Designed and built in Australia by Alan Lucas, author of many books on sailing, Alegrias was his ultimate cruising yacht at that time.
He sold her to Mike Robinson, who after many years sailing Alegrias ended up in Durban, South Africa, where Percy and I were introduced to him by our friend Dougal Bond.
After purchasing Alegrias and eleven hard months of refurbishing her — under Mike’s expert direction and Dougal and Martin Rosenberg’s skills — we all set sail, with our respective ladies, on our first voyage.
Mike and Carol then returned to his beloved Zimbabwe to, in his words, “sit under a mopani tree.” He was there for about a year, then returned to Australia where he taught fly fishing in the Snowy Mountains. Sadly Mike and Carol have now passed on — possibly to explore even larger oceans.
Dougal and Lisa stayed on in Mayotte in the Comoros, where they married and had a son, Jesse. They lived there for about ten years. Dougal died there, and Lisa and Jesse returned to Cape Town and then to France, where they now live. Lisa owns a very successful interior design business; we met up in Paris in 2019, and she is as delightful as ever.
Martin went to Japan, where he met and married the charming Chiharu. They returned to Africa and ran a successful travel business in Malawi, South Africa and Namibia — not surprising, as between them they speak at least six languages. In 2019 they moved to a beautiful island off Japan, to virgin land they are going to develop and live on.
Nalini and Rajesh are now living in Britain, but unfortunately we are out of touch.
After our wonderful time sailing, Laura and I moved to Britain for ten years and returned to Durban in 2001. My lovely Laura passed in 2010 and now sails the mighty universe, and more, I believe. I married Susan, a dear friend of thirty-five years, and we moved to the western Highlands of Scotland in 2015 — not far from where Mike Robinson grew up. Laura, Susan and Mike were all born in Scotland, and I have Scots ancestors. A full circle, I would say.
My dear friend Percy — whose original idea it was to buy Alegrias, for which I will be forever grateful — purchased all the shares and became the sole owner. He berthed her in Tanzania, where for about two years she sailed around Tanzania’s stunning Mafia archipelago.
An American couple who sailed on Alegrias fell in love with her (as we all did), offered to buy her, and Percy accepted. And that was the end of our mutual love affair with a delightful gal.
We miss our adventurous friends and loved ones who, like Alegrias, have moved on.
Where on the vast seas are you now, Alegrias???
Where she is now is a mystery. If any reader knows, please let us know.
