SLEEPLESS IN SEA TTLE – SEA A VENUE
“To me what is important when it comes to a boat is what is under the fl oorboards, inside the engine compartment and behind the lockers. I was not disappointed, the layout, access and common sense design are just what I expected out of Oyster Marine.”
And although as Project Manager I would like to take all the credit, the whole Oyster team and builder McDell Marine had once again done themselves proud.
As with most Oyster handovers, much of the fi rst day was spent going through the boat and all her systems in great detail, taking up each fl oorboard in turn and noting what we found, whilst trying to impress upon the new owner the importance of maintenance and helping him to get to know the inner workings of his boat. However, endless staring into the bilges of his new boat was not what Don had in mind!
With all the technical and maintenance items ticked off , we cast off our lines and headed for the lock gates. Sea Avenue was quite a tourist attraction, and I got a faint glimpse of what it must be like to be a famous footballer or movie star. We were the focal point of many a tourist photograph taken that morning from the dock.
Once through the locks we headed out into the Puget Sound and made our way to Seattle’s main waterfront, tacking up and down the main strip with the famous space needle and bustling Pikes market in full view. T e day was spent gently sailing on the fl at seas that surrounded this great city.
Safely back on our berth and tied up, we ended the day smashing a bottle of champagne across her bow. With this, Sea Avenue was formally christened. A spectacularly memorable day, we spent the night drinking fi ne wine, eating French cuisine and discussing what uncharted waters lay ahead for our newest members to the Oyster family.
Don and Deborah will initially keep their Oyster in and around Seattle, but with exploration now fi rmly on their minds, it won’t be long until Sea Avenue sets sail for an adventure of a lifetime.
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” Mark Twain
“We arrived a day early in Seattle after a long drive from San Diego but we just had to see the boat right away. When we arrived Will and Stephen were just crossing Salmon Bay from the fuel dock – what an impressive sight! Our new Oyster 54 by far exceeded our expectations. We took a quick spin around the bay and Debra docked the boat for the fi rst time. She looked like a real pro with the ease of handling that the bow thruster offered.
Salmon Bay is above the Chittenden locks in Seattle. Therefore, the handover actually took place in fresh water. Will and Stephen advised us that this may be an Oyster fi rst! The fi rst day was spent at the dock going through the boat inside and out. To me what is important when it comes to a boat is what is under the fl oorboards, inside the engine compartment and behind the lockers. I was not disappointed, the layout, access and common sense design are just what I expected out of Oyster Marine.
For Debra, the interior layout was top priority. The large aft cabin and separate shower were her must haves and the front opening refrigerator is a great feature for any sail boat. She was happy that her colour selections for the counter tops, upholstery and curtains fulfi lled her expectations.
At the end of the fi rst day we had ‘Sea Avenue’ applied to the stern. That’s when we felt she was really ours. The second day we spent on Puget Sound. We had very little wind nevertheless, we had a very enjoyable day on the water. The light conditions allowed for easy practice of the systems. Sea Avenue sailed well in light air and tacked easily. I was very impressed that we could do 9 knots under power. The real sea trial came a month later when we spent several days in conditions ranging from 10 knots to 35 knots of wind, but that’s another story.”
Don and Debra Smith, Sea Avenue
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