Dear Lou,

Your story about the loss of your wife brought tears to my eyes...I have not lost a partner through death myself so I will not profess to understand completely. However in the hope that it might help you I write to suggest that you write an email to Barbara Starr who I believe lives in Ontario Canada. hercontact is barbstarr43 AT yahoo.ca

Barbara contacted me about a year ago looking to go sailing but my vessel is not ready so while I connected with her on Skype I did not actually meet her. I have been trying to help a lady with mental disabilities and Barb did not seem to understand that for she accused me of using her and probably has blocked me from emailing her.

Before that happened she told me about her extensive experience sailing ketches in the caribbean. Depending on her current situation she might become interested in helping you sail the 'Secondhand Rose' As a best guess Barb is probably about your age.

Sincerely Brian Plato.