It all started a few months back with an invitation from John and June Vigor to spend a weekend on their Cape Dory 25d, Jubula located in Bellingham Washington. Since the CD 25d is right at the top of the list of my all time favorite boats, we were excited to accept the generous offer. To sum up the weekend experience. John turned the boat over to Kit and I, we spent a day and night aboard ,we were smitten.  John, who in 1987, sailed a 31 foot Camper & Nicholson sloop from South Africa to the US with June and their son, mentioned he has this desire to do it again. He said he has an eye on a similar boat located in South Africa and with the current favorable exchange rate, was considering acquiring it. He asked if we might be interested in purchasing the Cape Dory.  Over the past 3 years we have restored and outfitted M17 #369 to a point, that as a project, she is quite complete. Since a part of my fascination with classic sailboats is the restoration process we had contemplated a project boat to work on while enjoying the M17 on the water. The CD 25d was, however, beyond what we had in mind for a project boat in both size and cost. Caution and logic to the wind, we now have a M17 in one barn and a Cape Dory in another. Initial thoughts on a project boat were that while restoring an older boat, the "One boat at a time rule" would not apply. The Cape Dory was manufactured in 1982 and is need of some, but not serious, restoration. Despite my feeble arguments over a period of several months, it is agreed, the work needed is not enough to keep the boat from being sailed and so the rule has been exercised.

The M17 has exceeded all expectations as the perfect all around trailer sailor and we will possible regret the decision to part with her. She has refined my rusty sailing skills and taught Kit to sail from beginner thought accomplished sailor. For us she has inspired confidence in the sport and introduced us to an activity we both thoroughly enjoy.  She has taken us to some beautiful areas in the Pacific Northwest and California and introduced us to some very nice people.  I will post a description of the boat in a follow up message if any are interested and will send a copy to Doug requesting he post in the MSOG site. We realize a lot is to be given up in the way of convenience, but for our future plans of extended cruising in Peter's neighborhood and possibly Mexico, we hope to gain in the areas of room and comfort. Perhaps the photos in the following link will help illustrate how one might be swayed into making such a decision. http://www.PictureTrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=558869&uid=137947

Mike and Kit Leonard