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Zhik 2024 December

VI South Club Night: Eleven years on the old man’s old boat

by Peter McMartin 10 Feb 2019 16:12 GMT 19 February 2019
VI South Club Night: Eleven years on the old man's old boat © Bluewater Cruising Association

In 1982, after eight years of boat building, Les and Audrey Shortreed launched their 36' sloop Island Prism. When Les passed away, the boat went to their oldest son Jim.

Dreaming of bluewater sailing over post-hockey beers, Jim turned fantasy into solid plans, and in 2007 he and Island Prism left the shores of Canada to search for adventure and romance. He found both.

On the tropical Island of Vava'u, Tonga, Jim met Andrea. Paradise island-hopping was wonderful funbut how did the love triangle of man, woman and boat fare when international passages became part of the equation? After all, seasickness and marine heads are not the stuff of romancebut the freedom gained from a life at sea can help make dreams come true.

Find out about Jim's non-stop 68-night solo sail from Thailand to New Zealand. Discover how to sail across the Pacific the wrong way, see how Andrea found her passion for art reignited by cruising life and learn how to survive on a small boat with no means to chill your wine. There's also a love story.

  • Royal Victoria Yacht Club - Main Lounge
  • 19 Feb 2019 7pm
  • Members $5 / Non-Members $10
This article has been provided by the courtesy of Bluewater Cruising Association.

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