After a lifetime of sailing, an ideal last boat creates enduring memories
Issue 153: Nov/Dec 2023
There are many resources for learning how to sail. It is a fascinating subject with so many things to learn. But as far as I know, there are not any resources on how to stop sailing. It is like falling off a cliff.
I was fortunate some 50-odd years ago when I was introduced to sailing by a much older sailor who owned what I thought was the most beautiful boat I had ever seen — a sleek, 27-foot varnished mahogany-hulled sailboat from Norway named Tumlaren. I never changed my opinion.
Henry had noticed my enthusiasm and offered to take me sailing on Lake Michigan every Saturday for a month. He was a purist with a passion for details and perfection in every way. From dropping the mooring to raising sails, trimming, reefing, steering, and finally putting the boat away, cleaned and completely ready to sail again, each step was equally essential for Henry.
That was the beginning of my owning, racing, cruising, maintaining, and enjoying every minute on the water. The journey began in a 15.5-foot varnished mahogany Snipe that my new wife, Sue, and I named Mistral and learned to sail on. Many other sailboats followed. When we sold what I thought would be our last boat, no sooner was the ink dry on the contract than I realized I was laid up and grounded. My boat ownership was seemingly over.
Fortunately, I had already embarked on the field of freelance marine journalism, regularly producing articles and photography for a number of boating magazines including Good Old Boat. While on an assignment to write an article about a custom 49-foot wooden trawler, Roseate, I met her owners and builders, Pat and Charlie Ball. Since then we have become good friends.
About 17 years ago, Pat saw a wooden sailboat in a Sarasota bayou that was partially sunken, with pumps running to keep her afloat. Pat recognized her as Baby Doll, which was designed and built by local boatbuilder George Luzier in 1965. She’s a 27-foot sloop built of strip-planked juniper and clear spruce for the varnished bird’s mouth mast and boom. Her 12 hp engine was a rescue from an old Crosley. She has a keelcenterboard configuration to provide access to the thin waters of the coast of Southwest Florida.
Pat located the current owner and bought her as is, had her hauled, and took her to George’s shop, located in a small industrial neighborhood in the shadow of the many new luxury condo buildings in Sarasota. George was delighted to see her in his shop again.
Over the next year, Pat and George did a significant refit. But Pat was in the construction business and work was beyond plentiful, so the amount of time he could spend sailing her was limited. After nine years of ownership, he was considering putting her up for sale.
One day after lunch, Pat and I went down to the dock where Baby Doll was being kept. I was immediately struck by her simple but elegant lines. Words or even photographs can’t do justice to this amazing boat. I expressed interest in the boat, and within a week’s time Pat and I became 50/50 joint owners of Baby Doll.
Our new partnership was successful from the start, though I always thought I had the better end of the deal. Being retired, I was able to use the boat much more frequently than Pat. But he was still the proud owner of this classic yacht, without having total responsibility for keeping her in Bristol condition.
After many years of new boat ownership, I took great pride in the daytoday maintenance of Baby Doll. Over the next five years, I took many friends sailing on her and always took a photograph of their smiling faces at the helm under sail.
During that period, my wife had major surgery for severe back problems. As a result, most of my sailing on Baby Doll was singlehanded. Being alone, sailing on Sarasota Bay for a few hours is a quiet and serene experience. Sure, the old Palmer engine was cranky to start, and raising and lowering sails could be a chore on breezy days. But once under full sail, her hollow but stiff hull settled in the water, slicing the waves and creating an unmatchable sound. The helm was nicely balanced, the warm westerly winds driving the boat in accordance with the hand on the helm. Sailing just can’t ever be better!
The memories of those last five years of sailing reminded me of how fortunate I have been to have had over 50 years on the water, and they will stay with me forever.
Bill Jacobs has spent over 50 years on the water racing sailboats and cruising the Great Lakes, Florida, and the East Coast. Writing and photographing maritime subjects have been an integral part of his life, and he has been a regular contributor to this and many other boating publications, sharing stories and images of his journey.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
