Association Forum - Happiest day of my life?

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Happiest day of my life?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Justin
Admiral

Member Avatar

502 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/27/2009 : 05:27:28

As some of you may have seen in the swap forum, I just sold my Sapphire Breeze yesterday. I will be forwarding the new owners to this wonderful association. I wouldn't say yesterday was one of the happiest days of my life as I've been told, it’s a combination of mixed emotions, but I have no regrets and am looking forward to what I can now do in my future. She’s provided me with almost 4 years of amazing memories that I will forever treasure.

The main reason I sold is I was having a hard time justifying the cost for the limited use I got and I no longer wanted to feel pressured that I must go to the boat every weekend. I've only sailed my boat 9 times this year! Now there were several reasons... I had a girlfriend earlier in the season and was enjoying other things rather than sailing, although I still sailed some. Then I blew out my mainsail on a trip to Tangier Island which left my boat out of commission for a month and a half. During that time I then traveled to Washington, Oregon, and Canada and had an awesome time. After taking my vacation to the northwest, I realized I want to do more traveling and pursue other interests. That was the first time I'd ever taken a vacation like that. Selling my boat will free up some funds to permit me to travel more often. I didn't get to sail much in August due to the hot and calm weather on the bay. Another factor is also the magic of sailing has somewhat subsided in me. I still enjoy it, but I'm not as strongly passionate as I used to be. I will still get to sail often, this time with my friends on their boats, possibly crewing in races more often, and probably joining SCOW (Sailing Club of Washington) in Alexandria, VA. After going on the Tangier Island trip on my friend’s boat, I also then realized how much I do not need my own boat. It was great sailing with my friends, for the company, and since we know we are very capable sailors.

When I originally bought my boat almost four years ago, I had this whole dream of what it's going to be like. The boat has provided me with so many amazing memories the past four years, I pursued my childhood dream, and had some experiences that I used to only imagine ever happening, but overall it isn't quite what I had envisioned. My original dream was I was buying my sailboat as a social tool, how it would be great to be able to bring friends and family out all the time, to do something other than meeting up with friends at bars, to share a new experience that most people don't get to encounter. It turned out that with the boat being so far away, it became very difficult to bring people out sailing and I'm sure over half of the time I was always out there single handling my boat. Granted, I do have a very good group of sailing friends, but we often sailed together single handling our own boats. I used to think that it'd be a great dating tool, to bring girls out, and people used to make comments thinking the same thing, "that being a young single guy with a sailboat, wow you must get so many girls!"... No, going on four years has shown me it doesn't help that much. I began to realize sailing is my passion and not my friends' and family's. I found my boat to be my weekend get-away, such a nice change of pace from the normal everyday we experience during the work week. I had so many wonderful times on my boat, even when I was not able to bring friends and family out. It was so worth the past four years, I have no regrets at all, but I now feel it is time to move on to another stage in life and see what is next.

I remember the day I bought my boat and I went to West Marine, the sales rep told me that was going to be one of the happiest days of my life. He then said the second happiest day of my life will be the day I sell my boat. Back then, I could never imagine that being true, but now I totally understand. Now that she is sold, I did not find yesterday to be quite one of the happiest days of my life, I felt mixed emotions and it is sad to see her go, but I am also happy and relieved. I used to think I would never be without a boat, at least not anytime soon, but things do change. One of the biggest benefits now is it is a huge weight off my shoulders now. I no longer will feel that I must go to my boat every weekend to get use out of it since I'm incurring all the expenses of boat ownership. Lately I felt like I was forcing myself to head down to the boat which was not a good feeling. Now I will be free to pursue other interests, to do whatever I want any weekend, and still sail if I want with my friends. I will free up my boat expenses to save for future vacations, a future house, moving to the city, or other hobbies/interests I have.

I still love my boat, but I have let go and am happy to see her go to her proud new owners. It actually hasn't been hard for me emotionally. I think the hardest part was making the initial decision and placing the ads. After that, I realized I am selling for all the right reasons and I feel it is the best thing to do now. It was a little sad to sign the title over, but in the end, I am very happy with how things worked out. I really put a lot of thought into the decision and actually started thinking of selling back in May or June. Back then my thought was this is the first step to upgrading to my C-30! I was thinking I’ll save up some money over upcoming years and buy another sailboat. Now, I don’t think I could justify the cost of a larger boat unless I moved closer or won the lottery. Some of you may remember I also thought about it last year, but then changed my mind. I can always buy another boat in the future, but right now I don't see it happening anytime soon. Maybe someday I will live closer to the water and be able to benefit more from being a boat owner.

Now that I’ve sold my Sapphire Breeze, one of my next traveling adventures I’m thinking about doing is chartering a 40’+ yacht down in the BVI with my friends next April. This has been another dream of mine, and now that I’m freeing up my boat expenses, I can put them towards adventures such as this.

This association has been so valuable the past several years, especially my first year of ownership. I learned so much over these years. Thanks to everyone that helped me out in the past with my questions and projects. I’ll still check in on the forum regularly to see what everyone is up to. I hope everyone is enjoying the rest of the sailing season and fair winds!

Justin
Previous Owner of Sapphire Breeze - 1982 Catalina 25 SK/SR
My sail blog site: https://reveriesailing.com/

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3468 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2009 : 05:59:21

I think many could relate to your thoughts at one time or another. You really put together an honest assessment of where you are at this place in time. Recalling eons ago when I was single, I had similar thoughts about owning a boat, getting together with friends and single-handed sailing many of the times. But for some of those years, I was using a friend's sailboat - his family allowed me to use it while he was away at college (and I going to college locally). Then I had a small sailboat I trailered, so it did not have the expense, maintenance and huge travel time involved but oftentimes was an activity I did by myself...but not always.

I have found that through the years there are times when other activities move to the forefront. Activities done with others - hiking, biking, camping, travelling...just other things. All great experiences. Sometimes sailing works it's way back in there.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2009 : 08:06:10

I once played golf for 2 years and didn't have a boat - never again! I'll be buried at sea in mine.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2009 : 09:29:37

Life has many chapters... Congratulations, Justin, on closing one good one in order to open another! My chapters included owning various sailboats for some 35 years, all with my wife and most with my kids. Then my kids went off to college and then off into their amazing, far-flung lives, I lost my wife to cancer, moved 90 miles, and found myself in a relationship with somebody back where I moved from--not part of the plan, but when is everything part of the plan?! Long story short, single-handing didn't appeal, being out socially on the water was complicated, weather and schedules made sailing trips problematic, the sailboat couldn't get to my new condo (that has a slip)... So the rest of the story is summarized below.

Life's a journey...

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5392 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2009 : 14:47:28

Justin
You definitely show that you have to follow your passions, and when that faded, you acted on that. Bravo

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2009 : 15:25:56

Justin - best wishes!

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2009 : 16:22:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I had a girlfriend earlier in the season and was enjoying other things rather than sailing...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Huh? Like what??

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2009 : 19:41:21

From my older perspective, there are far more things to experience in life than their is time. I've followed most of my passions and moved on, and my life has been richer for it. Memories are much easier to pack along than things. Enjoy!

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 05:52:24

Good luck Justin in what ever you might involve yourself in!

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 10:46:16

Hey Justin... just don't look when you see the "For sale" sign on an Island Packet.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 11:01:06

Hmmmmmmmm, interesting. Eight years ago I sold two shotguns, three rifles, and two pistols to get enough money to buy a cruising spinnaker and related hardware. Needless to say I gave up a life-long passion for hunting to sail at a higher level......or faster down wind, depending on your perspective. Although I miss deer hunting with my brother, I've generally never looked back. Life is full of these little, or big, traumatic desisions. Like you, my next will be when I decide to part ways with my 25+ year passion - sailing. At age 60 I'm afraid it's not too far down the road.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 16:11:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 At age 60 I'm afraid it's not too far down the road.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah, let me tell you about the 75 plus year old cruisers we've met over the last 2.5 years. Those who hang it up don't last as long as those who don't typically.

sten

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

Members Avatar

502 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 17:04:16

Just to clarify things, I'm not giving up on sailing. I may not be as passionate about it as I have been in the past, but I do still consider it a passion of mine. The benefits of selling my boat far out weigh the benefits of keeping her at this time. I'm really looking forward to sailing with my friends all the time, pursuing other interests without feeling like I'm neglecting my own boat, and freeing up my boat expenses to pursue new interests and traveling. I'm sure I will own another sailboat in my future, just not right now. I'll most likely be going to the Sailboat Show in Annapolis next week; I'll be dreaming of my future sailboat then.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5392 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 17:44:46

Take a look at the Friendship! Nice

edit - if you're going to dream, dream big.

Edited by - Voyager on 09/28/2009 17:45:21

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 17:59:55

Good move, Justin!

I'll see you out on the Bay, in any case!

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.