Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2010 | Page 69

social scene

Island Life - August/September 2010

Photos: Stewart pictured 2,000 miles into the
Atlantic - Inset: Not so good weather midday in
the Atlantic

Caribbean jaunt
adventure of a
lifetime for Tara
and Stewart
It began as a pipe dream for East Cowes
husband and wife Stewart McDonald
and Tara Perris, but culminated in an
18-month adventure of a lifetime.
Although both had sailing
backgrounds, neither Stewart nor Tara
really thought they would ever find the
boat, the time or the finances to island
hop around the Caribbean.
Then one day they visited the
Southampton Boat Show and met Mary
Billing who had recently published a
book called ‘Seize the Day’. It explained
how she and her husband had often
put things off, until one day he was
involved in a road accident.
Although he was unhurt, it prompted
a change of attitude. It also proved
a catalyst for Tara and Stewart who
also decided to seize their day. They
searched for the right boat, renovated
it, and then setting off on an amazing
voyage that saw them nearly come
under military attack, get covered in

volcanic ash and battle fierce gales and
massive waves.
“There were times when I just sat on
the boat crying, wondering why we had
done all this in the first place,” Tara
admitted. “But now, looking back, it
was an incredible experience, and yes, I
would definitely do it again!”
Tara and Stewart met in 2002,
married 18 months later, and although
they already owned a 26ft boat, they
accepted it was not quite big enough
for their dream ticket.
A search on the internet eventually
unearthed a Jeanneau Melody boat,
built in 1978, 33ft long, and left
virtually abandoned in the Dominican
Republic after its former French owner
had been robbed at gunpoint near the
Haitian coast.
They made a flying visit to the
Caribbean, discovered a boat with no
mast and in desperate need of TLC –
but decided to take up the challenge.

Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com

It was on sale for 10,000 US dollars,
but they managed to strike a deal
at $8,000, not realising at the time
a replacement mast would virtually
double their expenditure.
“The boat’s previous two owners were
French, and because both Tara and I are
big fans of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ we
decided to name her ‘Mange Tout’,”
smiled Stewart.
Tara continued: “The boat had only
been sitting around three months,
so we thought it must be good, even
though it looked a real mess. We spent
three days taking it apart, and soon
realised it was going to be a massive
project just to get it seaworthy again.
“We hadn’t even started the engine
when we bought it, so we were a bit
crazy, but it was just one of those
things. We had an opportunity, and a
tiny bit of savings, so we felt this was
our big chance to fulfil our dream.”
With all the boat’s documentation still
69