Robin Lee Graham's former sailboat "The Return of Dove"
 

http://www.alohacouple.com/Fullspecs10014.htm

Robin Lee Graham inspired more people to leave the mundane land-life
behind and travel the oceans more than any other human this century or
the last. And he did it by sailing around the world alone at the age of
16. He set out from San Pedro, California, on July 27, 1965 aboard
"Little Dove" a 24 foot Lapworth sloop, and returned nearly five years
later in an Allied Luders 33 he named Return of Dove, but
affectionately referred to as "Big Dove." In his "must read" book,
aptly named Dove, Robin writes with the utmost honesty of depression,
sleepless nights, overpowering seas, two dismastings, bazillions of
stars, tropical islands, spectacular reefs, and countless adventures
including meeting his wife to be, Patti, in Fiji. Pattie hitched rides
on airplanes and steamers to meet him at his ports of call and they
were married in South Africa. Theirs is a true "love story."

National Geographic magazine commissioned Robin to keep a record
(pictures and journal) of his trip and upon arriving in Barbados, he
used the money to buy "Big Dove" in which he completed his
circumnavigation in April 1968. He had sold "Little Dove" and sadly she
was lost in the Virgin Islands during hurricane Marilyn in 1995.
Although world renowned Dove is a true piece of maritime history and
listed in Ships of the World: An Historical Encyclopedia, Brits Mark
and Beverly Langley searched for years before finally tracking her down
on the hard on the big island of Hawaii in 2000. They lovingly restored
her and cruised the Hawaiian Islands before "life" changed their plans
to circumnavigate. Try the Langley's website at
http://groups.msn.com/ReturnofDove/returnofdove.msnw to learn more
about Dove's history, restoration, etc. Dove is now listed for sale by
Aloha Yachts in Hawaii for $29,500. (The famous table alone is probably
worth that amount as a collectible.) She can be seen on Robby and
Lorraine Coleman's website www.alohacouple.com. Or call 808 676-5848

"Little Dove"

Below you note "...and sadly she [Little Dove; Robin Lee Graham's original Lapworth 24 Sailboat]
was lost in the Virgin Islands during hurricane Marilyn in 1995."

I've read this a lot, but can't seem to locate her last owner or the details of how and where she went down.

Would really like to verify this and speak with his last owner - I bleive Charles LastNameUnknown.

Here's what I've found besides the
many, many links about the book, copies of the book and the about
the movie - "Dove."

http://www.bluemoment.com/dove.html

Has a good long piece about "Dove and Robin's voyage from ...
The Schoolboy Circumnavigator
[Text from Don Holm's 'The Circumnavigators' , ch. 34]


http://www.jarogers.com/dove2.htm

Jim Roger's has some excellent photographs of "Dove" at anchor in
the harbor at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

http://www.usvi.net/usvi/mari/boats.html

Has a list of boats damaged in the USVI in 1995 by Hurricane Marilyn
and it lists two named Dove, one is listed as a 24 foot Blue Clmbia
whose vessel status is unknown, but crew member named Charles
is "Ok."

BOAT NAME BOAT STATUS CREW STATUS
Dove Damaged Ok
Dove (24'Blue Clmbia) ? Ok(Charles)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Lee_Graham
says...
The Boats - Big Dove and Little Dove
Robin started his journey on the original Dove (Little Dove) a 24
foot Lapworth sloop. On reaching the caribbean Dove was replaced by
The Return of Dove (Big Dove) a 33 foot Allied Luders sloop.
Dove sank in Hurricane Marilyn in 1995.
The Return of Dove was found in Hawaii by Mark and Beverly Langley
in 2000. They restored her in 2001. She was sold again in 2004 and
is believed to be still in Hawaii.

http://groups.msn.com/ReturnofDove/t...ourmonths.msnw

Mark & Beverly have a great MSN groups home page with photos and
info about buying, fixing up, sailing and recently selling "Big
Dove."

If you know the details of how and where DOVE; "Little Dove" went down - or her final resting place and where the remains can be found. Please contact me.

Thanks.

Jorge Rodriguez
Indianapolis, IN.
jr at saabaa dot com

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