The Spanish Stroll, our 31’ Southern Cross, hull number 59, was factory finished in 1978. She had three previous owners who all took great care of her and made many improvements. They just didn't get around to sailing her very much. That all changed when we purchased her in 1999.
We had owned power boats for over 30 years and spent a lot of time fishing and diving with our three children off the coast of California. Catalina Island was one of our favorite destinations. We could get there and back (23 miles) with fuel to spare. We didn't know what we were missing until we met Connie and Joe and their beautiful little boat, the Yatahey, a 27' Norsea. After the four of us spent a two week vacation cruising the Channel Islands, we realized how much we love to sail and were eager to expand our cruising grounds.
Almost immediately, we started looking for a sailboat of our own. We attended more boat shows than ever, improved our internet connection, read every sailing magazine and book available and grilled all the sailors in our marina. After two years of researching full keel, double enders, yacht broker Charlotte Schmidt drove us by the Southern Cross 31 she had just listed. It was love at first sight!
Although it was her good looks that first grabbed us, we found her to be extremely well built with all the attributes we were looking for. The quality of her design and construction have since been proven to us over and over. She has taken us through some incredible storms far from any help, where our survival depended entirely on her. When things really get bad we turn her to the wind and go below. It is not our skills that have brought us through but those of her designer and builders.
In December 2004, after our first eight month season of sailing in the South Pacific, we arrived in Opua, New Zealand with literally hundreds of other yachts. The crossing left many boats pretty beat up. Fellow cruisers were dealing with projects such as removing leaky teak decks, replacing broken rudder shafts and shot generators. Nearly everyone had fouled fuel and water tanks. We were not totally immune and had to remove our cap rail to repair a leak, but in general these problems do not exist in the Southern Cross 31. Easy access to our tanks enables us to clean them ourselves saving a lot of grief and expense. Her fiberglass coach roof is trouble free. The simplicity of tiller steering avoids many potential troubles and we couldn't find room for a generator.
One final thought. Had we gone for a more expensive, newer or larger yacht, we'd still be back in California going to work everyday. Instead, we're writing this message to you from Savusavu, Fiji as the Spanish Stroll takes us on the cruise of a lifetime.
Best regards,
Jim and Barb McConn
S/V Spanish Stroll