We do not know a lot about Akupara’s history prior to us becoming her care taker, other than what we learned from the gentleman we purchased her from, and the story goes something like this.
At some point in Akupara’s history she sailed from Whitby Ontario to the Caribbean where she spent a considerable amount of time. This is evidenced by a lot of the well used ensigns we discovered in the bowels of Akupara from many different places. Eventually she must have either been sailed or perhaps trucked over to the Pacific side of Mexico where the gentleman we bought her from had bought her several years before. He spent a couple of years sailing and motoring around the Sea of Cortes and actually spent a fair amount of time at the Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz, which is where we visited last month when we were in Mexico.
It is a weird feeling to know that our boat has actually lived some of the dreams that we now have for her. It is comforting to know that Akupara has been there and done that. Hopefully when our time comes, she will be able to remember her previous travels and guide us safely on our way.
From all of the research and documentation that I have completed thus far. This is Akupara’s 4th major refit which seems just about right on a 40 year old boat.
When the time comes for us to sell Akupara, I hope she will be in pristine condition so that the next owners will not have to be as extensive in their renovations.
For anyone who is interested, the previous owner to us maintained a blog from his time in Mexico the beginning of which can be found here http://www.sailblogs.com/member/akupara/?xjMsgID=78227