About Us

Before we met one another, we were assigned the task of dividing our goals into short-term,  and long term. For each of us, a long term goal was to sail somewhere. For me, it was an unknown and romantic dream. I had loved sailing small boats with my family from time to time.  For David, the memory of a family journey to the Bahamas in 1973 made him yearn for more. I tease him, yet he agrees, that it was the best time of his life, until he met me.

As we settled in to work and family, a sailing trip stayed somewhere in our future. We chartered when we could, and took the kids sailing on the Chesapeake, coast of Maine and the British Virgin Islands. We owned small sailboats that we could launch in home waters.

As we neared a turning point in our careers, we started looking for a seaworthy yet affordable, ie older, vessel that could take us  south. We loved a classic look and the Tayana 37 seemed to catch our eye over and over. We occupied our free time looking at boats  and dreaming , enjoying weekend travels to different places and ports. We got really good at “looking at boats” and some believed that was as far as it would go. Sometimes we believed this too.

But in August 2023, we were ready. We met Josie in Annapolis MD and purchased her from Phil, a very patient and helpful previous owner. We spent the next year and a half learning her ways, parting with our work life, and preparing, as much as one can, for this journey.

Our dream is to reach the Exumas, Bahamas but we are joyous to reach the next port and ever grateful to have this opportunity. We thank those we love, especially our siblings and children for their encouragement and support. We appreciate the many who have and will help us along our way. We dedicate this blog  to our parents, Zan and Jerry Short, and Joan and Jim Riopel who have been, and will be, with us on every journey.

Cathy and David Riopel