Who Are Those Guys?

By Marcia Peck

Most of the time it is hard enough for a couple to just make a marriage work, but to build a boat together and still stay married is a real achievement. Our hats are off to Kay Rudiger-Ames and Jeff Ames, who have done just that!

Kay's sailing resume includes cruising the South Pacific, racing on many boats, and becoming the leader of The Corinthian Women's sailing seminars, for which she became the only female CYC Sailor of the Year. She has mastered navigation, and always dreamed of "sailing away with the man of her dreams." Magically, Jeff materialized.

Living in Seattle, Jeff started sailing in Puget Sound around l978. He bought his first boat in l987, a Pearson 30. A few years later, he decided to move to San Francisco, and started looking for crew to help sail his boat to the bay area. He decided to call Latitude 38 to place an ad for crew, and ironically, Kay answered the phone. She helped him with his ad, and when he made it to S.F., he drove to Latitude 38, and met Kay face to face. He asked her for a date on the spot. She had a deadline with Latitude, and said she would get back to him. She did, and they left for Costa Rica on his Pearson two months later. They ran out of money, and only made it to Puerto Vallarta, but they have been together ever since.

Seven years ago, Jeff and Kay acquired the "shall we say, 'remains'", of their Freya 39. They just christened her on their wedding anniversary, August 31, 2001, after a complete, and I do mean, COMPLETE, restoration. The boat was so trashed when they got her, even her sails had burned up in the Oakland fire! However, with Jeff, a building contractor, in charge, a miraculous transformation took place. Every spare minute and every last dollar they had has gone into their boat. Everyone who has seen the fully rebuilt, Native, will attest to the incredible job they have done. She is a completely new boat, even better than when she was first launched. With gleaming hardware, exquisite appointments, and a very happy couple, she can cruise the oceans of the world and will be Jeff and Kay's "home to roam."

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