At last the search for my dream yacht is over and the day has arrived where I take possession of her. An OVNI 385 , currently called “Seraphim III”

THE SEARCH

The search started in April 2020 just after we entered self isolation and lock down due to COVID 19. I had planned to visit the Ukraine with my friend Stas. The trip was meant to encompass my 60th Birthday and a visit to the town where my Father was born and lived for the first 12 years of his life. A visit of nostalgia, history and ancestry. Hopefully, I will manage to resurrect this adventure. The other adventure, was a sailing trip, with best mate Ed, from Sardinia to Venice via Croatia. Again, a postponement rather than a cancellation, I HOPE!!

I started by reviewing my criteria and requirements for my new yacht. After 12 years of sailing Yaga, my 30 foot fin keeler, i soon realised that one of main limitations was the ability of getting into many more shallow draft marinas, harbours, shallow bays, creeks and rivers. I needed a sturdy yacht that could go almost anywhere, and with a shallow draft. This led me towards the aluminium OVNI range

 

Finding one is not easy. They are in high demand, and finding one in lock down even harder. The events that led me me to my final purchase were a series of bizarre and random coincidences. From travelling to Scotland, viewing yachts on line in France, speaking to previous owners and brokers. Ironically, my eventual choice led me back to Southampton. This is where I found Seraphim III an Ovni 385, owned by a wonderful couple, Nicola and John Rodriguez. After a few visits, chats and inspection the deal was agreed. By sheer chance, Yaga was sold within 4 days of finding Seraphim, by a chap who had lost his Huzar 30 to a storm, when she slipped her moorings. So the planets and stars aligned and the deal was done.

.