A Sad Day, A Happy Day, Yankee Lady has been sold

[Clay Stalker]

Hi all:

After 10 years of commuting 3 hours to my boats, a spouse with little interest in sailing, and an increasing amount of time and money needed to maintain it, I placed Yankee Lady up for sale in early July. She was sold to the 2nd person who looked at her, for a price I am very satisfied with. The final closing will be this Monday.

I am at a point in my life (age 54) where I would like to live aboard a 45 footer and travel the world, but it simply does not look like this will happen. I cannot really afford to write big checks to the boatyards to maintain my boats and I am getting tired of the time and energy needed to keep them looking like I want. So at this point, I am backing away from boat ownership and seeing what the next adventure will be. I am fortunate to have many excellent friends, several on this board, who have asked me to sail with them, so I am hoping to do more of that. I also plan to charter some different boats in new areas such as the Pacific Northwest and the BVIs as well as getting back to sailing in Maine, my home state.

So for the near future, I will be home in New Hampshire, playing with my dog, riding my Harley, and sailing my Sunfish on Spofford Lake. We never know what the future will bring, but this seems like the best thing for me at this point. I hope to see some of you as time goes on and would love to sail with you.

Clay Stalker

[mahalocd36]

Hey Clay - I sent you a PM - funny you mention Maine.

You are more than welcome to sail with us anytime.

[Carl Thunberg]

Clay,

You're welcome to take the helm on Concord Coach any time. Of course, you'll have to pry my hands off the tiller first . My mooring is a stone's throw from Prescott Park. I know Portsmouth isn't exactly in your back yard, but it's closer than many. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Carl

[Russell]

Sorry to hear you sold your boat, I always loved Shannons and particularly admired the 28, one of the finest under 30' boats ever built IMO. Hope she went to a loving home. As for your own sailing, I am sure plenty of folks will take you out on their boats!

[Mike]

Clay,

It's a happy sad day when you sell your boat. Withdrawal is tough but as we Emailed before you are welcome to join us once our new Outbound 44 once we take delivery next year.

Until then it's OPB for all three of us with golf as a poor substitute.

High and Dry for now,

Mike & Merrie

[Tod Mills]

...aboard Seas the Day. This guy owned a CD 25 for a while but sold it to enjoy his low-cost, low-maintenance, low-stress but high-fun small cruiser:

<a href="http://www.bright.net/~htmills/LivingGo ... .jpg"><img width="540" src="http://www.bright.net/~htmills/LivingGoodsmall.jpg"></a>

A big expensive (money AND time) boat isn't the only way to enjoy cruising. I could easily spend all summer aboard my 17'er, and in fact a previous owner did in fact spend seven weeks aboard. I know a retired teacher who has spent several months at a time aboard her 14' West Wight Potter, cruising the North Channel of Lake Huron and is now summering in the Chesapeake Bay aboard a Slipper 17.

The boat in the pic above is light enough to be trailered by a comparatively small car (one guy towed his for years with a VW GTI. He, at age 80, only recently sold his).

That older gentleman who recently sold his small boat, had previously sailed larger boats (Tripp-Lentch 30 somethingorother).

<a href="http://www.todspages.net/images/LF-Seas ... .jpg"><img width="540" src="http://www.todspages.net/images/LF-Seas ... t.jpg"></a>

Last summer: two weeks cruising the Maine coast (Rockland-Vinalhaven-Merchants Row-Frenchboro-Southwest Harbor-Buckle-Brooklin-Bucks Harbor-Vinalhaven-Rockland)

This last June: a week on the lower Chesapeake (Piankatank/Rappahannock rivers)

August: a week in Buzzard's Bay / Martha's Vineyard

Next summer: two weeks in the North Channel of Lake Huron again hopefully.

<a href="http://www.todspages.net/images/LF-atanchor.jpg"><img width="540" src="http://www.todspages.net/images/LF-atanchor.jpg"></a>

I don't trailer mine ALL the time. When not vacationing, I leave her rigged on her trailer in a parking spot at Sadler Sailing Basin. Winters she comes home and hibernates in my barn.

Just an alternative to consider. Not as pretty as a Typhoon, but the 15 is more portable...

The size of the images above have been restricted by the webmaster. Just click on them for an enlargement.

Cathy
CDSOA Webmaster

[Warren Kaplan]

Clay,

It goes without saying that there are a lot of people who know you in the NE Fleet (and beyond) who would be happy to have you aboard ANYTIME.

You are welcome aboard Sine Qua Non anytime you have the itch to do a little sailing.

[aja]

Clay,

So sorry that we won't see your funny looking Cape Dory anymore at the Rendevous, but we hope you will still be there.

You are invited to sail with us on aja at any time.

We have always enjoyed your posts and your company.
To us you will always be a truly fine Cape Dorian.

Diana & Don

[Sea Hunt]

Mr. Stalker:

I justed looked on www.yachtworld.com for Shannon sailboats. I never really looked at Shannons before today because they are out of my league on several fronts, including price and ability to be single handed by a tadpole sailor. "Yankee Lady" is beautiful!!!. I can understand the sadness in having to sell her.

For those interested, "Yankee Lady" is listed on the Yachtworld website. The listing shows about 10-13 pictures of her. Someone is getting a terrific sailboat.

[Carter Brey]

Well, Clay... I was so sad to see this item. At the same time I've no doubt you made the correct decision.

It's a common human condition to be pulled back from what we may fancy to be a big change of direction in life by a "twitch upon the thread," as Evelyn Waugh put it. The thread may lead back to your work, your marriage, your children, your religion, your homeland, or any number of things. What distinguishes it and often what surprises us about it is its powerful re-emergence to claim primacy at a certain point in life.

You'll continue to do plenty of sailing, just in a different way. Your Cape Dory brothers and sisters will make sure of that, not to mention certain Brand X'rs who ply their own perilous murky waters.

Best regards,
Carter Brey
Sabre 28 II #532 "Delphine"
City Island, NY

[Dick Barthel]

Clay,

Your post caught me completely by surprize. I have fond memories of the hours I've spent on Yankee Lady and in particular I won't forget the beautiful night we spent at Cutty Hunk listening to your jazz and living big.

I'd be less than honest if I said I wasn't feeling a little sad. But I'll be less so when you call me to go sailing. Good luck with your new adventures.

Dick

[Duncan Maio]

Clay:

I was surprised to hear your news when I saw you last week, but as one who has advocated selling the boat (due to family, home and work obligations) for three or four seasons now, I completely understand. Still, it is a little sad.

You are always welcome aboard Remedy, although you know we are not often there these days. And I promise to tempt you back into Cape Dory ownership if we ever trade up.

[Dean Abramson]

Clay,
If you read this: I need crew for tomorrow and Sunday. I called both of your phones. I suddenly found I was not working this weekend. I am sad I never got to sail on Yankee Lady. But congrats on the sale, and let's try to hook up on Loda May.
Dean

[yves feder w1ux]

Clay, you are VERY welcome aboard "Alphee" anytime!!! Stonington isn't a bad drive from where you are and there are plenty of times when the "little woman" prefers to be at home, so a partner for a cruise to Narr. Bay, Block or Cutty will definitely be welcome. There's plenty of summer left, and there's LOTS of jazz aboard, as well as some funny sounding harpsichord music and - horrors!!!! - even some CELLO music!!!!!!!

Amazing when you can squeeze over 600 CD tracks (so far!) onto an Ipod and play it through the boat stereo system. Won't run out of music, wine, beer, or sail handling!!

Cheers and Upwards and Onward!
Yves

[Bob Ohler]

Clay, Best of luck and fair winds. I am sure that you will have many opportunities to sail with your Cape Dory friends. The Chesapeake is available to you on board the Aloha Spirit, when this darned heat wave breaks! Bob O.