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A Ten Year<br />
Love Affair<br />
BY MISTY MCINTOSH -<br />
OYSTER 435 TAMOURE<br />
It’s a little known fact that, back in the<br />
mid-1980’s, <strong>Oyster</strong> launched a boat that<br />
was nearly human. Her first three owners<br />
didn’t recognise this but when Tamoure<br />
of Lymington came into our lives in 1993<br />
it soon became obvious she was<br />
something special, with feelings, quirks,<br />
little sulky ways - and a great big heart.<br />
I first suspected she was different when<br />
she waited for us from September, when<br />
we discovered her, through till February<br />
when we were in a position to buy her. By<br />
then I had looked at 55 boats – 53 sloops<br />
and two <strong>Oyster</strong> 435s (the other being<br />
Hookey of Hamble, a fast little lady, much<br />
better suited to the experienced Walkers<br />
than us!) I knew Tamoure was the one the<br />
minute we stepped inside, but there were<br />
some obstacles to overcome first: we’d no<br />
experience of ketches, were a tad scared<br />
of the big windows – and the asking price<br />
was outside our budget! Plus the Skipper<br />
was suffering from boat block and was so<br />
confused by all we’d looked at and<br />
rejected, he couldn’t remember a thing<br />
about her and initially didn’t share my<br />
enthusiasm!<br />
16 www.oystermarine.com<br />
Misty McIntosh and Peter Fitch<br />
Tamoure – winner of the Concours d'Elegance at the recent<br />
<strong>Oyster</strong> Regatta in New Zealand Photo: Richard Matthews
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