We acquired Encore II in December 1999.  She had been built in 1992 in South Africa as a semi-custom design of Angelos Lavranos, for an architect who was the commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club in Durban (South Africa).  Originally named "Centime", she is 56 feet long and expressly intended for blue water cruising in some of the heaviest conditions of the world on the east coast of Africa.  At the same time, she was raced and can compete favorably with most boats in her class.

Before sailing her to the Abacos in the Bahamas, in February 2000, we had a number of modifications made and upgrades performed.  This included changing the ways certain lines were led back to the cockpit for easier shorthanded sailing, adding some electric powered winches, and increasing our comfort with some air conditioning and a water maker.

For the next two years Encore II was based at Man-O-War marina near Marsh Harbour in the Abacos.  In 2002 we took her back to Ft. Lauderdale for a more extensive refit.  We had already started to plan our next world cruise, and knew what we wanted to have done.  This time the refit was more extensive, with all new working sails, upgraded radar systems and electronics, refinishing the hull (now blue instead of white) and decks, all new leather upholstery below and canvas above, and refinishing the interior floors, woodwork and trim.  We even installed a new stove and microwave.

Over Christmas vacation, our family sailed Encore II from the Abacos down to Antigua, where she has been based ever since, at Jolly Harbour marina.  We've continued to undertake projects to further her for our next world cruise, including 12 new batteries, a new 8kW diesel generator set, and most recently, a complete upgrade to her autopilot system

The following links include photos from cruises aboard Encore II in the Bahamas, and the Caribbean, including the islands of St. Maarten, St. Barts, and Guadeloupe.  Included is a slide show of our passage from the Abacos to Antigua, photos from Antigua with highlights of the sailboats from several years of Antigua Sailing Week and Classic Sail Week.

Sailing Week is the last week of April each year, and has hundreds of race boats from around the Caribbean, the USA and Europe for one of the most famous racing events of the year.  Classic Sail week precedes Sailing Week and features boats up to 100 years old, famous J boats such as Endeavor, tall ships, and modern replicas of classic boats.

Our logbook now includes our second crossing of the Pacific and extended cruising along the coast of Australia.  Encore II is now scheduled to return to Ft. Lauderdale in early 2008 where we hope to cruise the East Coast of the USA.