat. We have some strict criteria:

-Safe and seaworthy so we feel secure crossing an ocean.

-A proven design: sister ships on documented ocean travels or circumnavigations.

-Large enough to be safe and to have room for family and guests.

-Small enough so that one of us can handle it, should the other be sick or disabled.

-Fiberglass hull and deck for low maintenance and durability.

-Out fitted with ham radio or single side band (SSB), radar and a chart plotter.

-A well documented service history and professional upgrades.

We have researched hundreds of boats using the internet, we have hired a consultant (John Neal of Mahina Expeditions) to review the boats we find of interest. We have slowly narrowed our list to two boats: A Mason 43 and a Halberg Rassy 38.

We have sailed on both boats and found that the Mason 43 tends to "hobby horse" in swells and light wind. Doing some research confirms that this is the case.

The only issues we have found with the Halberg Rassy 38 (HR38), is a problem with a rudder bearing that many of the owners report. This is something that we can have repaired.

There are currently two HR 38s available in the world! In Croatia there is a 1978 HR 38 for sale for $140,000. And in Newport, RI, there is a 1983 HR 38 that is listed for $159,000.

We have sailed on the boat in RI and inspected it. We will make an offer based on two HR38s sold in the past two years.

We are going to fund the purchase with the sale of 172 Spruce Street, the old home of Water Works. Currently I am in discussion with a several people who are interested in purchasing the building.