FUBAR Odyssey: Presented by San Diego Yacht Club and Mexico Tourism Board

SUNBREAK

BOAT NAME: Sunbreak BOAT TYPE: Ocean Alexander Classico 65 SKIPPER: David Emery EXPERIENCE: 50 Years BUILT: 2004 PURCHASED: 2009
FAVORITE DESTINATION: Central America - San Blas Islands, Panama Mexico - Midrift Islands, Sea of Cortez British Columbia - Gulf Islands and the Broughtons
FAVORITE BOATING EXPERIENCE: Cruising British Columbia provided the widest variety of things to see, places to go and people to meet. The wildlife and beautiful islands offer unique opportunities found nowhere else. We plan to make this area our summer destination each year and perhaps our year round destination during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
ABOUT THE CREW: Dave and Leslie are both retired, and now cruise full time. We purchased Sunbreak in February 2009 in Tampa, Florida and decided to experience the Panama Canal first hand and most of the better stops along the way back to San Diego. After 8,500 miles, we have gotten to know the boat pretty well and have met many fellow cruisers along the way. Our other crew members, John and Heidi Bollinger, are very special friends and extremely experienced cruisers. We met them in Mexico and since, our paths have crossed many times. Like us, they made the transition from sail to power. They have ventured much further however, and now spend their summers on an 85 foot river barge in France. John had to obtain a French Captains License to operate the vessel on rivers in France. John and Heidi continue to maintain their home in Madison, Wisconsin and their waterfront home in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. John and Heidi have cruised for over 50 years in the Northwest, Great Lakes, North Atlantic and along Mexico’s Gold Coast.
WHAT'S IN A NAME: "SUNBREAK" Having lived in Portland for 9 years, we got accustomed to weather forecasters improving one’s outlook by forecasting a "sunbreak". Leslie and I wanted to continue this pleasurable event by naming our boat sunbreak.
REASON FOR PURCHASING THIS BOAT: We looked at many powerboats over a three year period and attended several Passage Maker Conferences on the west coast, east coast and Great Lakes. We were under contract with five boats of various makes and models which in and of themselves created a valuable learning experience. The bottom line is never allow a broker and a fancy brochure sell you a boat. The "classico pilot house design" soon became our choice and finally the Ocean Alexander topped our list. We have not been disappointed.
PREVIOUS BOATS OWNED: Our previous boats were all sailboats.
INTEREST IN THE FUBAR ODYSSEY: All the crew has fond memories of boat rendezvous over the years. It is a terrific experience to meet the cruisers and participate in the bonding that comes from joint activity. We wanted to go on the first FUBAR and we were not able. We did follow all the FUBAR activities and we know SDYC will orchestrate a memorable event like the first FUBAR.
BOATING STORY: As we were crossing the river bar on our way up to Las Barillas Marina in El Salvador, we missed the optimum slack tide crossing and found ourselves sliding sideways and on our side down the backside of 13 foot standing breaking waves. It was an experience we will never forget and we learned the importance of timing for a slack tide regardless of guide boat recommendations.