Dare to Dream

It's taken us many years to get to this.  Harley and I have been together as a couple for almost 40 years.  Even I can't believe it! 

When Harley and I first met he told me of his dream to live on a boat and sail the Caribbean.  In fact it was the summer of 1976 on our first date.  We were at Ontario Place in Toronto having a beer on the patio overlooking the marina. We were only 20.  Just kids really, but even then I knew that some day that dream would come true. I just didn't know at the time that I would be part of it.

Harley and Janice 1976

Harley grew up around sailboats.  He and his dad built a 22 foot Wharam design catamaran to sail the waters of Woodland Beach on Georgian Bay.  As far as I can tell he and his dad honed their skills as sailors from observation, conversation, and trial and error.  Not sailing school or summer camp. 

I learned to sail through osmosis.  I'm not sure when it happened or how but I guess you could say I know how to sail.  Eventually, after spending 39 years as first mate, I picked up a few skills; but truth be known ... I'd much rather be deck fluff.  (Like that will ever happen.)

Harley bought his first boat before we were married so that's why I call it "his" boat.  It was a Clipper 23.  Looking back, it was an ugly thing but it was a yacht to us!  That's when I got my feet wet, so to speak, and when I began to see what all the hoop-la was about.  I loved it!  I loved the freedom and the adventure.  Not to mention that is was a perfect little love shack on the water.  We sold that boat to put a down payment on our first house. 

The Clipper 23.  Oddly enough we never named her.

We married in 1980, had two kids (Brent and Kyle), and have owned 9 boats and 6 houses. 

In August of 2009 we took a year off work to sail "Blue Blazes", our CS 36 Traditional, to the Bahamas and back.  It was the most wonderful, glorious, and exciting adventure. Everything we hoped for and more ... and worth every penny we spent and every ounce of blood, sweat and tears that went into making that happen. 

When we came back from that trip we sold our beloved Blue Blazes and replaced her with "Folly" a 42 foot Catalina.  The plan?.... Well, at long last we hope to take her to the Caribbean; to make that dream come true.  The dream that Harley (and I) have had for so very long.

Folly