A little history . . . from Andy Mills

 

I purchased Coh Karek, with a friend, in april 2001 at Lorient. We first saw her whilst on holiday in the late summer of 2000.......I wasnt really looking for a boat at the time as I already had a mk3 Silhouette in Faversham which I was spending most of my time on! We were having a lads week away driving up from spain to St Malo enjoying a break from work when we spotted Coh Karek one morning at a place we didnt intend to visit. The brokerage was closed so we were not even going to have a proper look at her but after a lunch involving too many bottles of wine we decided to take a walk to see if the brokers was open and the rest is history!

 

She was in a bit of a poor state and we were told by the broker that she had been used extensively for racing. She was advertised for 200,000 FF but after many visits and many phone calls we managed to agree a price of 175,000 FF......just under £17 k at the time.....I still have the bank transfer! After frantic searching for a mooring in Portsmouth harbour it was time to go and get her....quite an adventure. I managed to get 3 weeks unpaid leave from work so we loaded the car with all the kit and drove down to Lorient where I left Terry with all the kit to get her ready whilst I drove the car back to Portsmouth and then got the ferry back to France to bring her back.

 

After a couple of days fitting the VHF and making sure all was shipshape we set off for a fantastic couple of weeks sailing involving a trip to le Belle ile , the channel islands and back to Portsmouth......where we proceeded to go aground on the mud at the top of springs less than half a mile from our mooring!!! We kept the boat in portsmouth for 6 years during which time a purchased Terry Phillips share of Coh Karek.

 

During the time I owned Coh Karek I did not carry out any major works to her apart from constant repairs to the old engine, which was well past its use by date. I ended up putting a second hand replacement engine in her about 2004. Late in 2006 I made probably the worst decision of my life and decided to put Coh Karek up for sale.......I still to this day do not know why! I ended up doing a part exchange for a Fairline Mirage, a hideous piece of junk, with a guy from the Isle of Wight and I believe his intention was to refurbish Coh Karek and take her to the Med.....obviously didnt happen!I kept the fairline, which I only used as a floating caravan, for two years before deciding to get rid of it.......its the only boat I have ever owned that I really hated.

 

I was going to have a break from boats but on the day I sold the Fairline a saw advertised a Dufour Arpege 30. I decided to drive down to Poole to take a look and bought it there and then! I now keep Strangely Warmed on the same mooring in Portsmouth Harbour where I kept Coh Karek and am enjoying sailing again. I attach some photos of the boat as she was when we first saw her in Lorient and I also have hundreds more of her during the time I owned her. Looking at the photos on yor website it looks like you have done a wonderful job of restoring her and I hope you are getting as much pleasure from her as I did. Hope to see you out on the Solent some time! Regards Andy