We're excited to announce that Abilyn Racing is now Abilyn Sailing! We've made the change for the 2017 season and beyond to better reflect our sailing goals. While we haven't lost the itch to race, racing for us is--and always has been--only a small part of what makes sailing an essential component of our lives. (See, e.g., 9 years of bareboat charter sailing through Sunsail.)
In the coming season and beyond, we hope to focus our time for sailing not just on racing, but also cruising and adventuring with family and friends, exploring ports near and far, and teaching the next generation to love the water and to appreciate and respect the raw power and intrinsic beauty of the ocean.
With those changes in mind, the MIni may be taking a breather, potentially giving way to a new vessel that also will bear the Abilyn mark, which has undergone a bit of a makeover during the off-season. However, we can't stomach the idea of the Mini wasting the season chained to her mooring ball or laying high and dry in the yard. So, if she is not sold to the next intrepid sailor, we hope to charter her to those determined to take the next step in their sailing careers. We've already had productive conversations with two sailors who hope to train and qualify for, and compete in the singlehanded Mini Transat race, and who want to use the Mini as a platform for their development. Passion is addictive, and we want to take part in helping others to achieve their sailing dreams.
Stay tuned for more stories, photos, and video chronicling the life and journey of Abilyn. To start, check out our new Gear page, where we highlight the brands, providers, and boat yards that we've relied upon to help us sail farther and faster.
And see you out on the water (just after we recover from Tuesday's blizzard).