Although we didn't go sailing, I was able to board and spend time on a friends sailboat this weekend.
I think he said its a 1972 American Beauty, but I'm not certain. American Beauty may be the name of the
boat. In any event, it was GORGEOUS! It had the most beautiful wooden
interior, and custom made stained glass windows over the
salon. The
galley was along the port side, and the dinette was on the starboard side in an L shape. The companion way stairs were also wooden and kinda half spiraled down into the
galley. The aft
cabin had standing room and a full
head and stand up
shower, and
single bunks on either side. The forward V berth also had a
head and a
wood or
diesel burning
heater.
After spending so much time looking at boats on the
internet, it was the most AMAZING thing to actually be on one in person. I could DEFINITELY see myself enjoying a long
cruise around the
Caribbean on one. My partner however, is convinced we'll never live on one, and we'll be
buying a
motor yacht.
And while we were all enjoying drinks in the
cockpit, a
trimaran came sailing around through all the boats. The
captain and his wife had absolutely no concern for the fact that they were completely sailing naked through a heavily populated anchorage. LOL In fact, when we realized he was a neighbor of my friend, my friend yelled out and "complimented" him on his nice heiny! The
captain laughed, walked out of the
cockpit, and proceeded to "helicopter" for us. I had no problem with it, but there were a few other boats who obviously didn't like nudity.
Anyway, here's a few photos from the weekend.
Thats my bowrider tied up to his
boat.