Trading boats

My maritime journey began with a remarkable little sailboat: a 1980 Swedish gem, the Lynaes 29. I acquired this vessel in Venice, seeking a balance between size and cost, as my budget was as tight as a sailor's knot. I found an ad on Facebook in October while living in Vicenza, a mere 40-minute train ride from the city of canals. The idea of buying a boat sounded crazy to Mattia, so I kept it a secret and left home, saying I was going for a walk. At that time, my sailing experience was non-existent, but passion drove me.

Upon arriving in Venice, the sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts, mixed with the air and sea pollution and the moss of the canals, heralded the Venetian autumn. The marina, shrouded in a thick fog that swallowed the contours of the buildings, creating a mysterious veil over the city, introduced me to Alessia, a kindred spirit who became like a sister. Stepping onto the Lynaes 29, the connection was instant. The cold wood under my fingers, the boat's musty smell, and the certainty that this boat, somehow, was waiting for me. "I'm buying your boat," I declared, to Alessia's and my own astonishment. Luck smiled on me, as the boat was excellent and Alessia, a friend for life. Our days in Venice were a symphony of joy, laughter, and adventures. The mix of excitement and fear when handing over the money, the feeling of embarking on an unknown adventure, the joy of celebrating with Alessia, and the feeling of finding a friend for life. I returned home that night and told Mattia, "I bought a sailboat." He was pleased!

As a business-minded sailor, I return to the central theme. I acquired the Lynaes 29 for 15,000 euros, a sum I handed over in cash, sealing the purchase with a memorable celebration. The Lynaes 29 was a sloop, with a diesel engine and almost no basic navigation equipment. After three or four years, and a thousand miles sailed, I sold the boat for 20,000 euros. With an investment of 4,000 euros and 1,000 euros in earnings, the profit was modest, but the experience, invaluable. The satisfaction of seeing the boat leave, knowing it would take another adventurer to sea. The feeling of nostalgia when remembering the moments lived aboard, the adventures, and the challenges overcome. Today, this boat is in the Canaries, waiting to cross the Atlantic. A friendly, somewhat hippie-like Roman bought the boat, left very happy and with shining eyes. I saw myself in him and he saw himself in me. I still remember the boat, Alessia, and the Roman fondly. I keep them all in my heart.

The second act of this maritime saga was a masterstroke. A Moody 35, a deferred dream of a 90-year-old gentleman, awaited me in Genoa. This gentleman dreamed of doing what we do today, sailing, but waited many years, ended up buying the boat at an advanced age, and had neither the strength nor the motivation to take it traveling around the Mediterranean. The Moody 35 was abandoned, trapped in the marina like a caged dog, desperate to go out and play.

The initial price of 55,000 euros did not intimidate me. With a bold offer of 15,000 euros, and after a tough negotiation, I closed the deal for 17,500 euros. The meeting with him, the conversation about deferred dreams, the feeling of fulfilling someone else's dream, it was very bitter in my head and his. The boat's delivery was strange; I saw in his eyes that he felt he could have realized his dream, but fear did not let him. This is a lesson for all of us! Two months later, I had a doubt and needed to call the gentleman; he had passed away.

The Moody 35 was a robust sailboat, with a 50 hp Perkins engine, sails in good condition, and outdated electronic equipment. With a 10,000 euro investment in renovations, I transformed the Moody 35 into a treasure. We installed new electronic equipment. We had to remove tons of water from the bilge and clean the entire interior of the boat. A deal worthy of a modern pirate! The musty smell of stagnant water that permeated the boat, a testament to years of neglect. The wood creaked under my feet, as if the boat were sighing with relief. The adrenaline of the negotiation, the boldness of the offer, the satisfaction of closing a profitable deal. The mix of satisfaction and anxiety when realizing the boat's potential, and knowing there would be a lot of work ahead. I sold it for 54,000 euros two years later to an Australian actress, a peculiar character, not to say strange. Selling this boat to her was not as pleasant as when I sold my first boat to the Roman. I had no connection with this woman; she was very bitter and tried to trick me. After a few weeks, the Marina in Venice called, asking about this lady; she was also trying to trick them. Luckily, no one was tricked, but I never established contact with this lady, and I have no idea what happened to Fata Morgana. I wish the crazy lady and the boat all the best, anyway!

In two years, we worked and lived on the Fata Morgana, and it provided us with a profit of 26,500 euros from the sale alone, plus many joys, and it was with it that we started Gay Sailing.

We were looking for a third boat, a large boat, as we had a project to start Gay Sailing and would also like to buy something below market price. And, wonderfully, we found an Oceanis 461. Through negotiation, we managed to buy the boat for 60,000 euros, plus maintenance expenses, which were 12,000. Thus, with 72,000 euros, we bought a beautiful boat whose market value today is between 90 and 120 thousand euros. Buying this boat was very different from the first and second. I bought it through a broker I had never seen before, just on the phone. It was the boat of Berlusconi's cousin. Very wealthy people who live in Milan. On the day of the purchase, Berlusconi died, so we never met the owners because they went to the funeral. Instead, we met this mafia-style guy who worked for them. It was another strange transaction.

In life, we must be smart. When buying a boat, I already think that one day I will have to sell it. So, we can't do business like I did the first time with Alessia's boat. The boat must be bought coldly and rationally, if you want to make money or, at least, not lose money. Nothing in life will be ours forever, everything will one day either be destroyed by time or we will sell it or throw it away, or donate it to someone. And that's how a sea hippie managed, little by little, to rise and have a big and beautiful boat.