kateandjohnsail.boats

It is time for a shout out to a couple of people without whom our odyssey would not be possible. They are Sara and Bob Knapp, former owners of the boat. When they bought the Hylas 49, then called Quintessential in 2012, it was a great yacht that was outfitted for casual use, but not at all ready for cruising. With loving care, the Knapps not only refitted the boat with offshore essentials, but over the years they have added many more upgrades and touches that make her a truly amazing boat to sail and live in. Renaming her Quintessa, they set off across the Atlantic and then spent over a decade sailing in the Mediterranean.

Quintessa has never been listed through a yacht broker. The Knapps bought her through a connection they made at a boat show. Then, earlier this year, as they contemplated selling their pride and joy, Sara discovered the Hylas owners Facebook page, the very day John had put up a post saying that we were looking for a Hylas 49. Thus began many Skype conversations about Quintessa, in which we learned that Bob and Sara were selling Quintessa fully equipped, not only with all the gear needed for sailing and living aboard, but also with the sea wisdom and care that they would like to see go forward on this special boat. They had meticulously developed and cared for Quintessa, and it was their desire that we enjoy the boat, care for it, and carry on the same spirit of adventure they had experienced.

When we arrived in Barcelona to take possession of Quintessa, we found that every single detail of the boat was in meticulous shape, as the Knapps had continued to spend the summer making improvements to her already beautiful condition. Then we spent a couple of intense days together as Sara and Bob showed us every detail of that boat and her systems, explaining with great patience (to these two jet-lagged souls) how to care for her so that she would care for us. We traveled to the U.S Consulate (see photo above) to sign and notarize the papers transferring ownership, and then returned to Quintessa to toast the event with cava.

At this point, with only a day left in Barcelona before sailing, and the two of us felt like 19-year-olds at the wheel of a Porsche. What could possibly go wrong? It’s not as bad as it sounds; part of our purchase arrangement was that Bob would accompany us on our first passage and continue the intense orientation. As we sailed to Menorca, we learned many more details about sailing this boat. Bob was very patient as we struggled to remember all of the sequences and routines for each system. After a day in Menorca, we sent him back to Barcelona on the ferry, wondering how we were going to remember and apply all we had just learned in that crash course.

Did I mention yet that cell phones work nearly everywhere in the Med? As we experienced our first days of sailing, John and I would become flummoxed about lines, switches, and furling, toilets, circuits, and refrigeration, and there was Bob on speed dial (well, WhatsApp), patiently re-explaining the systems and routines that we had heard once and couldn’t remember. (How many times did we say, why didn’t I take a picture of how that was rigged?) We are truly grateful for the thoughtful and gracious care taken by Sara and Bob as they passed their amazing Quintessa into our hands.