One ship, three names, the storms and calms.

THE VARIED LIVES OF MAXOLAR.

The Beginning.

This ship of the sea, a wooden 40 Ft Searunner trimaran was actually launched accidentally and prematurely, without a name.

Built, in the late 1970’s somewhere on the East Coast of Florida, by an unknown builder. Its three connected hulls, before being complete, were blown by hurricane winds, from its place in the boatyard, just a few yards into the shallow water of the sheltered bay.

Abandoned, it lay there for some time, possibly two years, with the port ama/outrigger underwater.

First Name.

From there it was purchased by two brothers, who cut off the damaged, rotting port outer hull, and rebuilt a new one, together with a partially rebuilt wing. It was finally launched as GALEANA and they used it to cruise locally, usually short passages along the coast, weekends or short holidays. One of the brothers was a commercial pilot Mike Penrose, After some years, Mike and his wife Nancy took full ownership of the boat, and continued to sail it locally, for recreation.

Friends of theirs were Bud Puch with wife Judy, also Florida residents, who owned and sailed a 32ft Piver trimaran , Judy 111 around Florida waters.

In 1989, their tri was hauled up in a boatyard on the West coast in Titusville, when a British couple, David and Julie Moseley, wandered by and stopped to talk ’trimarans’.

David and Julie had sailed from UK, in their self built 37 ft Searunner trimaran, Trixolar, and were anchored in the bay. On shore, walking round the boatyard, they came across Bud and Judy in Judy 111, and so Bud and Judy, David and Julie began a lifelong friendship.

That loose net of friendship, eight years later shaped the course of Galeana in the following very strange and convoluted manner.

Change of owner.

David, Julie and Trixolar left USA , and continued to cruise the Caribbean Islands, but at Christmas 1995, while in Cuba, Julie decided that after ten years as a full time as live-aboard sailor, she had done enough sea cruising. She wanted to return to her washing machine, fridge or other homely requisites that were waiting back in their family house in Hampshire England. Their sixth grandchild was due to be born and she was very keen to be back in England for the occasion.

David did try to continue cruising alone, but he missed Julie very badly and after the1996 Trinidad Carnival. decided to SELL Trixolar. Advertisements were put in local and cruising publications.

Bud and Judy, still cruising in their small Piver tri, decided to buy Trixolar, knowing it well, having cruised in company on several occasions. Bud officially bought Trixolar, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and registered it as an American vessel. David literally cried as he watched his pride and joy, Trixolar, sail off over the horizon. In May 1996 he flew back to UK, home life, and to Julie.

But, even more sadly, and tragically ending the first half of David’s life, Julie was killed in a cycling road accident in January 1997, ending their 40 year marriage.

During that extremely difficult and stressful year, David, hating the lonely life at home, and vowing to start a new life, sailed on a friend’s monohull Lucy Maria, from the Thames in London, via Madeira and the Canaries, directly down to Grenada. During that Atlantic voyage, he decided that without a wife, his new life beginning would continue with lone nomadic sea cruising.

He literally hitched rides with many of his old sailing buddies around the Caribbean islands, for three months, looking for something on which he could live his new life. Of course he was only looking at multihulls, and comparing every boat with his old Searunner Trixolar, but nothing he found could equal it. Eventually he flew up to Florida, and on Feb 14, met up with an old friend from England, Audrey, and they joined friends Bud and Judy, sleeping aboard Trixolar, and travelling in their VW campervan, viewing several Searunner trimarans for sale all around Florida, including GALEANA, now being sold by Mike and Nancy Penrose.

Change of Name

On 16 Feb 1998, after looking over and closely inspecting Galeana, with his long time friend Audrey, in the cockpit he asked her, “If I buy this boat, will you come sailing with me ?“. Her answer in the affirmative was the beginning of a complete and happy new lease of life for them both, and for GALEANA.

With Bud acting as broker between his two friends, Mike Penrose and David, a deal was soon reached. Audrey returned to her home in Hampshire. On 5 March, David and Bud motored Galeana up the River Okechobee and in to Waynes Boat Yard in Labelle where they moored alongside Trixolar, with Bud and Judy.

A Poem by Audrey Hill.

“David and Roger went to sea, in a boat called ‘Lucy Maria’

They reached Grenada and said ‘Goodbye’, and Roger went back to his beer.

But David had friends and they all had boats, so off round the islands he went.

He saw one or two, but nothing would do, and found he was rushed off his feet.

He ran out of time and to Florida flew, there was someone he needed to meet.

Audrey was visiting during half term, she left her studies and notes.

Together they travelled from place to place, looking at various boats.

Eventually down in Pine Island they find, (having looked both near and far),

A beautiful trimaran, which David buys, and names her Maxolar.

They worked for many a day, out in the midday sun,

Occasionally taking a ride on their bikes, and sometimes a casual run.

Then David and Audrey went to sea, in their boat which was aqua blue,

They took some flora, and a dove called Nora, and plenty of veggies and stew.

That was Audrey’s first sail, you know, she didn’t know what was in store.

But heavens above they’re so much in love, I know she’ll be back for sure.”

Over the next four months David worked every day, at the dock, as GALEANA, bought as a “Fixer-Upper”, was in a rather dilapidated state, with woodworm and rot in several parts of the cockpit, and the damaged outrigger. He made alterations to the main double bunk and repainted it, before flying home. The name of course, needed a change, with it’s link to heavy lead, a poor choice for the lightweight Searunner design.

David had sold Trixolar just 37 ft long, and now had a very similar boat of the same Searunner design, but slightly longer, at 42 ft. The name Trixolar, had come from his Idea of “a TRImaran for the Sun“, (sOLAR), and the X in the middle came from David’s first model sailboat that his dad had built for him as a young boy of six, and that was called TRIX. He really wanted to keep a similar name for his new bigger boat, and so that was to be MAXOLAR.

Research into the intricacies and folklore of renaming a ship of the sea, it had been ascertained that in order to keep the ‘Lord of The Sea’ happy, it was important to paint the original boat name on the bottom of the boat, so that Neptune could recognise it, without a problem. Audrey’s first job on our return in September was to paint MAXOLAR in big letters on port and starboard hulls, but on the new ant fouled bottom clearly painted the old name GALEANA.

So, completely adhering to the age old advice, the launch on 21 October 1998 began a new life and a new British identity, Galeana to Maxolar, and possibly a sex change as well !

The Good Life.

David very soon found that Maxolar just three feet longer than his old boat though exactly the same design, looked and sailed quite differently. Whereas Trixolar had felt gentle and looked elegant, very much a lady, Maxolar looked more angular, and sailed in a much stronger and heavier manly fashion. Maxolar was always referred to as HE.

There followed twelve very happy and exciting years for David and Audrey, and MAXOLAR. Obviously there were high and low spots, but in each year’s cruising, during the UK winters, usually from October to April, there was lots of work done aboard. Changes made in every section in every hull, not only to mend or fix things, but to improve them. While David’s years on Trixolar with Julie had been continuous, his sailing with Audrey on Maxolar were only during the British winter months. New friends were made, and new places explored.

Starting from a marina up the Okee Chobee river in Florida , the first trial was purely a day motoring up and down the river, with friends on board, and a first trial of reversing and manoevering. Then the first trial sail across the Gulf Stream and right down to Nassau, George Town, and Exhumas, and back, covering over 2000 miles, and all with a pet dove aboard.! There were engine problems, and buying new equipment along the way, but returning again onto Belle Hatchee dock early March ‘99. Audrey then flew home, leaving David to take the ailing Farymann diesel engine for a complete overhaul, before flying off in late April. Certainly not trouble free, but both certainly looking forward to the next Winter.

September ‘99, back for more work aboard, engine refit, new folding prop, huge changes to the sterncastle dining area and rear cabin, to finally leave the dock in December. Another 9 ft dinghy, Minnow, built in seven days, and afloat, but with finishing touches still to be done, to supplement the original small Micro with only a 2hp Seagull outboard.

Again out over the Gulf Stream, on the last day of 1999, watching the stars and moon over the banks to bring in the New Millenium 2000, and down the Bahama chain. This cruise was in company with Bud and Judy on Trixolar, and a small catamaran Class-i-Cat, but this time, no turning back, but on south to Turks and Caicos Islands, and on again, down to haul out in Puerto Rico April 2000.

October 2000 saw the first venture into the Caribbean chain. Several visitors staying aboard. A family engagement proposal in Peter Island. A serious visitor heart attack requiring a VHF ‘Securite’ call at the ‘Indians’ in the Virgin Islands. Christmas Day at sea, in the Anegada passage, to Anguilla. Then to host the Anguilla Governor for a sail along his own coast. Simpson bay lagoon for a long stay during bad weather, and then almost catastrophically beached in Statia. Audrey had an emergency call home from Martinique, and she flew home, giving a lone sail for David down to Grenada for a complete galley rebuild before his home flight in May. Certainly an exciting and interesting beginning for Maxolar, and for Audrey too.

2001 saw a November launch, but a serious back injury for David sent them both back to UK, for an operation in Hospital , but a quick recovery, enabled a return in mid February. A sail back up the Island chain for more family visits in St Lucia, and Mustique, then back to Grenada for home flights at the end of April.2002.

David was back aboard in October 2002 before Audrey’s November arrival, then followed an aborted night sail to Tobago when the mainsail rips, entailing a sail to collect a new one in Bequia. Tobago finally enjoyed, in spite of very deep anchorages, with cruising friends, touring the quiet island in a hire car, and anchorages in several bays. Up North again to meet UK friends who arrived in Union Island for a Christmas aboard in the sun with their young family. Then sailing to three more islands at the end of January, and back down to Trinidad, to haul in mid February. Peaks boatyard then did a really professional complete underwater fibreglass grind, re-epoxy, and antifoul. .

2003 October, A very happy couple, David and Audrey, recently married in Hawaii, now, Mr & Mrs Moseley, greeted a very new looking and gleaming Maxolar. New teak rub rails fitted, then two months work on the cockpit, new steering station, and seating arrangement, engine controls and remote cables for Aaron, the wind vane. After walking on the active Hawaian volcano, their plan was to sail up to Montserrat to view the devastation there after the fairly recent eruption, but huge alternator problems kept them in Martinique for more than a month. Montserrat, reached in early February, was all they expected, desolated villages and the main town completely covered with ten feet of ash. The exceptionally exposed and rolly anchorage made them leave in spite of a bad forecast, for a 51 hour sail passage of 325 miles, down to the Testigos group, the most violent seas to date, with a scalded hand for Audrey, and a cracked rib for David. Short relaxing stay with interesting walks ashore, before a good sail across to Isla Margarita in Venezuela. Hauled out in a large shipyard in Chacachare on 3 March, where the yard dog gave birth to five pups under Maxolar’s keel, before the end of March flight home.

The return in October 2004 was enhanced by a two week holiday in a hotel complex with bars, pools and hire bikes, all included in the flight cost ! But after this great start, calamity struck when checking the engine the day before launch, to find a huge crack in the exhaust manifold. A new one was ordered from the USA, This gave them another superb holiday interlude, an inland boat and plane trip to Angel falls, and after that, an interesting two week cycle tour all around the island. Finally launched on 2 December, for a sail back to Porlamar, to buy a new Yamaha outboard engine for big dinghy Minnow, and a sail over to the mainland Venezuela to explore Llaguna Grande, and Muelle de Cariaco. Here enjoying calm tranquil secluded anchorages, the most quiet Christmas Day ever, with flocks of blue and white herons, pink flamingos and noisy parrots.

2005 New Year sailing back via Coche, to Porlamar. Cruising round all the small Venezuelan islands often with strong winds, rough seas and shallow anchorages, during February and March, to return for haul out in Chacachare and home flight in April.

11 October 2005. David returned with no cruise plan. Without much enthusiasm for a sail back north through well known Caribbean waters, but knowing that the alternative route was West, all along the South American coast, through dangerous pirate Nicoraguan coastal waters with insecure anchorages. Audrey joined him in November, and they read a cruising magazine article in which Pazaz, a cruise boat had made a successful passage coming East along the notoriously bad coast, and they described each suitable leg of their journey and gave safe bay anchorages. Meeting Lee on Escape Cay, a large catamaran, who was also planning on cruising the Pazaz route, going west, cemented their decision to take that route.

So, 17 November, sailing off west, Tortugas, Los Roques, Isla Del Sur, Bonaire, Curaco, and chased out of Aruba, by a coastguard helicopter, to anchor on a remote tiny coastguard rock, Monjes Del Sur. After picking up the mooring line, David smelled oil, and found a huge oil leak while the engine was running. Keen to find the cause of this, before leaving, he was very reluctant when Lee decided to leave at dawn next day, but agreed to the plan. Not wanting to run the engine for longer than necessary, he tried to sail off the mooring line, and crashed badly into the steep rock face. A short time later, Audrey heard rushing water, and David found a big hole just above the water line on the bow stem. After frantic hours pumping and patching, it was temporarily fixed, before anchoring again at Five Bays anchorage. Some passages were a full 24 hours, others only very long days, but after an incident entering Rio Magdalene, the closest ever to beaching Maxolar, they were shepherded into Cartagena and safety, by Lee in his dinghy on Christmas Eve 2005..

Celebrating indeed, to have survived. Enjoying pot luck yachtie meals on shore and aboard with friends over the whole holiday, enjoying bike rides ashore, massive castles and fortresses. Then more excitement finally fixing the leak in the bow, and fixing the engine oil leak, to leave on 18 January, for a good sail onwards, through islands, Rosarios, San Blas, Lemons, Isla Grande, and into Colon, to the north end of the Panama Canal on 12 February. A very interesting stay there, with two full transits of the canal on other people’s boats, and a great sail trip alongside the canal to anchor by the Gatun dam. Then on northwest to the next group of islands, Providencia, Roatan, and into a boatyard to haul in La Ceiba on 17 April 2006

Noted in the log, 46 anchorages, 1840 miles, Longest sail 165 miles in 51 hours, and David’s bike computer mileage was 435 miles. What a great exciting winter, with memories and photographs for years to come !

Back for more in 2006, 13 October, fitting sails and getting shipshape to launch on 3 November. The sail North, through the islands of Utila, Roatan and Guanaha with dreadful weather fronts, gales, dragging anchors, and sleepless nights,

Puerto Cortez, Belize, and then up the Rio Dulce in Guatamala, where Christmas was spent in a treehouse at a Finka in Tikal, before viewing Inka ruins in Copan and Ixobel during January inland travelling by local buses.

February brought more excitement than expected when a dragged anchor found us hard aground on Glovers Reef, Maxolar’s Grief, with a broken rudder and hull fibreglass badly damaged. A return to La Ceiba shipyard and marina for repairs, mid Feb until April and flight home.

October 2007, nine weeks inland travel, down though Central America to Panama. From here a flight to magnificent Peru, with very interesting guided tours, train trips, Cusco, and here, while enjoying a coffee break under a huge wall map of the world, a conversation lead to a big decision. David traced and related all his Trixolar voyaging, UK to Brazil, Caribbean to USA, and two long campervan trips through 22 states of America. Audrey admitted that she had done no travel, not even to Paris. And so it was that a huge decision was made,. SELL MAXOLAR, and take up the challenge of exploring the whole of Asia and the Southern Hemisphere.

Advertisements were put in several American sailing magazines, “28 Dec 2007 PUT AD IN MULTIHULLS MAG “, and notices posted by email, to lots of cruisers we had met during cruising, but it was to take three years before Maxolar finally had a new owner

Christmas celebrations that year included the boatyard cruisers taxi driver being shot by bank robbers, and then a final launch on 30 December.

January 2008 to cruise Placencia, Cay Caulker, Xcalak, to Isla Muheres. and Cuba, to haul out.

Leaving Cuba on 7 February, for a very slow 4 day passage to Naples and Fort Myers Basin. The log reads, “Back in USA at the end of ten fabulous years”.

On to Labelle and Belle Hatche Marina for much repair work on shore, until Aprils flight home, with Maxolar showing large FOR SALE notices.

October 2008, back aboard, Launch in November, and on to Key West, and across to Dry Tortugas then at the end of January back to Ft Myers Beach, and finally back to Belle Hatchee marina and flight home 27 March.

And so, 2009 on to Maxolar Logbook number 3, and a note on the first page remembering the last 11 CHRISTmas locations. ‘98 Marsh Harbour Bahamas. ‘99 Marathon.FL. 2000 Anguilla Dog Island. 2001 UK bad back ! 2002 Union Island, Bahamas. 2003 Martinique. (with Trixolar and Classicat). 2004 Venezuela Laguna Grande. 2005 Cartagena. 2006 Guatamala Tikal Tree House..2007 Honduras La Ceiba. 2008 Cuba . 2009 Ft Myers.

Friday 25 December CHRISTmas Day. “Decide to swim, up 8.30, borrowed truck to Ft Myers Beach, swim 9.20 -930. Then just a series of “work on boat“, “socialise with other boats”, including Curlew with Graham Hoyland and Gina.

The marina was completely full with so many boats waiting for the right forecast to cross the Bahama Banks, Maxolar did leave on 19 Dec, but after two full days battling terrible sea state and winds, a thankful return to the harbour. .

Life on board was far from enjoyable, with several possible buyers making contact, and coming to view. “Ashore to library, try to collate possible buyers, sunny but bitter cold wind, feel really fed up.”

On Friday 9 March, ”Get email from Jean Pierre, offered 23000 dolars and concrete time scale for completion”. .He had seen the boat previously in a FL marina. Bank details were exchanged, he paid the money into our US bank account, and the final change of ownership planned for Marathon Harbour.

The trip to Marathon was started on 28^th March, with the log reading, “Off after Ten weeks on the mooring”, to meet with the new buyer, Jean Pierre, who’s home was actually in Tahiti.

Finally, Wednesday 14 April, “balance has arrived…Maxolar is sold“

Thursday 15 April 2010. Meet Jeanne Pierre at dock 10.30. Very slow ride to board and sign legal papers”. He had flown in from Tahiti, and we heard that he was possibly splitting with his wife. Our bank had received the agreed sale price, but far less than we had hoped for. Legalities were completed at the local library, and flights back to UK booked for David and Audrey. David gave a grand tour of every inch of Maxolar, engine, storage, batteries, outrigger contents, sail inventory, and anchors.

Monday 19 April “Collect 8 bags of luggage and Audrey, in two dingy trips ashore”.

Sea life over for David and Audrey……………………………

But Maxolar’s future became exceptionally very turbulent and tortuous.

The Registry of Maxolar was officially changed from British, BSSR, to American, private yacht. Unfortunately this then demanded that the boat was compelled to leave USA, and re-enter with the new registry document. Obviously the Bahamas were the closest alternative ‘Domain’.

Jean Pierre confided that really he wanted, and actually asked David and Audrey to sail with him to his Tahiti Home….ridiculous ! He was, however, not at all a competent or experienced sailor, which immediately became obvious.

QUOTATION from David’s Daily Diary, one page of which is meticulously written each day. ‘Mon 19 April, MAD DAY, 3 dinghy rides with luggage, book into Atlantic Hotel, quite worn out. No sentiment on leaving Maxolar.”

“20 April. Wake Atlantic Hotel, just in time for bf “. Later, JP collects me in car, to library for documents, see Steve Jack on steps” Then later, “meet JP in hotel room, good chat.”.

“21 April.Check out of hotel, JP takes us in car to hostel.” “Email and book flights for 29^th we hope !.” There had been a huge problem with many flights being cancelled due to a MASSIVE volcano erruption, and ash deposits in the upper air, disrupting many long flights.

“22 April.7.30 call JP” then “With JP to customs and Public Notary, all cleared.”

“23 April. Meet JP at appt and say goodbye with a gift of vanilla pods from Tahiti.”

“24 April. 6.30 am JP calls, up anchored. We walk to harbour exit to wave as he passes, 8.45, into V rough seas and E wind.” Audrey and David vividly remember watching Maxolar crash through the huge waves, at full speed, and calling him on the phone to say, SLOW DOWN. He did slightly, but, “6.30pm call from JP, ‘coming back‘.”

“25 April. 8.00 JP calls ‘Trying again, almost out’” Then “Shower and Bed, we both feel he must have arrived in Bimini “

From then on, David and Audrey flew home, and all further correspondence was by emails which have now been lost, when the Gmail folder MAXOLAR was deleted accidentally while making space.. Only David,s memories remain.

Jean Pierre DID reach Bahamas, after going aground which required a tow off. He did check in, and eventually after about three weeks, he did return to Maiami, having NOT RAISED SAIL EVEN ONCE.

You will not remember the previous LOG entry, “20 April, 2009, See Steve Jack on Library steps.”, but this was the beginning of the next strange episode in the Maxolar’s life.

Final sad ending

During Dec 2009, when many interested cruisers, and prospective buyers were coming on board to view Maxolar, over a period of several weeks, in Marathon, waiting for a weather window, one viewer, was STEVE JACK. He was living on his anchored two masted yacht, about 60 ft, but David only saw it from a distance as the yacht was right at the entrance in deeper water, and ashore they had that only one chance meeting as David used the library. Steve Jack had briefly viewed Maxolar, along with many other people, and did not appear interested.

But, when Maxolar eventually returned to anchor again in Marathon, after several weeks away, Jean Pierre had really run the engine for so long, and so badly, without topping or changing the oil, that the boat was literally only just able to crawl along, almost a wreck, and he was desperate to leave the boat, forget his terrible experiences, and fly home.

David was not really part of it by then, but still regularly emailing from UK with instructions regarding the engine, electric anchor winch, fridge, battery charger, and other equipment use. Through these emails, it transpired, that STEVE JACK, had agreed to buy the boat, on condition that he could get things working again. David had sold at 23,000 Dollars, well below the true value, only because they were desperate to get home and begin new Winter land travel. Steve Jack offered just 10,000, but with the proviso that he could get Maxolar into cruising order.

It was never clear, whether any money was paid, but Jean Pierre flew home, and Steve jack moved on board.

Now David relied on information from other cruising friends still in the area, and he had many of those, in regular email contact.

Firstly, almost everything on board Maxolar was sold at local Sunday Boot Sales, and on Florida Cruisers websites. All the tools, workbench, several anchors, chain and rodes, water containers, charts, and literally everything that was not essential for basic living aboard, was sold, including some of the five sails !

Then, MAXOLAR was painted over, and with the Green paint remaining in the locker, JADE EVE , was the new name,

Then, from many cruising friends, came the email news, that Jade Eve, had moved from Marathon, and was bought by a man called Jimmy Abbott, and David was very happy to obtain his email address, and receive several great photographs of his wife and family sailing up the East Coast of Florida, to New Bern North Carolina. .

Then, only a short time after that, David was contacted by a Florida Sea Scout leader, who explained that there had been a divorce going through the courts, and that Jade Eve had been donated to his group, in the legal splitting of assets. He was asking if David would be willing to act as an adviser if any work needed to be done. In fact, David was only too keen to help in any way.

However, again some time later, (all emails now having been deleted ), it appeared that the husband had gained custody, and his wife Michelle, was very upset, as she had been sailing various boats since her early childhood.

The last news, from her, was that the boat was out of the water, by a large house building site in NC, where her ex-husband’s company was supplying diggers and earth moving equipment.

And so ends this long tale, one boat, three names, from about 1975 until about 2015.…Approximately 40 years.