Cat Ballou Inc started as a way to get my family more involved in my passion, sailing. Small children, generally speaking women, and folks inclined to motion sickness, don't do well on the water, much less on open water ocean voyages. Family punishment was going sailing with Dad on our 38' Swan "Passion". A beautifully restored 1976 Nautor Swan built in Finland and designed by Sparkman and Stephens. Arguably one of the finest examples of an offshore mono hull ever built. My passion and their nemesis. Quitting sailing was not an option, but if I wanted the company of my family, the vehicle had to change.

We said good bye to "Passion". The first couple that looked at her bought her. She brought 50% more money in 1997 than she sold for new in 1976. The decision was made by all of us that a catamaran would be our next boat. We did our research, narrowed the field down to three manufactures and went to the Miami boat show the following February. The Catana's stood above the crowd. They are light, fast, stable, well-designed, and have a great interior finish. We had decided on our next boat.

Used Catana's are hard to come by. With the help of David Renoff of Yacht Finders/Wind Seekers in San Diego, (a great yacht broker), we found a boat at a good price in San Martin. We all went to San Martin, had her surveyed, and then delivered to Trinidad for the Hurricane season, where she was up on the hard from July until January 1998. Then, the next big adventure - getting her home.

January 1999 we showed up in Trinidad, all six of us. Family, friends, and the world's best catamaran skipper, Michael Rochart. Off we went from Trinidad, along the coast of Venezuela, to Bonaire, Aruba, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and then home. Two and half months bringing her home. It all seems like a blur now.

Along the way home we decided to start Cat Ballou Inc. An attempt to mix business and pleasure. Sailing and business consulting. It has been interesting and challenging. Our other business, Business Development Systems LLC is a national consulting firm with offices in Sacramento, San Diego and Atlanta. We have been using Cat Ballou for corporate retreats since the summer of 2000. It has turned out to be a great venue for business consulting, strategic planning, team building, and bonding. Compelling enough, that several of our national clients use Cat Ballou for their quarterly meetings as well as client meetings. We are expanding our ports of call to Mexico this year (Puerto Vallarta).

Whether your needs are for corporate services or personal adventures, we like to think we do among the best in both arenas. We would be happy to show you the boat, talk with you on the phone, or let you speak with our clients if you are interested in an adventure on Cat Ballou.

May the wind always be at your back and the sun smiling on your face,