My wife and I had a dream to retire and spend Sydney winters travelling round Europe. Our decision to buy a yacht over there meant we would have a “home from home”. We could move freely around without packing up our bags, have all the comforts of home but visit at our leisure the amazing range of islands and ports around the coast of the Mediterranean. We therefore wanted as large and comfortable a yacht that the two of us could easily sail. Our choice of “Alfresco”, a Jeanneau 54DS launched in late August 2007, has proved over the subsequent four sailing seasons to perfectly fit these criteria. The simple rig with mast-head furling (140%) genoa, furling main and electric winch is easily handled by my wife and me; the bow thruster means relaxed berthing and the remote windlass control, easy anchoring.
We took delivery after retiring and return to the Mediterranean when it turns chilly in Sydney! 4 seasons; 263 nights; 80 ports and anchorages; St Tropez, Monte Carlo, Portofino, Cinque Terra, Corsica, Sardinia, Capri, Ponza etc Amalfi, Stromboli, Sicily, Malta, the Croatian islands and now she’s resting in Montenegro.
Health and grandchildren are now encouraging us to wind up our amazing Mediterranean adventure and we are looking for a good home for her. She’s fully set up for comfortable cruising for a couple, plus a huge guest cabin (convertible into two cabins) for visitors. Air-conditioning and essential equipment such as washer/dryer and espresso machine and 230v generator make us independent when we want to moor in a secluded bay.
We’ll be sailing again in June and July this year and currently plan to then store her on the island of Aegina near Athens from 1 August. If someone wants to start living their own dream they can take her over then and still have a couple of months sailing this season!
Contact PBS if you want to start your dream this year.