Mercer 44 Spirit

She was Mercer Reinforced Plastics' 6th and final 44 build in 1962. She was initially owned by Jacabo L. Cabassa as was named Jolie Madame. After winning a number of races in the Key Biscayne area, Jolie Madame was sold and renamed Blue Petrel. Then she was donated to International Oceanographic Foundation of the University of Miami, who sold her to Bill Caldwell. Bill renamed her Spirit, painted her transome red, white and blue, and sailed her far and wide. Spirit is now owned by Floyd Hollister and his wife Ellen Messick of Houston, TX and the Chesapeake Bay. They had the boat in the Annapolis area for a few years and have recently moved further south on the Chesapeake to the Piankatank River.

The above plaque is from Spirit, the sixth hull from Mercer Reinforced Plastics Corporation (MRP). MRP put a chrome-plated bronze plaque on their Mercers to identify the model, hull, and year. The dimension are 4" x 1.75". When Floyd and Ellen bought Spirit, the plaque was attached by epoxy outside on the starboard side of the companionway. Floyd had the plaque rechromed so it looks brand new.

Floyd and Ellen have sailed Spirit south to the Bahamas during the winter of 2001 and had such a great time in the Exumas that they are returning there this winter. While in George Town, a cruising couple from Toms River, NJ recognized their Mercer 44 and came over for a chat. They knew Jack English, owner of the first Mercer 44, named Shadow, now Aurora Rosina). The couple mentioned that the name "Mercer" came from the name Mercer County where Mercer Reinforced Plastics was located in Trenton, NJ.

There are current (2/2002) cruising in Florida. They have had such a leisurely time that they've not gotten over to the Bahamas yet.

Below is a picture of Spirit from Winter 2001 in Staniel Cay (East of Thunderball Grotto), Exumas, Bahamas. Doesn't she look great! Looking forward to getting more pictures of her up here soon.

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