In 2003 it became apparent to my family and I that we had missed the boat, pun intended.  At some point in our lives, we had failed to capture the quintessential necessities of maintaining an enduring happiness. Although we had found contentment in steadily progressing careers, a stable family with two recent additions, and of course the standard retirement portfolio… we seemed to still be lacking the zeal of a life filled with memories created from adventures of our own coupled with quality family time.  Our lives were not holistic, and we desperately wanted to fill a growing void.  My profession had already taken us around the world, having returned from Korea in 2002, with a follow on assignment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 and 3, we decided that now was the time to fill that void.  With earnest I began my search for the memories of my youth.  My father and mother are avid sailors, and I longed for the breath of fresh air that only the water and wind can provide.  Although reared on the more conventional Bermudian sloops, the classic tales of ocean lore drove me to find a vessel of more… “Antique lines.”  Before long I had found her, the Friendship Sloop.  Perhaps, in my humble opinion, the prettiest vessel man has ever made, we instantly fell in love.  It took quite some time before we were able to find one we could afford, but soon become the proud owners of “The Dolphin,” originally owned by Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, or E. Falmouth, MA.  She was built in 1977 by Jarvis Newman and Chase, with a fiberglass molding hull number 13 created by Jarvis Nemwan.  She was of the 25 foot Pemaquid II Group, Friendship Sloop Society Sale Number 178… and I loved her.  Upon our initial inspection in Boston, I vowed to care for her until the end of my days, tending to her needs mare faithfully than an overzealous father. This then, is her story.