Getting Started

Well it's been almost 5 years since we came back to Mystic, CT to sell our old cruising boat - Leaena - She was a wonderful old girl who took us to many exciting and exotic places, like the Azores, Med, Canaries, Cape Verde, over to the Caribbean including Trinidad for Carnival then back up through the islands to the USVI's. We decided that we should sail home to Mystic and work the summer. From there we headed down the ICW and landed in Marathon, FL where once again it was time to replenish the kitty. We then went down to Mexico, Belize and Guatemala then up to the Bahamas, over to Puerto Rico to meet up with Family. Our original plan from here was to head to Panama and beyond...we were starting to get pressed for time and also after 14+ years of owning Leaena and nearly 5 years of living aboard she started to feel a little small for all our junk we had accumulated through our travels. So we decided that the best place to sell an old wood boat was back in lovely New England so we headed back to Mystic. Where we found Echo...

Echo was once owned by Dave's younger brother Chris. He sailed her down to the Bahamas for a lovely cruise and then headed back to Noank where he sold her to a mutual friend..Mark. After owning and sailing her for nearly 14 years he and his partner, Michele, decided it was time to move into the world of catamarans and sell Echo. We had always loved the boat and when opportunity arose to buy her we took it!! It is heading towards our 5th winter up here in Mystic and we hope to be finally putting the final touches on the boat and get a weather window to head out of New England before the first flakes fall...

Of course while we were here there were a few milestones that happened....we lost a beloved crew member - who we had rescued while we were in Marathon.

We also lost a respected and well loved brother-in-law, Paul.

We helped celebrate both younger brothers, Bruce and Chris's , big Four O's ( you know you have been here too long when this happens in different years!!)

And saw older brother Pete tie the knot!!

We had a new addition of a Great Nephew added to the family!!

We met up with old Friends and made New ones!!

We did lots of work on Echo...here are only a few of the projects... including building a new Danny Green nesting dinghy!!

We picked up a new crew member....the "Deck Mop"

We had a few (too many???) New Year Celebrations aboard Echo.....

And while New England is a beautiful place to be.....

It is definitely time to move on....to much warmer waters!!!!