AZZURA - Change of Master

[Gramps]

Many thanks to all for the helpful contributions to my original query about a Mark 1 with a sail drive on Lake Macquarie - and particulary Bear's insightful remarks on potential boats. Among the others Garry Brett suggested that I could be interested in his Mark 1 AZZURA because recent extensions to an already heavy work schedule were preventing him getting any useful time on the boat.
This was quite remarkable, because due to prolonged incapacity some 5 years ago I sold AZZURA to Mark (see Mark's Azzura album on the website). When I was back on my feet I looked for another Mark 1 without success and eventually got myself a little boat that was never an adeqauate substitute. To make things worse, I used to see AZZURA periodically and would motor around her to see what Mark had been doing to her.
A year ago Mark decided to sell and the boat went quickly - it had already gone before I heard it was up for sale. Garry had seen her and had no hesitation in striking a deal so he was happy - but I couldn't believe I had just missed out on getting her back. So, I continued to look for a Mark 1 and was probably on the verge of taking the plunge on a boat when Garry popped up on the Top Hat site with his query. I still had a boat to consider, but when I met Garry and we went over AZZURA it was amost as if I had never jumped ship. Not only were my own changes to the original boat retained, Mark and Garry had made very practical improvments too. There is virtually no work needed today except for scuff marks on the dark blue topsides. (Mark was moored just off a slipway and it looks as if some of the workboats made contact and left their imprints).
So we came to an agreement, Garry is handing AZZURA over to her former (not old!) owner and I am already thinking about the paint work and little jobs that I had planned before being forced to sell.
Life can be full of surprises, but I reckon this could be seen as a kind of circumnavigation.
Sean

[bearmcnally]

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL YEEPEEEE ANOTHER MK 1 :THE PRETTIEST OF THEM ALL ,THE ORIGINAL IS THE BEST ....WELCOME TO THE MAD HATTERS OF LAKE MACQUARIE

GRAMPS YOU ARE COMING TO LAKE MACQUARIE ?

BEAR

[Gramps]

Hi Bear,

I intended taking the boat to Pittwater or possibly up to Brooklyn, but since the boat is already on the Great Lake, keeping her there is under consideration subject to making suitable arrangments for a mooring with reasonable shore access since I will be travelling from Sydney each time. The northern end is probably the best option so that getting the boat to a slipway (and then getting back to my parked car) is not a hassle. I am a single hander so don't have a backup crew member to take on the taxi duties.

Sean