Here’s an inspiring story by an adventurous 20-year-old college student who took the opportunity provided by her university’s pandemic lockdown to buy an old 30-foot cruisuing boat, completely refit it and then sailed it from Maryland to Florida and back.
The boat was a derelict steel sloop that needed new everything, from the engine to all of the hardware, electronics, pumps, head, sails and rigging. Her name is Kelsey and she did most of the work herself with the able assistance of father who is an experienced boat owner. She named her sloop Little Wing.
Kelsey bought the boat in early summer and by the time she had it in seaworthy condition, December and cold north winds had rolled around. But, that didn’t stop her. Kelsey and a friend set off and worked their way down the East Coast, mostly in the Intracoastal Waterway.
They took their time and had plenty of adventures large and small and several boat issues that needed repairs. Still, the two young women figured it out, got things repaired and carried on.
Along the way, Kelsey met a young man named Nic and the two clicked. What started as an adventure was now turning into the beginnings of a love story.
