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Although her home port has always been
Eastern Long
Island, New York, "Snow Goose" spent 3 years
cruising the
Florida Keys and the wonderful islands of the
Bahamas,and
more specifically the magical "Exumas". A
sailors paradise for sure.
A Bit About Snow Goose-
Built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong
Kong
1972
LOA 37'
LOD 33'
Beam: 10'2"
Draft:
4'0"
Full Keel
Model: OFFSHORE KETCH
Spars:
Douglas Fir
(varnished)
Dis: 10 ton net 7 ton gross
Hull:
fiberglass (black)
Decks: Teak
Auxiliary power:
50 hp Perkins 4-108 Diesel
Prop: fixed
3-bladed
Solid teak
and holly cabin sole
Snow Goose is a
classic/traditional bluewater cruising
vessel. She was originally manufactured with
all
finest available options at the time. She is
equiped with
many cruising accessories such as AVON 6
person offshore
life raft, Solarex solar panel, Wind
genorator
etc.
We bought her in 1988 and spent 3
years restoring her while living aboard.
Almost every part of her has been lovingly
refinished. In 1991 we left for an extended
cruise through the Florida Keys and the
Bahamas, returning to settle in Key West,
anchoring in the lee of Fleming
Key.
On the night before our second
return to the Bahamas, we were settling in
for a bumpy
night, south winds 25-35 knots, not a good
angle for the
anchorage, but then, at about 2 am we were
slamed down on
our beam, with a gust of 109 knots, no
advanced warning,
anchor light in the water. After righting
herself, went
topside to discover we'd been hit by a
waterspout.
A broken bobstay caused the bowsprit
to break,
then cracked the main mast. Secured the
rigging with the
spinaker halyard, because we had lost our
forestay. Had to keep the masts from coming
down!
Daybreak came with 50-70 knot
winds for two
full days, only on 2nd day could we leave the
boat. Many
boats damaged in the anchorage. Later to be
called "The
Storm of the Century".
Spent months rebuilding with our own hands
and lots of
help from our good friends Tom and Debbie on
board a
Hereshoff 42', "Ai-Ki", owners of the
Key West Rowing Club, a wooden boat and
spar builder,
allround great people.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
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