A New Chapter: Welcoming My 1992 Catalina Capri 18

There are moments in sailing that feel less like decisions and more like gentle nudges from the universe. Buying my own boat has always lived somewhere between a dream and a long-term plan, something I would “eventually” do when the timing felt right. Turns out, the timing became right on a sunny afternoon in November.

I am now the proud owner of a 1992 Catalina Capri 18.

She is charming, capable, and full of potential, the kind of boat that invites slow learning, quiet confidence, and easy joy. She is exactly the sort of sailboat that makes you imagine crisp mornings on calm water, coffee in hand, and warm afternoon breezes that remind you why you fell in love with sailing in the first place. In other words, she fits perfectly into The Snail Sailor way of moving through the world.

I bought her from Kathy Baldwin, who not only cared deeply for this Capri but offered me an incredible deal that felt like a gift more than a transaction. Kathy passed along knowledge, stories, and a sense of stewardship that made everything feel meaningful. We even sailed the boat together during Eugene Women’s Weekend, ending with a smooth, exciting return to the dock that made both of us smile. We worked well together on the water, and in that shared moment I felt the simple magic of two sailors connected by a boat, a breeze, and a story.

This boat did not enter my life alone. Michael helped drive her from Eugene to Bend and shared in the excitement of bringing her home. Glenn met us at the club and helped take the mast down, handling the tricky parts with the calm confidence sailors rely on in each other. The whole process felt like community in motion, and I am grateful for every hand that carried this moment forward.

Once we got her home, we discovered something both funny and perfectly on brand. She fits in the garage. Well… barely. As in, a few inches of clearance and a slow, careful guide-in. It is almost a rite of passage for small-boat owners, squeezing your new pride and joy into a space that technically works, as long as you move at the slow and steady speed of, well, a Snailor. It is safe to say she is tucked in, cozy, and waiting for adventure.

Right now, she does not have a new name. I am taking my time with that because names matter, especially for boats that will carry pieces of your life in them. She already feels like a companion, and I want to listen for who she is before I make anything official. Her current name is Mackenzie Rose, after Kathy’s granddaughter.

As for where we will sail first, Elk Lake is the current front runner. The thought of a little Capri gliding across high mountain water with the Cascades watching from every angle feels like magic waiting to happen. Nothing is set in stone yet, but the idea alone already makes me excited.

This boat means a lot of things to me. Freedom. Adventure. A quiet place to practice the skills I have been building for years. A chance to grow as a skipper and a sailor. A big step in confidence. A reminder that slow and steady movement toward your dreams eventually carries you exactly where you were meant to go.

I am not sure yet what memories she and I will collect together, but I already know she is the right boat at the right time. A gentle next chapter in a story that keeps unfolding in ways I could never predict but always appreciate.

Here’s to new beginnings, new water, and the quiet joy of finding your next boat. I cannot wait to see where she carries me.

Slow and steady wins the race.