It’s a tortured tale. Many moons ago my parents, two brothers and myself sailed to Bermuda and back from Norfolk, VA in a C&C 34, Elan (all of Dad’s boats were so named). Those night watches were wonderful blasting along through the galaxy with an echo of stars in the trailing phosphorescence stirred by Elan’s wake. Upon landfall at St. George’s Custom House a Mini Transat had tied to the quay also. The skipper was only a few years older. His small boat adventure struck a chord. I was enthralled.

Years later I met Mike Plant of Coyote fame at the U.S. Boat Show in Annapolis. (We used to attend religiously. It was a festival. Now it’s a log jam of awkward and over the top catamarans.) Mike’s boat then was Imagine. He graciously gave me a tour. I bought his tee shirt. Still treasure it. Mike was about to sail east for that year’s Open 60 race. Solo ocean sailing is perhaps the most macho of sports. You, the boat and mental toughness must endure that indifferent sea for long spells. Tragically Mike was lost at sea some years later. Coyote was found turtled. Her bulb keel was missing.

As life moved on, sailing and thinking about sailing were always near. Four babies and two cruising boats later I was looking to downsize. The children were spreading their wings and solo sailing a 42’ boat was no longer a fit. I had met the designer Dudley Dix. His sport boat the Didi Mini was an immediate flashback to Bermuda, Plant and those insane boats. Perhaps fortunately, our garage was too small for a build. UNA came instead, an act I’ll never regret. Still, there were those other boats …

This past winter I may have had too much time by the fire with my puppy and iPad. One evening up popped an image of what I perceived to be a mini-mini transat at 18 feet, the i550 (not a real name I admit. I would give her one). It is a sport boat and dinghy racer. The old fever comes back. Memories of sailing Moths and Lasers push too. Talking to dozens of owners/builders didn’t help. I was convinced this boat could be adapted to dinghy cruising and offered many advantages. Speed, beam, lifting keel (yes there is a bulb), small cabin and shrouds for hanging on! Rory in Texas had just finished a build and decided he wasn’t a sailor. His patience was amazing as I asked hundreds of questions over several calls. Eventually a deal was struck and we made the exchange in Nashville, TN, a day’s drive.

I thoroughly love the boat and am making loads of modifications, mostly in detail for cruising. The list will have to wait. I can say that Finch is solid and fast! Thank you Rory-