Ester the 2nd...
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Ester the 1st 2012
 | Ester the 2nd 2020
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Ester the boat, named after and in memory of our cat, who was part of the family for 17 years. Passed away a few months before our first boat entered the family in 2010.
As the plans for crossing the Atlantic ocean progressed, Ester A was replaced by Ester B, almost the same boat (Beneteau Oceanis), slightly larger, a year younger, with a slightly more comfortable interior arrangement. In particular, our bedroom in the bow that currently has a square bed with a slightly more comfortable access, rather than a triangular mattress that reaches to the tip of the bow, is much more comfortable!
We met Ester the 2nd, or her former name "Va Bene", by chance at a marina in Turkey in 2013. We found ourselves moored next to a boat that looked the same from the outside (not much of this model is seen) and on board an American family. A "family connection" was immediately established, sister boats, and after a few words and we were invited for a boat tour. The boat is much more organised and equipped, and also nicer from the inside. We checked whether she is for sale and were answered in the language of the sailors"Every boat is up for sale." But they didn't really think about it, and it felt a little too early for us too. A few months passed and we came to the conclusion that it was time to upgrade to the "Great Journey," which included crossing the oceans. After much effort, we located Scott's the owner of Va Bene. He was not thinking of selling, and was debating whether to cross with her back to the Caribbean. After a short deliberation, he came back to us with a "yes" and from there the buying / selling of Ester, the one in Jaffa (immediately sold) and the one in Spain, which after a surveyors' examination turned out to be a bargain. Indeed well equipped, very well maintained, american standards: large, many, powerful and high quality… Now technically the engine is in better condition, sails in excellent condition + collection of additional sails, as spares but also for different uses (light, strong winds, storm…), main sail boom rolling system which is comfortable, and most significant for everyday life on the boat -"water desalinator" !!! Magic, takes sea water and turns it into great drinking water. Relieves the need to fill water tanks in moorings, the use of plastic bottles, for all its implications, and there is almost no limit to the use of water, one of the characteristics of prolonged voyages at sea.
The end of the matter, Va Bene was acquired in October 2014 in Almerimer, Spain, waited for us until the summer of 2015, and since then was sailing in the Mediterranean, including a two-season adventure in the canals of France (Roni and friends and also Grandma Ana and Udis' brothers can testify ..).
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