Didi 40cr in the Rocky Mountains

Bill Connor and his family have been causing quite a stir in the suburbs of Boulder, Colorado, snow-skiing mecca in the Rocky Mountains. The neighbours have also been rallying around their project, a 40ft cruiser/racer sailboat to our Didi 40cr design. Few people expect to see a mast like his sticking up from among the houses and trees so far from the ocean. Now they are getting close to launch date and are making plans to move their new boat, "Alizée", to her ocean environment. She will be trucked the 2000 miles to Mystic in Connecticut, where she will be launched and do her sea trials, before being exhibited at the Wooden Boat Show at Mystic Seaport the last weekend of June.

"Alizée" on her trailer, being readied for her long road trip.

I have only seen her in photos and those show that "Alizée" has been built to a very nice standard. Her finishes are high quality and they have been very tastefully done. Despite the distance of their home and building site from the ocean, the Connor family are not strangers to sailing and the oceans, they are experienced boat owners and offshore sailors in their previous boats. This time Bill wanted to create his own custom performance boat rather than buying a stock production boat.


This pic shows the very high standard of finish, not your average amateur project.

Looking forward from the galley. Simply gorgeous. Easy handholds for rough water.

Nicely appointed sea-going galley, snug, practical and everything accessible.

This was the start, with son Spencer helping to fit the keel.

This is the bigger sister to "Black Cat" but finished to a much higher standard than the basic lightweight racing finish that I used when building her. Bill has shown just how beautifully a boat like this can be finished. Come and see her at Mystic Seaport, at the Wooden Boat Show 24-26 June. We will be there as well, so you can speak to us about this and other designs at our booth in the main tent.

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