New Members Dave and Marsha Gallitano
Marsha wanted a better bed and more comfortable cruising accommodations. So, we traded our MJM 34z for and Eastbay 45 in June of this year. This is the third powerboat in the last 5 years. The other two were both MJM 34z's. Prior to that it was all sail - mostly cruising with a fair bit of racing thrown in. The last sailboat was a J105, which was raced for 5 years.
Marsha is a relative novice at boating yet very competent. Plus, she has the much-appreciated talent of being able to create great food in a boat galley. She is comfortable handling the boat under-way; it's close to the dock that panic sets in. Both she and I want her to get boat handling to be second nature - a goal for next year.
I have a fair amount of coastal and offshore cruising experience - much/most of the East coast, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the Irish and North Seas and the Great Lakes. My favorite is Maine despite the lobster pots.
We took delivery of the new Star in June of this year. We did a short 3-day shakedown cruise with friends to Newport and back. A very short list of items needed to be fixed over the following two weeks. Then the boat was picked up and taken straight to Southwest Harbor, Maine where she and we stayed for the summer. We then cruised back with close friends onboard in late August dodging hurricane Bill and tropical storm Danny along the way. Nonetheless, it was a great trip home.
Star now resides at the Annapolis Yacht Club - walking distance from our house.
