“We day sail nearly every summer day and weekend aboard in nearby harbors often.“
Fandango, Quickstep 21’
Interview with the Captain – Monty Morris
About the Boat
How did you come to find/locate her before purchasing (and what’s the boat’s history if you know it)?
My wife Betsy and I moved to Marblehead in January of 1967 and almost immediately bought a Townie (Hull #12). As our family grew, then grew up, we had many sailboats from 16’ to 39’. SALSA was the 39’ Gulf Star; we lived on her for over five years, sailing from Newfoundland to South America, with hundreds of glorious and interesting harbors in between. Those adventures ranged from having a boa constrictor on board in Guatemala’s Rio Dulce, to being dismasted in a raging storm off Nicaragua, to making lifelong friends in the international boating community. We’ve also initiated boat exchanges in Wales, Scotland, and Brazil.
We kept SALSA in the FL Keys for many years after that cruising adventure. Needing something to sail in New England, we bought FANDANGO, a sweet 21’ Quickstep sloop (also Hull #12!).
What features/improvements have you added or do you plan to add?
We added a camping ice chest and a stove and were good to go.
What are the features you like most about your boat?
The 21’ Quickstep is a centerboard boat, easy to get on/off a trailer.
Do you belong to a yacht club or other boating/sailing organizations?
We’ve never belonged to a yacht club, preferring to row out to our boat; our club is the international community of sailors. Betsy writes for SAIL Magazine, teaches sailing through the National Women’s Sailing Association, and is a member of Women Who Sail; those wonderful organizations are often our sources of information about places to sail, repairs or enhancements to make, sailing books to read, and other sailors’ adventures.
What boats have you previously owned?
Townie, Gulf Star
How do you typically use your boat over the summer, and where do you go?
We day sail nearly every summer day and weekend aboard in nearby harbors often. We’ve trailed FANDANGO here and there, including for a week’s cruise in RI’s Narragansett Bay. She can sleep four (but who would?), and has a head.
What is the biggest challenge you have in servicing your boat?
It’s easy to maintain, and so far, we’ve able to take care of the boat ourselves, with the exception of having it hauled by and stored at Marblehead’s Little Harbor Marina.
What’s the story behind the boat’s name?
Because SALSA was named for a wild and crazy dance, we thought this boat should be too. (The 1849s danced the fandango as they crossed the Sierras on their way to the California gold rush).
Click the gallery below for more photos and information about Fandango!
