8/14/2019 0 Comments For SailThis morning I wrote these words…… Wanted: new home for truly amazing boat. Yes, the day has come, as I suppose I always knew it would, when I have decided to let Argos go. It was a very hard decision to make, as I am sure anyone who has followed my journey on Argos will well understand. But having made it, I can only say that I feel great relief. It came about because Liam, the youngest of the children who left Canberra with me, one icy cold morning in 2011 and flew across to Albany to begin our new life as live-aboard cruisers, told me he was ready to fly the parental coop. It had primarily been the kids that fueled the decision to remain with the boat when that dreadful leaving occurred. Had they not been as keen to keep sailing, I think I would have returned to Canberra then and there, and tried to pick up where I had left off - gone back to my job, tried to find somewhere suitable to live. But their enthusiasm to continue our live-aboard life prompted me to keep working on things on my own, and with them. For the longest time, I clung on, not wanting to feel like I was giving up, despite how much work I was left with, and how little money I had to do the work with. My trip to England earlier in the year gave me an insight into how much of my life I have felt robbed of choice and it was funny that so soon after my return, Liam told me of his plans. I knew straight away that it was time - time to return to a land-based life where I can head off to work even if it is pouring and not get wet, even if it is seriously windy, and not have to be worried about the boat, carry on with my daily life, even if a storm is brewing. I am working still on my book, Becoming Mrs Argos, doing some support work to make sure I can still eat, and doing a little work in media and marketing to keep a roof over my head. What I want, more than anything else is for Argos to find a great home. She isn’t for sale, she is for-sail. Argos deserves to be more than just my floating home, and what I am hoping for is that someone who loves her as I have, will find her and give her the life she deserves, as she in turn will give them the life on the water they desire. I know that may sound cliché or a bit corny, but it is the truth and is all I could hope for. I am happy to acknowledge that the task of learning to sail such a boat on my own is bigger than me. Indeed, the task of maintaining such a boat is bigger than me, but that’s not an admission of defeat, it is a simple fact of accepting who I am. I have found a lovely, albeit small, apartment. I am able to get to and from work easily and remain close to my kids and Argos. I am sad that I have to let her go, but super happy too that she will go on and find someone who loves her and will sail her. Someone once told me that Argos, as a Benford design boat was, ‘so salty she could make your eyes rust when you looked at her.’ Argos is designed for better things that I have been able to give her and it’s time to let her find better days. You can view my advertisement here - https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/ed-view.php?de=236690
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September 2017
Our life aboard Argos has been seriously challenged this year with the surprise departure of our skipper. As a writer, diesel mechanics and the complexities of many aspects of Argos’ on-going maintenance are way beyond me! We would like to see Argos continue to sail and eventually hope to use her to offer support, encouragement and a break to people who are struggling in their lives. Any on-going help towards maintaining Argos would be greatly appreciated and enable us to achieve this goal.
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