An Introduction

Thought I'd share the highs and lows of owing a small yacht.

Buying Cupido
I bought her 'acidentally' on eBay! We had been considering buying a small yacht and saw her on eBay so put in a bid expecting it to be beaten by several hundred pounds as the current bid was close to my maximum with several days to go, but it just sat there and non one else bid. I was in a state of shock when I announce to my wife that I'd just bought a boat. Luckily she's quite understanding and trusts me not to go mad with the finances.

I think she's a good buy sailed her all last year having done very little to her - needs a bit of TLC as she had a bump in her former life (changed her name to hopefully change her luck). This year it needs new standing rigging and the outboard looked at. I'll also try and replace the depth sounder and add a log to her equipment list.


Cupido: to desire, wish, long for, desire
When thinking of a name for our new boat we hit on the idea of naming it after a butterfly and the barge we hired for our honeymoon was named after a butterfly - Small Copper. The name is taken for the Latin for a Small Blue butterfly Cupido Minimus, as Cupido is a small blue boat it seemed approiate but too long, so after checking the meaning of cupido in a latin dictionary we settled for that.

Bradwell 18
Cupido was made in 1980 in Maldon Essex - more details on a Bradwell 18 can be found here