The Adventure Begins
The years of watching You Tube sailing channels has led us to point in our lives where the dream has become the reality. After an unsuccessful shopping trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in March 2022, we discovered that catamarans, especially used catamarans, were in high demand and in low supply and if you did find one that interested you the asking prices were slightly eyewatering!
We did have a great time in Florida looking around the place. Some highlights were watching a Rocket Launch from near Cape Canaveral, spending time with a dear friend from school and her husband and being shown wonderful hospitality by them, witnessing a level of wealth in car ownership that was hard to comprehend and lastly a quick trip to Key West where we could have spent much longer.
Rocket launch from Coco Beach.
Tony in Miami
Key West, so quaint!
On our return, the hunting field changed from the USA to Europe. It didn't take long for Tony to spot this 2001 Privilege 465 catamaran that appeared to tick all the boxes.
- recent major overhauls
- no major work to be completed
- a well built, quality catamaran
- in great shape for its age ("just like the current owners" Tony)
- one proud owner.
Tony contacted the agent Benoit (Ben-oi-ta) who he eventually discovered was called Benoit (Ben-wha.) but when we meet him in person it was just Ben, we could manage that!
After lots of emails back and forth, discussing details of the boat, we decided to put a holding deposit on Phantomas subject to the results of a survey. It's not usual practice to put offers on boats, or anything really, sight unseen but this just felt right.
Arrangements were made to fly to France, or Port Saint Louis du Rhone, to inspect the boat.
A brief bout of Covid for me put the plans on hold for a week but we flew into Marseille on May 16th.