Christmas Greetings 08 from Cheshire Cat

HI AND HELLO TO YOU ALL;
Just a brief note to say that Mike and I hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas this year and we trust that only good things come your way in 2009.

Cheshire Cat is in Bundaberg, Australia - after a relatively uneventful season in the islands of Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The main event was an ongoing problem with our new engine exhaust. Very annoying! However all is well now - thanks to cruiser friends who helped Mike solve the problem. We had a good time in the islands seeing and experiencing the very different culture and enjoying the company of old and new friends.

Next year should see us moving north up the coast to Darwin where we plan to join the Sail Indonesia Rally - then off on another adventure on our way through Indonesia and Malaysia.

We always like to get your news, so please keep the emails coming! I WILL try to get better at replying (especially as I have a new computer this year!)

Love and Best Wishes from

Deirdre and Mike

Hull 18 (Mimi) Undergoes Major Re-Fit

Ken:

I have purchased hull number 18 (MIMI ) from Steve Batchelor in Melbourne Florida. .Scott Schloessor, also a Cabot owner, sailed up with me from Melbourne to Green Cove Springs Fl. It was a good sail up the outside and we experienced a full spectrum of weather. I was impressed with the boat’s performance. So much so that I decided to make this hull number into the ultimate cruiser. I am completely redoing the boat. It has a new Yanmar 30 hp motor, new fuel tank, new wire rigging, a mast head radio antenna, tri/color, anchor, strobe masthead light, windex, all new sheets and halyards, new main sail, and good head sail and stay sail. The plumbing work is now in progress re connecting both water tanks and installing sediment and charcoal filters and new water pump. Planned is a new stove, refrigeration by Mermaid, new batteries, battery chargers and the installation of an older model HydroVane wind vane along with the original auto helm wheel belt auto- pilot. I live aboard and travel on a Formosa 51 but am really enjoying redoing a real cruising sailing boat. This boat will be for sale when finished so I'll keep in touch with some progress reports..

Sincerely Frank Holland.

Pegasus III

Here's our first picture of this boat, hull #23, now owned by Warren Pattison