OCEAN READY

Mike and Nicki Reynolds have been cruising almost full-time for 15 years. Finding the time and the money for regular refits is the key

- MIKE REYNOLDS

Zen Again is our Yamazaki Yachts Stinger 34 1980s IOR ¾ tonner. She's gorgeous. She has a deep fin keel, strong skeg-hung rudder and tall masthead cutter rig. She displaces under 5,000kg naked and 6,000kg clad for cruising. She's a member of our family.

When we met her in 2010 she'd already had two long-term cruisy Japanese relationships circumnavigating South America and touring the South Pacific, two racy Australian boyfriends and one brief relationship that ended in an arrest for drug running.

We have logged 65,000 miles together over 16 years, including seven ocean crossings. Despite being small and light she has looked after us very well. In return we have looked after her, investing in numerous refits along the way.

Our relationship with Zen Again is a love story. We've had our ups and downs but we've survived and thrived. We like to think her parents - designer Ken Hayashi and builder Yamazaki Yachts - approve of us. Likewise we hope her previous owners (except the drug runners) approve of us, as we do of them.

Preparing a boat for blue-water life together can seem a daunting task. But when complete - including living together for a while - you will know her very well indeed. You'll understand her, her maintenance needs and most of her idiosyncrasies. You'll understand her strong points and her weak points. You'll love her, and if you don't, then we recommend divorce. Accept that you will never completely understand her - she will surprise. And accept too that the work is never done - constant investment is the key to keeping the love story alive.