Why waste time specifying the perfect boat for exploring the waterways of France and Holland when Nick and Sandy Trotter have done all the hard work for you?
Like many people, Nick and Sandy Trotter harboured a retirement dream to buy a boat and spend their second youth cruising the waterways of Europe. But it took a nasty wake-up call to spur them into action. Nick was aged 58 at the time and still working all hours of the day in sales when Sandy’s brother Philip was diagnosed with cancer. He lived long enough to see the beautiful new boat Nick and Sandy had bought for their big adventure but lost his battle shortly afterwards at the age of just 56. His premature death proved to be the catalyst for Nick to take early retirement and bring their departure date forward while they were both still young enough and healthy enough to make the most of the opportunity.
While the decision to advance their departure date wasn’t planned, it’s about the only part of their adventure that wasn’t meticulously thought through. Having worked their way up from a 27 Shadow to a Capriole 1020, they already had a pretty good idea of the size and style of boat they’d need if they were going to be comfortable living on board for months at a time. They’d stumbled across a Stevens 1340 at the 2005 Southampton boat show, which ticked all the boxes they were looking for but was slightly too big for their needs. The 1200 model with its two ensuite cabins at either end suited their needs and budget better but they still relied heavily on UK agent Karl Farrant to help specify it with everything they’d need for life aboard in Europe.
Denne historien er fra July 2017-utgaven av Motor Boat & Yachting.
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Denne historien er fra July 2017-utgaven av Motor Boat & Yachting.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lofoten or Bust- Part 4- Grandezza owner Per Harrtoft heads back to Sweden after an epic 3500nm adventure deep into the Arctic Circle to visit the mythical Lofoten islands
After ten memorable days in the Lofoten Islands in the far north of Norway, we are on our way back south towards Sweden. We have already made it as far as Trondheim, a charming place even if it was raining so hard we had to cycle round the city centre clutching umbrellas. But now we are back on board Deamare, our Grandezza 40 Fly, eating up the miles at a steady 31 knots.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YACHT TRANSPORT
As the name suggests it's a means of having your boat moved professionally from one location to another. It might be as simple as hiring someone to tow your RIB a few miles down the road or as complex as shipping a superyacht halfway around the world.
HANDLE A SINGLE SHAFTDRIVE BOAT PART 1
Single shaftdrive boats are relatively rare these days but the reduced costs of buying, servicing and fuelling such a simple but reliable drivetrain does mean they are making a bit of a comeback.
COCKWELLS MOTOR LAUNCH
There can be very few boats that have appeared three times at the Southampton Boat Show and been sold off the stand each time.
INSTALLING AN AUTOPILOT
Rick Channon makes solo boating simple with a Raymarine Evolution Autopilot
GOOD AS NEW
Why fit a brand new engine when Volvo Penta's remanufacturing service can rebuild you an old one to the same standard for a fraction of the price?
BENETEAU SWIFT TRAWLER 54
Alex Smith heads to France's Beneteau HQ for a UK exclusive on what might just be the best Swift Trawler yet
ΧΟ EXPLR 44
Can XO's all-new aluminium flagship really make it big in the Med?
BUYING OUR FIRST CLASSIC
Instead of whiling away their retirement playing bowls, Rob and Shona Adams decided to invest their time and money in a classic Silver gentleman's yacht. Would the gamble pay off?
PRINCESS S65
Torn between the V and F Class flagships? The new S65 might be the boat you've been waiting for...