Our boat
Meet Kopelia.
A 1973 Whitby 42 with a white hull, purple canvas, and a story we’re still writing.
An early Whitby.
A new chapter.
Kopelia is hull number 5 of more than 300 Whitby 42s built. Her construction began in November 1972 in Whitby, Ontario, and she first launched in 1973. She is a center-cockpit cutter ketch.
We bought her on August 29, 2020, in Jacksonville, Florida. We thought we were taking on a few months of updating. Four years of rebuilding followed.
Why this boat?
At 42 feet, she offered the space to live aboard while staying within the size Greg felt comfortable handling alone or with Kimber.
Her ketch rig was a big attraction. For Greg, it was the right arrangement for the heavy-weather capability and far-ranging sailing he wanted.
We valued her full keel and the protection around her rudder and propeller. The center cockpit puts us high up, near the widest part of the boat, and makes room for a generous aft cabin.
Our colors
The butterfly
on her bow.
Kimber’s favorite color is purple, and she loves butterflies. Both became part of Kopelia’s identity: white hull, purple trim, sail covers, and a purple hard dodger.
Greg drew the butterfly when we first bought her and painted it on both sides of her forward hull.
Our canvas color is Sunbrella Concord. Greg sent a scrap of that fabric to George Kirby Jr. Paint Co. Inc., who custom-matched the purple paint perfectly. The butterfly is Greg’s own design.
A new beginning
The day we bought her.
Greg and Kimber, at the beginning of our story with Kopelia.