Seeking help on a 35' classic boat

[DavidLin]

Hello:

I would be interested to share some of your experiences on a gaff rigged cutter, as i am going to prepare a circumnavigation with mine.
We live in Canada, Montreal, with my wife and my daughter. This is going to be a family trip. The boat is in Florida, and we need somebody or a nice couple with great confidence to take us one an easy-to-start-with trip (Florida Keys, Bahamas, Caribbean's, South America...WHY NOT).

You must know gaff cutters, classic boats; we can pay for expenses (that's the least we can do?) The boat is nice, leave me your email address, i will send you a pic. 4 persons can sleep, all equipped for ocean travels. It's a tough true blue water vessel.

I am 36, French and Canadian, photographer, graduate in biology, vegetarian most of lunchtime. My wife is Chinese, 30 (a great mother and a great cook, a very smart and charming woman). We are ready for a whole lot of sea adventures. We just need to begin...HELP! I have basic cruising knowledge; took a diesel course, but i definitely lack experience on that kind of ship.

Let me know about you!

David
05 January 2010, Montreal.

[WanderingStar]

David. I wish I could join you, perhaps sometime for one leg of your cruise. You should also post on other forums, classic boats, wooden boats, old gaffers. I have cruised coastwise in a smaller gaff yawl. I now own a larger marconi ketch. You can find crew, but few people can commit much time. Perhaps you should consider trips of a week. Also read up on gaffers, John Leather and TomCunliffe have both written good books about handling gaff riggers. If you wish to email me: johngsandusky at hotmail. -John

[deniseO30]

David, if you are contacted by a "Captain Ron" see the movie first!

[drobarge]

could you send some pics and info on the boat?
drobarged at yahoo,com
address typed to avoid spam*

[WanderingStar]

Highly recommend Derrick (Drobarge). He's a great guy, great cook, avid sailor, hard worker.

[gofishin]

Hi David, I'm interested in joining you. . I have sailed gaff rigged windjammer schooners, coastal Maine, a 65' gaff rigged Dutch Trawler, Key West to Bay Islands, Honduras, and over 50,000 bluewater miles on sloops, Catamarans and ketches. Atlantic-Pacific crossings, non-smoker, will be in Fla. soon and would like to meet. My first post, unable to provide email contact address at this time. Await your reply. Fair winds. Todd.

[DavidLin]

I cannot send personal messages; This is David concerning our cruising plan, we will be short-handed so any help will be welcome, we are a very easy-going couple with a little girl. Thanks for you interest.

we can be reach at:

info at dreamstudiophoto dot com.

Cheers to all of you who answered so far.

[leland515]

Ohh that is such a beautiful boat.. I wish you luck, hope it sails as nicely as it looks.

[coastallugger]

David.

I wish my wife and I had the time to join you. May I suggest you post a message on my site the Old Gaffers Association - British Columbia Canada and also the Old Gaffers Association in the UK.

Best of luck on your voyage.

Colin.

[Jeff_H]

That looks like one of Charlie Wittholz's designs that I worked on when I was with his office.

Jeff