Brian and Dave Mancini of 'Swan'
Thursday the 20th, we had our last Baja Ha Ha party at La Costa restaurant in La Paz complete with awesome Mexican food, authentic dancing and an excellent Mariachi band. What a real treat to watch – those guys have some chops. Then a rock and roll band played for 2 hours singing such varied covers as CCR, Roy Orbison and a darn good Guns and Roses. Over 200 people attended that party and it was a great ending to one adventure and the beginning of the next chapter. That evening we finally met friends who we’d never met….
Brian had been consulting Dave and Rhonda Mancini’s website for 2 years. He religiously followed their blog, soaking up as much information as he could since Swan was a Pacific Seacraft 34 (our same boat). They had gone across the Pacific and back and their story was so inspiring to us: we wanted to be them.
Swan was set up much like Brian wanted to set up our Indigo. And Dave seemed to have the same views on equipment and boat construction as Brian. Eventually, Brian began emailing Dave, asking questions here and there about how and why he installed certain things and getting his thoughts and opinions on our gear choices. Knowing he had years of real-world experience sailing "our boat" made him our expert.
We always wondered if we'd ever get to meet up with them. We knew they were in the Sea of Cortez but had no idea where, it’s a big place you know…. The morning of the party I happened to overhear an incoming call on VHF to another marina from a Dave on ‘Swan’. How many boats are named ‘Swan’ and how many of those would have a Dave on board? Brian quickly called him to see, and lo and behold, it was THE Dave Mancini of the vessel Swan.
Finally connecting at the Ha Ha party that evening was like seeing old friends, despite the fact that we had never met. What a great experience. Their willingness to freely share their extensive sailing knowledge has helped us get to where we are today and are we forever grateful. Later, invited aboard Swan, we were fed delicious tacos and regaled with wondrous tales of the South Pacific, and further inspired. An amazing couple, I hope they write a book about their remarkable accomplishments. View their website/blog and see for yourself.
www.swancruise.com
Brian had been consulting Dave and Rhonda Mancini’s website for 2 years. He religiously followed their blog, soaking up as much information as he could since Swan was a Pacific Seacraft 34 (our same boat). They had gone across the Pacific and back and their story was so inspiring to us: we wanted to be them.
Swan was set up much like Brian wanted to set up our Indigo. And Dave seemed to have the same views on equipment and boat construction as Brian. Eventually, Brian began emailing Dave, asking questions here and there about how and why he installed certain things and getting his thoughts and opinions on our gear choices. Knowing he had years of real-world experience sailing "our boat" made him our expert.
We always wondered if we'd ever get to meet up with them. We knew they were in the Sea of Cortez but had no idea where, it’s a big place you know…. The morning of the party I happened to overhear an incoming call on VHF to another marina from a Dave on ‘Swan’. How many boats are named ‘Swan’ and how many of those would have a Dave on board? Brian quickly called him to see, and lo and behold, it was THE Dave Mancini of the vessel Swan.
Finally connecting at the Ha Ha party that evening was like seeing old friends, despite the fact that we had never met. What a great experience. Their willingness to freely share their extensive sailing knowledge has helped us get to where we are today and are we forever grateful. Later, invited aboard Swan, we were fed delicious tacos and regaled with wondrous tales of the South Pacific, and further inspired. An amazing couple, I hope they write a book about their remarkable accomplishments. View their website/blog and see for yourself.
www.swancruise.com
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