JOAN & ALAN
Alan retired from a career in Marine Insurance.
We had a dream that grew into a plan....
"When the children are grown we will rent the house, buy a comfortable and well-found boat and sail for a few years in the Caribbean, up the East Coast and, who knows, perhaps even cross the Atlantic to Europe and the Mediterranean. We could finish it all with a sail up the Solent to visit Alan's parents in Lymington, England."Alan & Joan
We have owned several small sloops over the years, a 1981 Hunter 33' and a 1978 Cal 34' but the first small steps in our dream were a few bare-boat charters in San Francisco bay and the Caribbean.
The next step was our move from Houston, Texas to Gig Harbor, Washington in 2001 where we have a home on the water on Puget Sound. For several years we spent our summer vacations exploring the many islands and bays of Puget Sound while improving our sailing skills.
Joan took a week-long sailing course with Women-at-the-helm ;
"I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott
We also both took Royal Yacht Association (RYA) sailing courses in Europe, sailing from the Solent in Southern England to St. Vaast La Hogue, France and back over 5 days.
Alan hitched a ride as crew on a J44 sailing from Baltimore, MD to Virgin Gorda, BVI in 2005 for some open ocean experience.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain
Moonstruck, our new Hylas 49' was delivered in the Summer of 2006. We have been living aboard ever since.