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 | Trawler Fest 2006...
We've got a road trip planned! Anneke and I will be flying into Baltimore, MD on Wednesday, September 27 to attend the Trawler Fest at Solomons, MD. We'll get a rental car and drive down to Solomons from BMI...shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. We bought Prime Time from Virginia Yacht Brokers in Great Bridge, VA, but haven't spent anytime cruising (by boat or car) the beautiful Chesapeake Bay area. Anneke and our friend Sharon Wilson attended a similar "event" here in Kemah, TX five or six years ago...and really enjoyed it. I was still working then and was out of town...go figure! Not only will we be attending some interesting seminars...looking at all the trawlers...and talking with the marine industry vendors on-site, we get to see some old friends. Chuck Grice and Bob Starr from Virginia Yacht Brokers will be showing a couple of their trawler yachts. I haven't seen either of these GREAT guys since we left Virginia to deliver Prime Time to Texas. We communicate by email, but it'll be nice to see them in person. Andrea and Chuck Wistar from Selene Annapolis will also be showing several of their Selene's in brokerage. I've never met the Wistar's, but they are personally responsible for our decision to get a Selene Ocean Trawler. In 2003, Chuck and Andrea bought Celebrate...also a Selene 53...took a three-year sabbatical...and just cruised the East Coast and the Bahamas. I faithfully followed their cruising log DAILY...got hooked...and just had to have a Selene 53. It will be a pleasure to finally meet these folks. I'll update this entry after we return. It should be a fun trip... UPDATE - Finally...We Meet!
After completing their cruising experience, the Wistar's life took an unexpected turn (maybe THEY knew...I sure didn't!). Chuck and Andrea formed Selene Annapolis and are the East Coast dealers of Selene Ocean Trawlers. If you're interested in learning about these AWESOME boats...Call Chuck! Chuck and I have traded email for a year or so. Since Celebrate and Prime Time are "sister-ships", I have inundated him with questions about the boats...and he ALWAYS helps me out! Even though I feel like I known the Wistar's for years, we have never met in person. One of the great experiences we had a the Solomons Trawler Fest was FINALLY meeting Chuck and Andrea. It was perfect...they were showing a brand new Selene 40 at Trawler Fest...Anneke and I walked aboard...introduced ourselves...and it was like seeing old (tenure...not chronological) friends! Even though they were "working" this boat show, the Wistar's made sure that we met all of the other Selene owners. They organized a group dinner Friday night and we all had a ball... We have a handshake agreement with the Wistar's for them to take a much deserved break from work early next year and come over to the Bahamas to cruise with us on Prime Time. I can't wait... UPDATE 2 - Have You Hugged Your Broker Today? One of the extra benefits of our attending the Solomons Trawler Fest was the opportunity to see Chuck Grice and Bob Starr from Virginia Yacht Brokers again. Dedicated readers of this weblog know that Anneke and I found Prime Time...our Selene 53 Ocean Trawler...in brokerage at Virginia Yacht Brokers. Virginia Yacht Brokers can be found at the Atlantic Yacht Basin in Chesapeake, VA just below the Great Bridge Lock. (Just look for the HUGE bright RED neon sign!) We "met" Chuck on the phone when I found a Selene 53 listed for sale on YachtWorld. These awesome boats RARELY can be found in brokerage, and I immediately called Chuck. We made arrangements for us to fly into Norfolk, VA and drive over to AYB to see Reverie (her name at the time). Two days before we were to leave to come see the boat, Chuck called and said that another couple from Arizona were coming in the next day to look at Reverie...and that they had submitted an offer. I was SO bummed...Chuck felt terrible...but I told him that we were coming anyway. I HAD to see what a Selene 53 looked like in person. Anneke and I drove out to AYB and walked in to Chuck's office to introduce ourselves. The first words out of his mouth were that the other couple felt this was too much boat for them and backed out of their deal! I couldn't wait to see the boat. This Selene was EVERYTHING I expected and a LOT more! We made an offer that afternoon...
So it was a real TREAT to see Chuck and Bob again at Solomons! We visited on the two nice boats they were showing and had a couple of meals together. Here's a photo of Anneke and Chuck. We're excited that our plans are to base out of AYB after we return from the Bahamas and Maine next year. We'll have plenty of opportunities give our UPDATE 3 - Jason...
It seems that Jason and Mark parted company shortly after our trip together. I really don't know all of the details, but I wish that he would have continued working with Mark. Mark is such a "Pro"...knows everyone up and down the East Coast...and could have helped Jason to stay focused. I know that they still stay in touch... Long story short...Jason still hasn't received his Captain's license. He continues to move boats on a ad hoc basis and still hasn't "found himself". This is a GREAT guy who just needs to establish some goals and priorities in his life. I wish him all of the luck in the world... PS: Take a look at Don't Drink The Water and What's A Picnic Without Horses to read about some of my adventures with Jason.
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