Currently...
We returned to Portsmouth last October to get our engine problems sorted out, to complete the fitting out of Impressionist - and to be around when our latest grandchild was born in December. We finally set off again on 16 May 2008, meandered around Brittany, then south through the Vendee to La Rochelle.
After a trip north to the Vilaine River in South Brittany, we have returned to La Rochelle for the winter where, with great advice, help and encouragement from Frank, we are working on repairs to the steering pedestal.
First thoughts
We started thinking about living aboard a yacht and travelling around the Mediterranean around 2001. We had by that time owned our first yacht, a 28ft Trapper 501, for four years. Shortly after we decided we might as well go all the way - around the World.
Searching
We spent the next two years researching various models of yacht within our price range which we considered suitable for blue water cruising, i.e. the perfect yacht - around 36ft long, seakindly, fast, lots of accommodation, affordable to run, heavy displacement, not too beamy, easily handled by two people. It doesn't exist!
We looked at many boats and ended up with a shortlist of three - Westerly Conway, Scanmar 35 or an early Contest 36. Once we had seen a Conway we realised this was almost the perfect boat for us (a late model) so we then sold the Trapper.
... two years later
We had travelled the country looking at Conways, in varying conditions.
At last, in February 2005, we found the perfect boat - a 1981 aft cockpit, sloop rigged Conway with a bridge deck - only two ever built - and within two weeks she was ours.