How I bought a catamaran…

Of course, it all started with a dream. I was about six years old when my older brother invited the whole family to a yacht club for a weekend yacht trip. We rode on a Polish-made Cormorant yacht. Now I understand that it's a tiny yacht, but then... for me it was a Ship! Of course, they wouldn't let me drive. But when we anchored in the middle of the lake to swim, I grabbed the tiller and began to shift it from side to side. The yacht was being pulled by the wind at anchor, and it seemed to me that it was my steering movements that made it move.

That's how the dream of owning your own sail came. In the hard nineties, it almost disappeared. And then it gradually began to get stronger and grow.

I knew perfectly well that simply buying a yacht wasn't a tricky business. And it's not very expensive (if we talk about a small and not new yacht). But where to keep it? Where to serve? How to protect? All this is solvable. But it requires considerable expenses. No wonder the British have a saying: "A yacht is a hole in the sea surrounded by a tree, into which you have to constantly throw money."

Back in school, I came across Peregudov's book "Tourist collapsible sailing ships". It described the designs of homemade catamarans and trimarans that can be stored simply on shelves in an apartment and transported even by public transport.

Here's the solution! But there was a problem — it was necessary to make such a boat yourself. And it's not about crooked hands. It's just that during the Soviet Union, most of the materials could be found simply in the trash. And now all this had to be bought for a lot of money and at the risk of spoiling it.

Once, during another exacerbation of childhood dreams, I searched the Internet for new designs of homemade boats. And by chance I came across a forum where commercial designs of collapsible sailing catamarans produced in Ukraine were discussed.

It was a bit of a shock — you can just buy a dream sailboat, pick up the sheet and tiller, and then there's just water and wind!

But it took several more years before the dream came true. During this time, a lot of books, websites, and forums have been reread. Prices, specifications, designs, and reviews were compared.

And still, the dream remained a dream. There were always problems that required costs to solve. And there weren't enough funds for everything.

By that time, I had become a merchant seaman. Earnings gradually grew. And finally, the dream turned into action. The most interesting thing is that I was on a flight at that time and was somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

But the Internet has already penetrated even there. So I contacted one of the Ukrainian catamaran manufacturers. We selflessly discussed the characteristics and equipment of the future boat. And then I mentioned that I was about ten thousand kilometers from Ukraine. And despite the assurances that the order would be placed upon my return, I was, of course, mistaken for another dreamer who would forget about these conversations in a few days.

That flight turned out to be a very long one. For nine whole months. And all this time I literally saw my sailboat.

Immediately after returning home, the catamaran order was placed, a partial prepayment was made, and the waiting period began.

During the preliminary discussion of the order, I described the lakes of the Danube region so enthusiastically that the owner of the production (his name is Alexey) wanted to visit there and announced that he would bring the finished catamaran himself for free. And I had to organize the rides.

Time passed. And impatience grew. I placed the order in early June, and I expected to receive the finished catamaran by mid-summer. But August was already beginning. The manufacturer periodically pleased with photos of individual elements, but I already wanted the result. And the season was rapidly ending. Anyway, I was getting nervous.

And suddenly — hooray — the good news! My cat is coming to me!

Preparations for the meeting have begun. The location of the first descent has been determined. Naturally, on the lovely Yalpug Lake since childhood. The day before the expected meeting, meat for a barbecue, wine and a bottle of champagne were purchased — traditions must be observed at the first descent.

The day of "H" is coming. I've been talking to Alexey since this morning — he's already in Odessa. There's not much time left to wait. However, the Odessa-Reni road does not allow you to drive fast. But anyway, it's coming soon!

And suddenly the connection disappears. Alexey's phone is out of the access area. A disaster!

The connection appears only by lunchtime the next day. Alexey had some problems in Odessa. The problems have been solved, and he is already on his way to Izmail.

Late in the evening, I ride my motorcycle to the outskirts of the city to meet Alexei and escort him to the hotel.

A long-awaited meeting. Acquaintance. Alexey came with his wife.

Due to the delay in Odessa, plans have to be changed - Alexey can no longer stay for a full rest. The next day, we plan to go to the lake, assemble the catamaran, take a short ride, disassemble, and that's it.…

I'm escorting the guests to the hotel. There's a funny situation going on there. Our girls stayed outside, and Alexey and I went to the reception to book a room. Alexey is tired from a long journey, and I am unshaven and with a motorcycle helmet in my hands. The receptionist, not understanding the situation, offered a double room with separate beds. Alexey reasonably remarked that he would be satisfied with a double bed. The girl was attacked by tetanus... about ten seconds later, the piquancy of the situation reached me, and I explained that my friend would live here with his wife, and I was just a guide.

Alexey and I had our reputations saved, and the girl was released.…

We wish each other a good night and leave.

Early rising in the morning. And finally, we go to the lake.

It's done! The champagne is uncorked, the catamaran is watered. At the same time, the name is given — the Siren.

The first exit showed that I was not mistaken in my expectations. There were five of us on the catamaran, but it wasn't crowded at all. The cat quickly gained speed and maneuvered perfectly. Even though there was an inexperienced helmsman at the helm. There was nothing to measure the maximum speed, but it was really fast.

Of course, now I notice some design flaws. But this is completely normal. Gradually, everything will be completed and redone. By the way, it sometimes takes several years to fine-tune a large yacht.