The other guy denied ownership of Fresh Breeze and I reported living in Nags Head on the Outer Banks employed on a Pipe Line job just doing side work on the boat. After some interrogation, we walked.

I made my way to St. Croix with wife and two young children in 1978 where I was employed at the Oil Refinery there until the mid 80’s. We returned to Virginia and I took part in a Machine Welding shop. At some point the original guy approached me and inquired if I wanted to purchase the boat, which had been seized and sold at auction by the government. I said yes and negotiations began.

My belief is that this guy had a Straw Buyer purchase the boat at auction and he had retaken functional control. I agreed, after inspection, to purchase Fresh Breeze for $30 K., and did so. She was in fairly good condition with new sails and docked in a creek off the Rappahannock River in the Northern Neck of Virginia. I divided my time between running a Machine Shop and work on and sailing Fresh Breeze all over the Chesapeake Bay, Summer and Winter. At some point the Westerbeak engine failed and I continued to sail her, less power for several years. The time to maintain her was increasingly precious and finally I was approached by a guy from the West Coast, Oregon I recall, who wanted to purchase her. We agreed on a price, counted out the cash, handed over a bill of sale and done. I miss that boat to this day! Where she went, I never knew until today when I stumbled on this site. She was a full Iron Keeler and one of my concerns were the Keel Bolts. I guess I assumed she had received proper rebuild including the Bolts or has foundered somewhere as I never again heard about her. I still have a package of documents on her including build data & drawings, Uffa Fox bio and knowledge of Admiral Fisher’s ownership. One of the funny stories in the Bio was the fact that Uffa had a cut down piano installed in the salon and much revelry was conducted therein.