Running a couple of errands took me very close to where there are several
boat yards and the local yacht club. I decided to stop in and check rates for slips and moorings (for my imaginary boat!), see if they had anything
for sale, etc. After making inquiries in the office, I wandered out to look at boats
on the hard. Right outside, a guy was putting
bottom paint on a big keelboat. I called over to the woman who was also there and asked if this was their
boat and asked what it was. (Wasn't sure whether they were owners or marina personnel.) She told me it was a Tayana 52. When I asked if she was from here, Staten Island, she said "no,
Australia." I said, "you're cruising!" We had a nice chat in which I told her my plans for getting a cruiser and getting out there. Turned out they'd had to fly home unexpectedly and had left the boat here in
NYC. They're headed up the coast and eventually to Montreal. I asked her whether they were circumnavigating (since I'd just read a thread about that here) and she said they were just meandering. Still, that's a pretty good meander from Oz! Stupidly, I didn't ask the name of the boat.
Anyway, I thought it was an auspicious sign as I take the first steps toward my goal.
I'm wondering if I should go back there tomorrow and see if they would like someone to crew as they go up the coast!?