We purchased Cinghiale ("charging boar" in Italian) from Marty and Pat Sandler, mainly because it was in the best maintained Grand Banks of any vintage that we'd laid eyes on.  We renamed her 'Tis, after the entire text of the last chapter of Angela's Ashes.

 

Peter's winter of 2005-2006 was spent learning as much about a diesel-powered boat as possible, including the recommissioning routine.  Marty was a huge help during this time, exhibiting a patience well above and beyond a previous owner's call to duty in answering all of Peter's questions.

 

On May 27, one month before Peter was due to retire from teaching, he suffered a stroke.  On May 28, with Charlotte's blessing, he decided to make his main shortterm goal in life the preparation of 'Tis for transit to the Chesapeake.  On July 27 'Tis was relaunched at Willis Marine in Huntington, LI.  On July 30, with a lot of help form our friends, she made the transit from Huntington to Wilson Cove, Norwalk, CT. 

 

 

After 4 days on a guest mooring at Norwalk Y.C. (thanks, Scott), we took her up the Norwalk River to United Marine, where she lay for a month-plus while Peter, with help from Ried, worked on her some more.  We are totally indebted to Paul and Michael Tomko for making available their dock during our stay.

 

'Tis got underway again on September 15, to pick up a mooring at Rowayton Y.C.  We spent most of the next month enjoying her, getting used to her, and entertaining friends on day cruises around the Norwalk Islands.

Finally it was time to go.  We took off on Saturday, October 9, on the tail end of a nor'easter, for the Chesapeake. 

 

We made Harris Creek, 'Tis' new home, in seven days, via Hell Gate, New York harbor, Sandy Hook, the New Jersey Intracoastal, Delaware Bay and the C & D Canal.  'Tis is home.