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t was only the similarity of that morning to most other mornings, that might have caught my attention. Whatever the weather was, it was. It was the same walk, the coffee shop, and the warm greetings like most mornings.

Jesse leans over his coffee and in a not fully awake voice, says, “I saw a double ender with a big boomkin and monitor wind vane. The kind of boat you like. It’s got ‘Woods hole’ written on it. That’s up your way isn’t it?”

He was not sure of the make of the boat as it did not fit the usual list of double enders. My wild guesses didn’t help.

Later that morning I thought I would check my post office box, and in the spirit of conserving fuel take a quick look at this double ender, you know, while the car was already in use and in the area of the boat. Perhaps I could even discover the type of boat and solve the morning’s mystery. I also sent off an email to someone selling an Alberg 30, and then was on my way to the Post Office and the stop at the boatyard.

With the engine running I took the few steps across the dock to see a very beautiful, thirty some odd foot sailboat. There is something about her that implies the word ship. She had a for sale sign attached to her bow pulpit. I returned to the car and thought, “I may as well call and find out what she is”.

I drive home.

“It is a Dreadnought”, the broker tells me. “It will be open this afternoon, feel free to take a look.”

A Dreadnought. The name alone seems salty.

I know of these boats. I know that they are a blue water design and have gone everywhere. I drive back to the boat yard. After all, it is right near the food market, and we need milk, we need coffee, I am going to save even more fuel today! I check my email and get mail from the Alberg 30 guy. He has sailed the boat to the Bahamas and stopped in Oriental on his way back to Maine. I tell him to please email more information about the Alberg and ask how long he spent in Oriental. Then I am off to see the Dreadnought…

You can almost feel the sea move just looking at this boat

As I walk down the dock staring at her I know this is one of ‘those’ boats. One of ‘those’ boats that my body will know and feel comfortable with right away. Without really thinking about it I grab the forward stay and swing onto the bowsprit.

The boat rewards me with a hand hold each time I reach out for one. Open side decks lead me to the cockpit which is small and well protected. The boat is offshore dedicated. Wind vane, transom hung rudder, proper high gunwale. Massive outboard chainplates and heavy rigging lead my gaze over her tanbark sails and self tending staysail. The heavy running rigging leads back to the cockpit.

The open companionway hatch coaxes me below and again everything seems in place. Simple layout and spartan appointments. Tons of storage, clean bilges, pretty boat.

I cannot believe my luck and sense of frugality when I realize that if I coordinate picking Olga up from work with showing her the boat I can for the third time save gasoline. This may give me enough spare gas to look at a few more boats later in the week. Olga will be so pleased.

She responds to my description of the boat, and agrees to view the vessel on the way home that evening.

Before I leave to pick up Olga I get the email from the Alberg 30 guy with a nice note. He tells me how he was in town for quite a few days. He used the local post office and shopped at the local market. He and his wife were offered a ride as they walked back to their boat carrying groceries. He asks if we have a boat and I send him a reply giving him the short version of Olga and my adventures and hunt for a boat. I like the guy.

As we arrive at the boat yard I sense a peculiar energy from Olga. She seems focused, determined. She is a moment behind me exiting the car and I make my way with haste to the cockpit so I can observe her response to the boat.

She moves down the dock like she is on a mission. All business, she swings onto the boat, lithe as she glides down the side deck not stopping, not inspecting, moving towards me. She moves towards the cockpit. I am quiet.

Olga steps down into the cockpit and without a moment of hesitation, still standing, takes hold of the tiller and looks down the boat to its bow. Looking as though she is following a course, she says in a clear voice…..

“This thing is Enormmmmous!”

There have been times in my life when I longed to hear Olga say this, however this wasn’t one of those times. Olga gave the Dreadnought the dreaded nyet.

Perhaps there is a reason it reminds me of a ship

That evening there is another email from Mr Alberg 30. He enjoyed my little autobiography and tells me that I have so sparked his fond memories of Oriental that if I want to purchase his boat he will deliver it from Maine. I am so pleased with this idea I begin to look through the inventory and details he has sent.

I soon discover that his boat is an Alberg 37, not an Alberg 30.

The phrase, “This thing is enormous” rings in my ears. Another nyet.

Size does matter.

Treblig Setnof

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