Sailing Yacht Truce

Many people don’t believe in fate, some consider fate an alignment of coincidences, others don’t believe in coincidences. Whatever.

In 2015, a group of factors conspired to lead me towards buying what I consider to be an excellent little cruising boat. Briefly, here is how it happened.

In July 2015 I was on a trip from my home in Auckland, New Zealand to Vancouver in Canada, the purpose of the trip was to join a tug boat (Pacific Hickory) as Captain and take her across to China to pick up a tow.

Whilst waiting to board my flight in Auckland I took advantage of free Wi-Fi to go online and check out Vancouver as it had been many years since I had visited that beautiful city.

By chance I came across a boat for sale, it caught my eye and roused my interest and imagination. Now you must believe me, I wasn’t looking to buy a boat, it was pure coincidence that I saw it online (my wife still doesn’t believe me).

Upon arrival in Vancouver I was quite busy taking over from the departing Captain and preparing for the voyage ahead but I managed to contact the owners of the boat, she was called ‘Truce’. I found that the boat was lying in Vancouver Island but unfortunately I didn’t have time to travel over and inspect it.

I sent an email tom the owners letting them know I was interested in looking at the boat and that if it was still for sale I could visit in a few months after returning from China.

In September I returned from China on the Pacific Hickory with a barge in tow.

Upon arrival I contacted the owners again and they confirmed Truce was still for sale. Wonderful, I was leaving the Tug in Vancouver and could take the opportunity to have a look at Truce and  also do a bit of exploring on Vancouver Island.

So, on departing from the Pacific Hickory I took the ferry across to Vancouver Island and hired a car to get me up to Ladysmith where Truce was berthed.

The little boat didn’t disappoint me, she was beautiful, thoughtfully laid out and obviously well-constructed to a high standard.

She looked a little tired or maybe in need of a new owner who could give her a good work out and maintenance schedule.

Vancouver Island is a beautiful place and I took the opportunity to have a short tour around for a few days. So nice and tranquil after the rock and roll of a pacific crossing.

Months later in March 2016, after my offer for Truce was accepted, I was able to travel back to Vancouver island from New Zealand and conduct a pre purchase inspection.