Moving on from our Sparkman & Stephens 34

[Blueboatman]

I’ve watched a couple of his escapades.
He certainly has plenty of energy!
Any progress on finding The Perfect Yacht? Whatever that is.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

I’ve watched a couple of his escapades.
He certainly has plenty of energy!
Any progress on finding The Perfect Yacht? Whatever that is.

He does, doesn't he..!

We went for a 1985 Moody 37. Very different to the S&S obvs, but exactly what we were after and we love her. Bought her in Largs, Scotland and are still working on her before bringing her down south. We have named her 'Kelpie' as she is certainly something of a big water monster...

 

[Blueboatman]

Fantastic
I think you will love the beam ( and more!)
Moody built loads , they’d figured it all out rather well how to put them together imho

 

[Bajansailor]

Ha ha, yes. WHAT a story...

We sold Kite to a young American who had never sailed a day in his life and whose plan is to a) sail across the Atlantic single-handed and then b) sail around the world single-handed WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HE'S DOING. His whole schtick is that it's a madcap dangerous comedy nautical adventure (barf) that you can follow on YouTube. Honestly horrifying. We begged him to get training etc., helped as much as we could and genuinely didn't believe that he would embark on this journey in the way he said he would. But he did. There have been many MANY mishaps along the way, as would imagine. His trip across the Channel from Chichester Harbour "to any French port" (?!) took almost two days during which he completely shredded the genoa. It also involved the French coastguard and rescue service emailing and phoning me - because they had my details - and ask why the boat was drifting at night in the shipping lanes without either a) lights or b) AIS and also not answering hails on the VHF. Various ships called it in and had to avoid him. He was rescued by the French services off Cherbourg in a storm, and was most miffed about it. He's learned a bit sailing down to Brest and then across the Bay of Biscay (without a main because he 'lost' the halyard). It took him over a month to cross the Atlantic because he decided to do it without any - ANY - navigation aids, including a compass. He ended up at the mouth of the Amazon River. But he's now in the caribbean. He occasionally calls for advice on stuff and he's broken a TON of things on the boat *huge sigh* We took such good care of her.

BUT. He's made it across the pond, which is a lot more than we ever managed. Now he plans to rip everything out of the boat - including bulkheads I think? - in preparation for a round the world trip. With his dog.

I find it mostly horrifying to watch and but somehow can't look away...

If you want to follow along and watch the enraging madness from his arrival in the UK and us handing over the keys he has a YouTube Channel:

Captain Kimmer

Oh and he films himself vomiting. A lot. You have been warned.

Good grief!
He really is a modern day Captain Calamity.
I wonder how far he went up the Amazon before he cottoned on as to where he was, as the mouth is so wide I don't think that one can see the banks either side if you are in the middle.
Do you know if he stopped anywhere along the way on his subsequent passage northwards?
Maybe he just set off with the current, and bumped into Barbados (I hope not literally) - do you know how long he was here for?
Looking at his past track on Marinetraffic, he has been zigging and zagging down wind - they last heard from him at 1400Z today, and he was still only 19 miles west of Barbados.
His last recorded speed was 7.4 knots (he must be doing something right, as he is shifting) heading in the general direction of St Lucia - I shall keep an eye on him, and see where he ends up.....

Re your new Moody 37 called 'Kelpie', @Sea Change on this forum used to have a Moody called Kelpie - sadly she had a bad encounter with Hurricane Beryl in Carriacou in July last year

 

[Cerebus]

I’ve watched a couple of his escapades.
He certainly has plenty of energy!
Any progress on finding The Perfect Yacht? Whatever that is.

I saw the videos were 30 minutes give or take and didn’t really want to see someone being seasick so didn’t click a link.

But to navigate the Atlantic with no nav equipment seems mad.

Presumably he did not carry safety gear to call for help but was prepared to accept he would go down with the ship?

But he made it, so perhaps he is made of special stuff?

Not nice for OP to know their boat was trashed but glad they are happy with their current boat.

 

[John 32i]

We went for a 1985 Moody 37. Very different to the S&S obvs, but exactly what we were after and we love her. Bought her in Largs, Scotland and are still working on her before bringing her down south. We have named her 'Kelpie' as she is certainly something of a big water monster...

Great looking boat - fun times ahead

Are you going to sail it from Largs to Brighton?

 

[Birdseye]

From your list I would be tempted by the Sigma. A lovely thought would be a Starlight 35 but that could bust your budget by 50%.

In the summer I stopped by this boat:

Contessa 35 for sale UK, Contessa boats for sale, Contessa used boat sales, Contessa Sailing Yachts For Sale 1975 Contessa 35 - Apollo Duck

Which might suit but the pilot berths are a bit of a white elephant when short handed cruising.

.

I had a Starlight 35 for 11 years before downsizing. Absolutely fist class sailing boat, a sort of modern Contessa with space and better handling. Unhesitatingly recommend it. I replaced it with another Stephen Jones design because I was so impressed.

 

[Bajansailor]

Captain Kalamity Kimmer is now safely (I hope) anchored in Clarkes Court Bay, Grenada, after what appears to be a very roundabout almost 3 day passage from Barbados - the distance (as a seagull might fly) is about 150 miles.
Ship KITE (Sailing Vessel) Registered in United Kingdom - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 0, MMSI 232004693, Call sign MAGM9

 

[Stemar]

I had a Starlight 35 for 11 years before downsizing. Absolutely fist class sailing boat, a sort of modern Contessa with space and better handling. Unhesitatingly recommend it. I replaced it with another Stephen Jones design because I was so impressed.

I never owned one, but sailed on one several times and was very impressed by the performance and the space. Just be careful where you park it...

 

[Wansworth]

Am I right in recalling you owned a kingfisher 22 and craved a bigger boat?

 

[dunedin]

He does, doesn't he..!

We went for a 1985 Moody 37. Very different to the S&S obvs, but exactly what we were after and we love her. Bought her in Largs, Scotland and are still working on her before bringing her down south. We have named her 'Kelpie' as she is certainly something of a big water monster...

Congrats on the new boat - and in a lovely location. Only one thing - better to head NW than South on a boat like that. Perfect for sailing the Hebrides.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

Great looking boat - fun times ahead

Are you going to sail it from Largs to Brighton?

We have a mooring in Chichester Harbour, where I've always kept my boats. Brighton is expensive and boring for sailing (yes, we still live here) and we're not racers. We were going to sail her from Largs but we just don't have the time, though it would be a lovely trip. We could do it over months but we just want to have her near to us ASAP so we can sail. We're getting OceanTrax (we've read tons of recommendations from folks here) to deliver her to Falmouth and we'll take her from there during our two-week hols. We know the coast really well, which seems sensible since we don't know the boat at all (on the water) and we'll get more used to her then. And we'll have her near so will be able to sail more and travel less. Having said that, I would LOVE to sail the west coast of Scotland. It's a world class sailing ground and I really had no idea until I got up there, had a look around and at the charts and pilot books. Hopefully we'll be able to get back there and rally take our time. But not now. Sadface.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

Captain Kalamity Kimmer is now safely (I hope) anchored in Clarkes Court Bay, Grenada, after what appears to be a very roundabout almost 3 day passage from Barbados - the distance (as a seagull might fly) is about 150 miles.
Ship KITE (Sailing Vessel) Registered in United Kingdom - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 0, MMSI 232004693, Call sign MAGM9

He's all about roundabout routes. I always worry he'll run out of water or food. But he hasn't yet.

Also, I will be calling him Captain Kalamity from now on, very good.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

Am I right in recalling you owned a kingfisher 22 and craved a bigger boat?

Ha! You have an excellent memory. Yes, that was thousand years ago. Or early 2000s. Since then I've had a Kingfisher 30 which never even got in the water. No idea what happened to either of the Kingfishers unfortunately. The 22 was an absolute legend, really loved it. 2014 I bought a Golden Hind 31 which was a wreck that we turned into a real delight but needed at least 15 knots of wind to actually move. So on to the S&S which was bloody gorgeous and turned heads every day, and now the Moody which isn't and doesn't. But she's a funky tough old monster and we're very happy with her. Can't wait to get her sailing.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

Congrats on the new boat - and in a lovely location. Only one thing - better to head NW than South on a boat like that. Perfect for sailing the Hebrides.

I would love nothing more than to stay in Scotland (like, permanently tbh) and sail north, but living in Brighton we need her closer if we are to ever sail her. One day, one day...

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Ha ha, yes. WHAT a story...

We sold Kite to a young American who had never sailed a day in his life and whose plan is to a) sail across the Atlantic single-handed and then b) sail around the world single-handed WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HE'S DOING. His whole schtick is that it's a madcap dangerous comedy nautical adventure (barf) that you can follow on YouTube. Honestly horrifying. We begged him to get training etc., helped as much as we could and genuinely didn't believe that he would embark on this journey in the way he said he would. But he did. There have been many MANY mishaps along the way, as would imagine. His trip across the Channel from Chichester Harbour "to any French port" (?!) took almost two days during which he completely shredded the genoa. It also involved the French coastguard and rescue service emailing and phoning me - because they had my details - and ask why the boat was drifting at night in the shipping lanes without either a) lights or b) AIS and also not answering hails on the VHF. Various ships called it in and had to avoid him. He was rescued by the French services off Cherbourg in a storm, and was most miffed about it. He's learned a bit sailing down to Brest and then across the Bay of Biscay (without a main because he 'lost' the halyard). It took him over a month to cross the Atlantic because he decided to do it without any - ANY - navigation aids, including a compass. He ended up at the mouth of the Amazon River. But he's now in the caribbean. He occasionally calls for advice on stuff and he's broken a TON of things on the boat *huge sigh* We took such good care of her.

BUT. He's made it across the pond, which is a lot more than we ever managed. Now he plans to rip everything out of the boat - including bulkheads I think? - in preparation for a round the world trip. With his dog.

I find it mostly horrifying to watch and but somehow can't look away...

If you want to follow along and watch the enraging madness from his arrival in the UK and us handing over the keys he has a YouTube Channel:

Captain Kimmer

Oh and he films himself vomiting. A lot. You have been warned.

... I'm speechless. .... a Darwin award in waiting.

 

[Blueboatman]

We have a mooring in Chichester Harbour, where I've always kept my boats. Brighton is expensive and boring for sailing (yes, we still live here) and we're not racers. We were going to sail her from Largs but we just don't have the time, though it would be a lovely trip. We could do it over months but we just want to have her near to us ASAP so we can sail. We're getting OceanTrax (we've read tons of recommendations from folks here) to deliver her to Falmouth and we'll take her from there during our two-week hols. We know the coast really well, which seems sensible since we don't know the boat at all (on the water) and we'll get more used to her then. And we'll have her near so will be able to sail more and travel less. Having said that, I would LOVE to sail the west coast of Scotland. It's a world class sailing ground and I really had no idea until I got up there, had a look around and at the charts and pilot books. Hopefully we'll be able to get back there and rally take our time. But not now. Sadface.

I sailed out of Chichester and more latterly Brighton - a large part of the fun was the city itself, it’s pubs and pub music after a jollly days sail of course.. .

But if you live in that environs anyway then, I think Brighton may possibly be the windiest most exposed marina in the UK?

And why are all the berths athwart to the prevailing winds? I used to reckon you could eat the salt in the air in a 40knots blow
The Moody sounds much more an all weathers at anchor kind of boat, nice.

 

[PhillM]

From your list I would be tempted by the Sigma. A lovely thought would be a Starlight 35 but that could bust your budget by 50%.

In the summer I stopped by this boat:

Contessa 35 for sale UK, Contessa boats for sale, Contessa used boat sales, Contessa Sailing Yachts For Sale 1975 Contessa 35 - Apollo Duck

Which might suit but the pilot berths are a bit of a white elephant when short handed cruising.

.

I know is a very nice sigma 33 that’s about to come on the market.

 

[Wansworth]

Ha! You have an excellent memory. Yes, that was thousand years ago. Or early 2000s. Since then I've had a Kingfisher 30 which never even got in the water. No idea what happened to either of the Kingfishers unfortunately. The 22 was an absolute legend, really loved it. 2014 I bought a Golden Hind 31 which was a wreck that we turned into a real delight but needed at least 15 knots of wind to actually move. So on to the S&S which was bloody gorgeous and turned heads every day, and now the Moody which isn't and doesn't. But she's a funky tough old monster and we're very happy with her. Can't wait to get her sailing.

Yes I nearly bought a kingfisher 22 from reading your posts………shame Ican not remember what Idid yesterday

 

[John 32i]

We have a mooring in Chichester Harbour, where I've always kept my boats. Brighton is expensive and boring for sailing (yes, we still live here) and we're not racers. We were going to sail her from Largs but we just don't have the time, though it would be a lovely trip. We could do it over months but we just want to have her near to us ASAP so we can sail. We're getting OceanTrax (we've read tons of recommendations from folks here) to deliver her to Falmouth and we'll take her from there during our two-week hols. We know the coast really well, which seems sensible since we don't know the boat at all (on the water) and we'll get more used to her then. And we'll have her near so will be able to sail more and travel less. Having said that, I would LOVE to sail the west coast of Scotland. It's a world class sailing ground and I really had no idea until I got up there, had a look around and at the charts and pilot books. Hopefully we'll be able to get back there and rally take our time. But not now. Sadface.

We had a similar decision to make when we bought in Falmouth last November (our berth is Levington...a fair few miles away by road or sea!). We love sailing around Falmouth and we also would have loved to sail her back ourselves. However, as you say...with time restraints etc we had Halcyon Yachts bring her round (I met them in Gosport for the final leg, which was great fun). Its only now we're getting to know the boat, and in familiar waters so its all good. Hopefully we'll get back to Cornwall one day