Life’s Like A Box Of Chocolates
I was obviously tempting fate yesterday when I said I was determined to make sure I got some build time in everyday. My girlfriend Gail who had been ill for a couple of days with what we thought was a stomach bug ended up being taken into hospital with suspected appendicitis and in fact I’m writing this in the hospital waiting room waiting for her to come out of surgery (UPDATE – one very inflamed appendix removed)
These events combined with essential business tasks mean I’ve done nothing today. I’m not stressing about it though because these things will happen now and again and I need to be here for Gail. It’s only the entirely self-imposed procrastination and failure to organise that I’m desperate to avoid.
Moving onto the subject of Wharrams and sailing I had an e-mail this morning from my friend Martin Hivon confirming something that I’d picked up on the Wharram Builders and Friends forum, namely that ‘Al Raso’ is up for sale. Those of you that have followed Martins blog since he launched Al Raso in March 2010 will know all about the adventures they have had and in particular their brush with a freak storm in Treasure Cay in December. If you haven’t been following you can read the story HERE.
Martin tells me that his decision to sell is a combination of factors not least some homesickness and the ill health of a close family member back home. He stressed to me how well Al Raso has performed and how proud he is to have built a boat that has allowed he and his family to cruise in safety for the best part of a year. 
He is entirely justified to feel such pride and I greatly admire the difficult decision he has made for the happiness of his family.
He is entirely justified to feel such pride and I greatly admire the difficult decision he has made for the happiness of his family.Al Raso is currently in the Bahamas and will be cruising the area for a few months yet, and here’s Martins quote about the sale
“she will be available in May or June somewhere on the East Coast of the USA. Because I don’t want to have her sit in a boatyard somewhere doing nothing, I have also decided to sell for a very, very, very reasonable price. So, if anybody wants to sail away on a tried and proven Tiki 38, equipped with absolutely everything required for long distance cruising, they can save themselves 3000 hrs of build time and go now for the cost of materials alone. At $87,500, it is more than a bargain but I am now a motivated seller. I have a professional survey that was done in July 2010”
Martin can be contacted at sv.alraso@gmail.com and please mention the ‘Gleda’ project as your source to confirm your interest.
So there we have it, the shortcut to a dream for someone with the funds perhaps? For now though my thoughts are with Martin and his family.