Moonfleet part 1

[Justine]

We are from Colorado, a total land lock area.  I was born there but lived over all of North American and South America.  Short of it was pick a spot every 2 to 4 months and that is where we moved.  My father loved boats, power but we won't hold that against him.    When we as family would go to Galveston beach I always saw the sailboats in the bay, I was maybe 3 or 4.  I think that started my love. 

 I moved with my mother to Colorado  after my parents split up.  Now don't get me wrong I love the rocky mountians.  I spent most of my life on horseback covering miles up to 40 a day.  I road country that had never seen a vehichle.  My key to areas was a set of fence pliers and a roll of bailing twine.  Good for ranchers as I fixed bad fence behind me.  Nothing like trying to get to the top of Spanish Peaks in July bucking 6 feet of snow.  But dang the view was awsome.

 

I lived in San Diego, Ca and would walk miles to go see the ocean and between the house and there were tons of boats.  As child these boats were huge.  I sit and dream of someday.  I did that same dreaming for many many years.   I'd read every book I could find on blue water cruising.  By 16 I could read a map, use a compass, drool on ever sailboat company I could get to send me a catalog.

 

The next time I had to see a dream start to unflod was in Erie, Pa.  I found a 24' MacGregor.  She was old and need alot of work but I did it all.  Every surface was spotless and varnished the same as a boat three times her size.  Her name was "Adriananna"  She had a heart of gold.  I sailed her by myself and would be gone for days.  She was so good at sneak into a really good fishing spot and man did we catch fish.  . She was also a heck of a ski boat.  Nothing like a tiny sailboat with a huge engine passing all the major water skiing boats to make a few mad.

 

Oops this was about Moonfleeet.  Got off subject there.  Never forget all those perch and blue gills I got to eat off her stern. Sorry all you lake fishermen but bass are mushy and I'm so not eating a carp. Nothing like catching your own dinner.

Ok back to the main story.  We moved from Colorado to Texas.  We found that the boats there were cheap.  We were looking for a bluewater sailor tho and not to many of those in Texas.  We went to ever  boat show, looked at every website for brokers and crawled over ever marina we could get to.  We saw the worst of the worst and some of the ones no one can afford.  My husband found Moonfleet on a website first.  I was like I don't know.  We called the broker and he wanted to show us everything but.  After saying we were serious he showed us Moonfleet.  Talk about love at frist sight.

Keep in mind that Moonfleet had been totally closed up for 2 years.  There was a keeper of her but all they did was steal anything that was not tied down.  She had no ventilation and no one taking care of her.  We were hooked.  Yeah topside need some major work and the inside need a major cleaning.  But what a line and what heart.

 

Ok we have our boat but with some major hassles.  First is she is a estate sale.  The owner's brother had a stroke and was nowhere to be found.  Texas was fixing to take Her for back taxes.  Off I go and after calling Everyone I could find in Austin, TX I finally got ahold of the attorney of the brother of the original owner.  After trying to get across that we were looking at Moonfleet and the disbelief we were serious we finally have the paperwork finished.

 

Moonfleet is OUR"s  Woot Woot