October/2008, West Coast to the East Coast
We are trying to track the history of our vessel. Here is what we have so far:
She was purchased new in Oakland, California in 1978 by a Steve S. She was named Gitane des Mers which is French for Sea Gypsy. This was Steve's first sailboat and he sailed in for 3 years first in the Oakland area and then San Francisco Bay, at that time boat had a sitka spruce boom and spar. He sold the boat in 1982 to a gentleman in his 60's and Steve believed that he planned on taking her to Mexico.
We believe this owner had her for several years until he died of a heart attack while sailing her in a race that may have been all Tayana boats. The woman sailing with him did not know how to sail and they were rescued by the Coast Guard. We are not sure if there is another owner in this time frame.
Next the boat was purchased by Les D. in the last 90's and trucked to Maryland. Les owned the boat for about 3 years but did not sail much as his significant other did not enjoy sailing.
David C. purchased the boat in 2002 and sailed her down the East Coast, around the Keys and up to Tampa Bay. David started refitting her for cruising but health issues forced him to offer her up for sail, um, I mean sale.
This is where we come in. We purchased her in April '08 to begin our dream and take up where David left off. David is sending us a book written by a previous owner and we will have much more history then.
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May/2008, count down to Fall '09
It all started with selling the 27 footer and finding the perfect cruising boat. We talked about our plan and what our needs would be. We compiled a list of what we thought the perfect cruising boat should have. Top on this list was a swim platform, minimal teak and an aft cabin. We looked at several boats that just didn't tug at out heartstrings.
One day we saw a Tayana 37 at the marina and we fell in love with it's romantic lines and our previous criteria washed away with the tides. The search began! We finally found "The Answer" (see The Beginning Photo Gallery) a 1978 cutter that had been neglected and was in need of loving care. We took possession on April 25th 2008. She will be renamed 'Sailacious' with all the pomp and circumstance needed to appease Poseidon.
Upon possession we celebrated with a bottle of Champagne on the poop deck knowing full well that the real work would begin the next day.
Some of the projects will include the exterior teak, refinishing the deck and cabin top, repositioning the running rigging to run aft to the cockpit. We also need to do the normal projects such as redoing electronics at the nav station, replace the head, engine maintenance. The interior cabin projects include replacing headliner, painting all storage areas, some teak will need stripping and varnishing as well, mostly in the galley.
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