About That Cover Photo … “Call of the Siren”

This month’s Latitude 38 magazine cover features Doug Saxe and his Farallon 29, Quark. Following is Doug’s story of his South Pacific adventures aboard this 45- (or thereabouts) year-old boat.

The siren’s call is irresistible. She beckons from afar with a charm that causes all reason and logic to fall aside. I’m drawn to her as if by a higher power. This is the call of Quark, my love, my muse. I found her as I’d left her, all tucked in tight at Marina de Papeete. She spent her “winter” patiently waiting for me while the people of Papeete enjoyed her beauty at the quay as they strolled, biked, and ran on the scenic promenade.

Upon my return, I found all was well with the boat. No leaks, no mold, no problems. The docklines will need to be replaced, but that’s expected. The wake from the ferries causes all the boats on this dock to dance crazily, tugging at their lines as if trying to break free.

Just a few projects to complete and Quark and I will be out on the islands again, anchored in a breezy lagoon. I’ll miss living downtown with all of the convenience of restaurants and grocery stores. On the other hand, it’s nice to have the contrast of remote anchorages nearby. Variety is the spice of life. This is why I’ve chosen to be a commuter cruiser rather than live aboard for several years while crossing the Pacific. It’s nice that Tahiti is convenient to the West Coast of the USA by an eight-hour nonstop flight — no more difficult than getting down to a boat in Mexico. And surprisingly, Marina de Papeete is less expensive than Puerto Vallarta marinas. Who would have thought that to be the case?

That reminds me: Dave Case! The guy who inspired it all. Shout-out to Dave for all that Quark continues to be, 45 years later. (Editor’s Note — Quark was built in Oakland in the ’70s from a bare hull and deck by Dave and his wife Vicki. They chronicled the build and a 14,000-mile voyage around the Pacific in Dave’s book Sailin’ South.) She has remarkable durability. She’s as well put-together as she has ever been and with little sign of wear, a testament to her initial build. She is, after all, on her third lap of the Pacific. Maybe she’ll even find her way to the Indian Ocean someday.

Continue reading in the June issue.