It is final.
Irie
has been sold. Her new Australian owners will soon bring her to their home
country. She will leave French Polynesia after more than two years, just like
we left her after more than eight years.
Mark and I are a bit sad, but mostly happy that she will be
sailing again and that the burden of owning a sailboat on the other side of the
world is lifted. Of course, we will miss
Irie;
she meant everything to us and was our
home for eight years. She brought us all
the way from Annapolis, MD on the east coast of the United States, via the
Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean, to the northern regions of South America.
Then, she safely sailed us to our all-time favorite, the San Blas Islands in
Panama, before transiting the famous Canal, and entering the Pacific Ocean on
the other side. Before we decided to put
Irie
up for sale, because other priorities arose, we had a great time in the
Galapagos Islands and lived two interesting and diverse years afloat in French
Polynesia.
We loved the cruising lifestyle and will always have fond
memories of
Irie, our watery
surroundings – the beautiful beaches, the clear water, the amazing wildlife,
the colorful and peaceful snorkeling, the people we met (locals and cruisers alike) -
the intriguing sites and pulsating cultures, and especially, the peace and
solitude of exquisite anchorages. And we will definitely miss the tropical climate!
While we totally enjoyed being one with
nature for so many years, appreciating what she had to offer and living a
pretty basic life, we are currently content with the quirks of “modern” living.
We indulge in daily hot showers, are aware of conveniences like unlimited
internet and electricity, and embrace the fact that we can just take the car somewhere or go for a walk. We are ready for some comfort and landlubber
“delights”!
With the sale of Irie
another special experience and adventurous chapter of our lives has ended, but
a new one – intriguing and exciting on a different level – is about to begin.
Officially homeless, we will have our base in the United States for now, but
anyone who knows us pretty well, can predict that it is just a matter of time
before the next adventure presents itself… What that will be, is anybody’s guess! (But we
do have some ideas. :-))
More photos of Irie and stories of our cruising life can be found in older posts on this website. The archive is listed on the right (bottom of the sidebar).
 |
| My last view of Irie, when I left Moorea for the last time in July 2015 |
 |
| Irie hauled out for a buyer's survey in Tahiti, August 2015 |
 |
| Irie hauled out at Technimarine in Tahiti - August 2015 |
 |
| Mark's last view of Irie - under contract - in Moorea, August 2015 |
 |
| Bye bye Irie and the cruising lifestyle (for now) |
Mark and I are a bit sad, but mostly happy that she will be
sailing again and that the burden of owning a sailboat on the other side of the
world is lifted. Of course, we will miss Irie;
she meant everything to us and was our home for eight years. She brought us all
the way from Annapolis, MD on the east coast of the United States, via the
Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean, to the northern regions of South America.
Then, she safely sailed us to our all-time favorite, the San Blas Islands in
Panama, before transiting the famous Canal, and entering the Pacific Ocean on
the other side. Before we decided to put Irie
up for sale, because other priorities arose, we had a great time in the
Galapagos Islands and lived two interesting and diverse years afloat in French
Polynesia.
We loved the cruising lifestyle and will always have fond
memories of Irie, our watery
surroundings – the beautiful beaches, the clear water, the amazing wildlife,
the colorful and peaceful snorkeling, the people we met (locals and cruisers alike) -
the intriguing sites and pulsating cultures, and especially, the peace and
solitude of exquisite anchorages. And we will definitely miss the tropical climate! 
While we totally enjoyed being one with
nature for so many years, appreciating what she had to offer and living a
pretty basic life, we are currently content with the quirks of “modern” living.
We indulge in daily hot showers, are aware of conveniences like unlimited
internet and electricity, and embrace the fact that we can just take the car somewhere or go for a walk. We are ready for some comfort and landlubber
“delights”!
