OnBoard Magazine - Summer 2015

LIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE , it could be said that a yacht’s primary purpose is to get its occupants from point A to point B. However for anyone who has spent time cruising or sailing, they’ve likely discovered that it’s not so much about the destination at times, as it is the journey along the way. The breeze in your hair... The gentle lapping of waves against the hull... Sometimes taking your time is well worth the wait. As such, when this young Navy boy and sailor girl met, their mutual appreciation for cruising quite naturally married into a lifelong hobby, occupation, sport and lifestyle. This is the story of Nick and Christine Worth, partners in all things boating, with decades of wonderful stories and experiences stretching far beyond the scope of this article. A WINDING ROAD Nick Worth joined the U.S. Navy straight out of high school, where he spent the majority of his service stationed at sea in the South Pacific. He gained a great deal of knowledge and expertise in electronics, systems and communications while serving our country in the nineteen sixties. Christine grew up on the Chesapeake in a family of sailors. Together, they first fulfilled their thirst for bluewater by spending summers running sailing charters in the West Indies while their children were out of school for summer break. A succession of Hinckley sailing yachts were their boats of choice for these summertime charter operations, but they eventually decided to sell their beautiful Hinckley 51 for a change of pace, and transitioned into racing. Owning several competitive race designs through the nineties and into the turn of the century including a J-120 and One Design 35, the Worth’s enjoyed sailing overnight distance races such as those from Annapolis to Newport and Fort Lauderdale to Key West. Some of their broader expeditions included excursions to San Francisco and the Great Lakes. However, once they entered their fifties they made the decision to slow down, pull the plug on their racing careers and return to cruising—but this time without the wind assistance. The couple started their powerboating adventures with a Dyer 29 and Duffy 35 before buying a 2011 Sabre 42 Express, which they still enjoy cruising aboard today. A love for sailing and affinity for superior craftsmanship drew the Worth’s to Sabre, a company that like Hinckley, traces their Maine roots to traditional and very highly regarded sailing sloop designs. The Worths’ Sabre 42 is now their fourth boat to bear the name Christine . Mr. Worth jokes, “I had to name the first boat in honor of my wife since she let me CAREER SAILORS EXTEND THEIR CRUISING RÉSUMÉ IN SABRE’S DOWNEAST STYLE S O A K I N G I T I N 9 SUMMER 2015