I have acquired the former “MEI LING”, a Mariner 40 with Hull # 89 from Joe Savino at West Greenwich, RI in April 2011. I believe I am the third owner of this boat. She is being registered in the Port of Toronto, Canada with a new name: “BALATON” The boat has been on dry for about five years and now she is undergoing some upgrade before being launched in Summer 2012. Future plans include some extensive cruising on the Pacific Ocean with a destination to The Philippines. As we will launch, I will certainly have some pictures of her posted. At the present time, I have only those pictures that we needed to provide to Transport Canada for having been able to fly the Canadian Flag. With the purchase of this boat, a life long dream of mine may come true and I am looking forward to be part of the Mariner’s community.

It is about 12 months later of the above writings, I am progressing with the refit and now, BALATON is launched and floating in Wickford, Rhode Island. However, I am very much behind with the work, I had a list of 100 work items and now, about 80 items are finished. Maybe two months to go plus the shake down sailing tests. The originally scheduled October 2012 departure has been changed to April, 2013. The cruising plan has also been slightly modified to sail the South Pacific with a final destination of the Philippines, around 2014.

Attached are a few pictures with the present status. and motoring to the marina after launch.

Best regards,

Nicholas Barwig