When I bought Iska (Merlin 6) off Laurie Smart, it was for very little cash, but the deal took weeks to negotiate, simply due to the number of the 'interviews' which I had to pass before getting the go-ahead. I even had to attend an UTSC mid-week evening meal and have a run of conversations starting: "Ah, so you are the man who wants to look after Iska...
Finally, it was agreed by all, that I was a safe set of hands and I was allowed to take on the responsibility of ownership of Iska. A boat I enjoyed greatly and of course I was simply delighted after a couple of years to pass on the responsibility of ownership to Chris, totally safe in the knowledge that Chris would care for her even better than I could.
But it wasn't like that when I sold my 1949 Fairey International 14 - Iolanthe K556.
I just had too many boats and although I loved the 14, since moving out of Bristol and away from the docks, I just didn't have a real need for her anymore. If I wanted a big fast double-hander, I preferred the Jollyboat.
So it was time to sell her, but that just wasn't easy. I spent years looking for someone I could really trust. No-one wanted to take her on from within the CVRDA and in the meantime, I lost my 'inside' storage and Iolanthe was having to live under tarps in a friends field.......so the need to sell was becoming more and more urgent.
She was still in pretty good shape - certainly the hull was fine, although there was a few things that could be done with the rigging......but the varnish was beginning to look like it could do with some patching.
So I did really need to sell her!
Anyway, finally someone rang up and we negotiated a price - maybe a bit lower than I wanted, but it was more important to me that she found a good home.
So, the new owner turned up.....and I went through that angst of "will she be safe...." "will I end up seeing her for sale on ebay for 99p". But in the end....hey-ho, she had to go, He seemed to have his heart in the right place, so the deal went through and off Iolanthe went.
Then I didn't hear anything for what has seemed like ages..... I was really beginning to worry and often thought about getting back in touch with the new owner just to check up.....but what would you say? "Oy, I have just rung up to check up that you are looking after the boat I sold you the year before last?" I would imagine I wouldn't get a very nice answer and what if I was told "Oh, that old thing.....sailed it once, it sunk near the pier, we pulled up what was left and now it is a garden ornament". So I just told myself to move on.....
But my guess is that many of you know these feelings only too well....
So I know you will understand my curiosity when I saw the owners name apply for registration on the forum...
of course I asked....
and you will also understand my complete delight to be sent these photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ed.bremner ... directlink
remembering that in the past she was like this:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ed.bremner ... directlink
So I would also like you all to give a very big welcome to the proud owner and forum member:
Harry - Welcome to the Forum! I hope you have lots of fun here.
I really hope that we will see you and Iolanthe at a CVRDA event as soon as she is ready and back on the water.
eib
ps hope it is OK to show your images on here....
will remove if you want.