No longer a Bavaria owner

Tranona

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For the first time in over 20 years I no longer own a Bavaria having just completed the sale of Symphony my Bavaria 33 Cruiser. Sold to the second person who viewed for full asking price (minus a little bit for some minor fixes to get it up to "perfect"). The broker who handled the sale, Peter Keats, actually sold me the boat when he worked for Clipper. He really knows his stuff and the whole process was straightforward and trouble free. The whole Bavaria experience was great - buying the first 37 in 2000 through a charter management deal (in DMs - remember them!) followed by 10 years in Corfu before sailing back to UK. Deciding to buy a new 33 in 2015 was a big gamble at the time because my medical prognosis was not good and the whole idea was to get the maximum out of what I thought might be only 5 years. Got a great deal from Bavaria and Clipper, who took the 37 in part exchange (it sold quickly to a lovely family who took it back to the med).

Now 6 years on and the kidney transplant I had in late 2016 means I hopefully have a few more years hence buying the project Golden Hind. Always wanted one, not necessarily to go adventuring - too old for that, but because I enjoy the work of getting it up to scratch and using all the PBO skills and knowledge gained over the years. Plenty to keep me occupied!
 
That looks like a great yacht. Is yours a ketch or sloop?

moored-fwd.jpg


golden_hind_31_cutter_drawing.jpg


SailboatData.com - GOLDEN HIND 31 Sailboat
 
Renovating an old boat can be so satifying, getting it just right for your needs. Hopefully we can meet again to have a chat about boats in general. One final point, I am glad you did not fall into the 2 boat trap. The new owners of Symphony are lucky to buy such a well maintained and loved boat. Good luck to you all in your new sailing ventures.
 
There already is one called PELICAN .
I owned a wooden one for many years, No 19 "HALCYON OF YEALM" Don't Know if she's still around, but she started me on this passion.
If any one no's anything of her I would be grateful.
 
That looks like a great yacht. Is yours a ketch or sloop?

moored-fwd.jpg


golden_hind_31_cutter_drawing.jpg


SailboatData.com - GOLDEN HIND 31 Sailboat
I would have bought that ketch (it is still for sale) IF it had not been a ketch! While it looks pretty the rig was not a success as it needs that long bowsprit and the mizzen is slap bang in the companionway. Lot of extra complication for zero gain and nit easy to put back to sloop. Only 3 were built like that. However the inside is really good. Mine is more like the sailboatdata image, although that one is a "Mark 2" and has a slightly taller cutter rig whereas mine has currently the bowsprit but the one headsail. I was discussing only yesterday with the rigger and sailmaker what the alternatives might be for the headsail, although the current rather large genoa ia in excellent condition. Having a new mainsail made though. The interior is basically the same except only one berth in the forecabin with a "wardrobe" on the port side. They were all individually built so although the basic layouts only changed 3 or 4 times, the details vary considerably.
 
Renovating an old boat can be so satifying, getting it just right for your needs. Hopefully we can meet again to have a chat about boats in general. One final point, I am glad you did not fall into the 2 boat trap. The new owners of Symphony are lucky to buy such a well maintained and loved boat. Good luck to you all in your new sailing ventures.
Met the new owner today for the handover. Will be basing her in Portsmouth and will be sailing her there w/c 21 March.
 
A great uplifting story. I always like reading your posts and listening to the sound advice you give. I always wanted a golden hind but could never afford a good one. I settled for a 26ft Eventide which we loved. I sold it to a lovely couple who ended up living on it.
 
While I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you unlike Concerto i see, however I also learn a lot from your posts so hopefully you will be posting some info on your works and maybe will even make it to SBS to show the restored Golden Hind. The new owners of your Bav seemed to have secured a good buy and I will be looking out for them in Portsmouth harbour. I also miss our 34 sold through Clipper who I found very easy to deal with.
 
Shall certainly post on progress with the GH. Bit up on the air at the moment as my initial plan was to do everything in one hit, but I am being gradually talked out of that. Selling the Bavaria so quickly means I can get her into my berth in the club. I planned to do the engine, but looks like this is not going to happen soon and as it works OK will probably finish the re-wire enough to get it mobile and then concentrate on getting the rig sorted. I probably started too many things so nothing complete to show just yet apart from new sprayhood, superb new upholstery (stored in a spare bedroom) and a holder for the kitchen roll in the galley. Part complete are new switch panel, battery box and partly rebuilt rudder - plus all leaks identified and mostly dealt with permanently. Forgotten how long things take and the amount of thinking time required for doing essentially one off jobs (and making good mistakes like giving the cutting man in B&Q the wrong dimension by 10mm of the width of the base of the battery box).

New owner says he is keeping the name, so watch out for Symphony II
 
IIRC the first voyage of your Bavaria was done under motor because of a "head wind". Have fun!
Yes, motor sailing in a F5 south westerly across Poole Bay. Objective of a delivery trip, particularly with a new boat is to get it there as quickly and safely as possible. Plenty of time to explore the boat's capability later. After that did the same trip several times in similar conditions under sail, once I got the hang of how to make the boat work.

Fear though that I will be using the engine more in the GH in similar conditions given its lack of sail area and propensity to slide sideways. Time will tell.
 
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