One year after Island Roamer was launched by Cooper Yachts near Vancouver, BC, they launched a sister ship named “Summertime”. The year was 1984. The 70’ motor-sailor had been commissioned by a hotelier from Victoria, BC as his private yacht with dreams of sailing around the world. Few expenses were spared during construction and the entire yacht built to the A1+ standard of the American Bureau of Shipping. But plans changed and within a year the yacht was sold to a fellow in California, occasionally running charters out to the Catalina Islands.
Ten years later, “Summertime” was sold to a Venezuelan bank president, and the Caribbean was now home waters and a professional crew lived onboard and maintained her. In 2002, Alzheimer’s had struck the father, and the family felt the need to sell her again.
Bluewater naturalist, Kitty Lloyd’s husband saw her advertised for sale in a yachting magazine. She called long-time Bluewater Captain, Chris Tulloch who brought the ad into the Bluewater office, placing it in front of owner and director, Randy Burke. He waited for Randy to make the telephone call. He knew Randy had been looking for the right opportunity to expand the business; and nothing could be an easier fit than the identical sister-ship.
With great anticipation tickets to Fort Lauderdale were purchased. But maintenance had become lackluster. To upgrade basic systems to Bluewater standards was going to take a lot of work, and Transport Canada would require a major safety upgrade for fire prevention and watertight integrity. This was going to be a million-dollar project and a big risk for the small company. But the bank was prepared to offer a mortgage and the purchase was completed.
“Summertime” was loaded on top of a freighter for passage to Ensenada, Mexico. Bluewater Captain, Ian Giles then sailed her up the Pacific Coast to British Columbia – back to where she was built.
There were 7 months before the 2003 season started. In that time, all the aft cabins were reconfigured, all electrical wiring and rigging replaced, new zodiacs purchased. When the first charter group came aboard in May, the fibreglass had hardly set on the new water tanks. It was an incredible example of “can do” and Chris Tulloch, Ian Giles and Neil Shearar were key to its success.
The same Victoria hotelier had continued to name all his subsequent boats “Summertime”, and the name was not available in British Columbia. So, to recognize the sister-ship connection with “Island Roamer” and the nature of our trips, she became “Island Odyssey”.
It is now 11 years later, and the “Odyssey” has proven herself a tremendous success. She has allowed Bluewater to expand the number of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) and Great Bear Rainforest trips we offer and introduce new programs like the North Coast / Khutzeymateen.
~ Copied from archived Bluewater Adventures’ Print Newsletter (Spring 2014).
