Nabulous...Halberg Rassy on Lake Champlain, VT

It's July and we've traveled to Mystic, CT for some R&R with family and friends.  Our trip is packed with plans including a family reunion, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, my birthday, and running a marathon in VT.  All of our family commitments were scheduled in the first week of our trip.  We had a fun filled week enjoying the Chapman Family Reunion and a 4th of July celebration. Independence Day festivities were in honor of my Niece Alexa's 18th birthday, my mother Jacklyn's 73 birthday, my 52nd birthday and the 25th anniversary of our wedding day.

At the finish line, Mad Marathon, Waitsfield, VT

We left CT for Waitsfield, VT on Friday, July 6th.  The marathon was on Sunday, the 8th.  We had plans to view a  Halberg Rassy, named Nabulous on Lake Champlain on Saturday after attending the marathon packet pickup.  The boat was essentially identical to Annabelle, the Hallberg Rassy we visited in Traverse City, MI, including the asking price of $35,000.  We drove to Burlington and found the marina we had been directed to.  As we walked along the waterfront I picked Nabulous out, sighting her on her mooring in the harbor.  She was beautiful.  Boats always seem to look better when they are in the water.  We had viewed Annabelle on the hard with a tarp that created bad lighting and a sense of  claustrophobia.  Bill Algiers, the broker, took us the a short boat ride out and rafted up to Nabulous.  Once we boarded her, Bill couldn't find the key but Dave realized that the boat was not locked so we were grateful to be able to go in the cabin and really have a look at her.

Nabulous had a nicely finished teak interior.  It was clean and orderly for a boat that was being sailed all season.  You could tell that the owner took care of the boat and it had a lived in, homey feeling about it.  It had full canvass with a enclosed dodger and awning.  The brightwork had a jell stain which actually looked okay but was not as pretty as true brightwork.  I could tell Dave liked this boat.  Later Dave told  me that he liked Annabelle more because her topsides and jell coat were in pristine condition. He was shocked that a boat of that age could have the original jell coat look that good.

Annabelle

Bill took us for a boat tour of the harbor.  He gave us the local boating lore, describing the different personalities that went with each boat in the harbor.  We had a lovely time with him.  We chatted on our return trip to Waitsfield.  Dave shared his opinion of the two Hallberg Rassy's we'd visited.  He clearly would have purchased Annabelle had the price been more within our agreed upon range.  However, we both agreed that the biggest reason we would not consider either Rassy was the logistics of getting them back to MN.  Soon after our trip we learned that Annabelle had sold.  I think Dave may have grieved a little over that news!