Narrative: Looking for a new boat, Part III Date: 17 May 2006 Characters: Antonin Dolohov, Morag Macdougal Dolohova Location: Heading out around the world Private/Public: Private Rating: PG Warnings: Shopping for big toys Summary: Antonin and Morag are looking for a new boat
Antonin and Morag had continued around the world in an easterly direction. Their next stop was Indonesia, where sailing craft had been built in a certain fashion by local craftsmen for generations. Antonin liked the workmanship, and Morag liked the Oriental look to the all-wood construction. After taking out a 30-meter schooner for a day, they looked over plans for a Phinisi which could be built from local woods. It was tempting, but Antonin was a bit apprehensive as to how the tropical design would fair in the cold waters around England.
It was in Seattle, Washington, in the United States that they found the Rhea, built in Denmark just after the turn of the last century of heavy oak construction. Although Morag didn't care for the red canvas of the sails, Antonin pronounced her 'almost perfect'. He liked the accommodations and the sail plan. His only problem was with the size of the galley - not really suited to the sort of entertaining they both liked to do.
But the broker in Seattle put them in touch with a broker in Bremerton, who put them in touch with a broker in Calais, France at the Paradise Yacht Basin... Morag grumbled quietly while Antonin chatted happily on the telephone in fluent French, and after obtaining the permission of the Seattle broker received several pictures over something Antonin called the internet, while cautioning Morag to use no magic or she would somehow upset the computer thing that he was looking at. Mostly, Morag was miffed that Antonin seemed so comfortable using this muggle technology stuff, and she knew so little about it - for now, she told herself... just for now. Antonin would just have to teach her how all those things worked.
So they were off to Calais, France, where they found the Brigantine, Jean de la Lune, a little bigger then the Rhea, and a lot more heavily built. To Antonin's delight, there was a real galley, and the deckhouse could seat around twenty people for a meal. The pilothouse full of muggle electronics made Antonin chuckle and Morag grumble again, but climbing down the ladder to the private captain's quarters cheered her up somewhat. The size of the bar in the main salon helped, too, as did the fact that even she could see where double or larger berths could be fitted in some of the cabins. An overnight sail in the Channel, Morag happy to see she could loft even the mainsail herself using the block-and-tackle rig, and they were decided that Jean de la Lune would be their home for a while. They tied up again in the Paradise Basin, and Antonin gave the yardmaster instructions about the few modifications they wanted. Shouldering their seabags one last time, they headed up the dock to find a private place to portkey back to Hogsmeade.