I've always meant to add a bit about Guapa's history. Never seem to get round to it though. Now that I've got more time on my hands than I know what to do with... here goes.

The Kalik 44 was one of the largest cruising boats to come off Gary Mull's drawing board. Most of his boats were smaller racing boats.
There are 3 variates of Kalik 44 around. Moulded and fitted out in Korea, moulded in Korea and fitted out in the US and finally moulded and fitted out in Belgium by Vennekens Jachtwerf. Guapa's one of the latter ones.

Most of what follows I learned in Antwerp two years ago when we had Guapa's deck done. Spoke to someone from the yard who knew some of her early history and in the Liberty Yacht Club bar I met up with a Dutch professional skipper who had 'encountered' her twice and was able to fill in he blanks.

Guapa was completed, launched and sold in 1984. The first owner was a rather well off carpet manufacturer from Kortrijk in Belgium who paid over 18 million Belgian Francs for her. Still got the original invoice to prove VAT paid. By way of comparison: in 1984 a nice villa in one of the leafy Brussels suburbs sold in 1984 for around 9 million Belgian Francs.

First owner sailed her to the Caribbean (Martinique) where he sailed and kept her for the next 12 years, till he sold her .

The second owner was a Dutchman who had the bright idea to supplement his income by smuggling some drugs out of Colombia. His money making venture didn't last long and the boat was seized and impound by the Dutch Navy following a DEA tip-off.
After the owner's trail the boat was declared forfeit and sold by Dutch Customs in Curacao to yet another Dutchman with a bright idea. The boat would be just perfect for the Mediterranean.

Of course, just because you buy a boat on the cheap does not mean you can run and maintain her on the cheap. After 2 years the boat was impounded by the marina at Port Napoleon (south of France) and sold to settle unpaid marina and yard bills.

She was bought by a Dutch brokerage firm and sailed to Holland. After some minimal make and mend she once again had new owners. An elderly Belgian couple trading in an HR 31 for something bigger to be able to take the children and grandchildren sailing out of Breskens.
Alas, most of the time they found themselves sailing on their own and the boat proved too much/big to handle.
After only 3 years, she was once again up for sale.

She was not up for sale long. After one week on the market, enter owner number 5 - insert drum roll here - us.

Next month, Guapa will have been with us for five years. And the adventure has yet to start.