Archie purchased his sailboat Betty Ann in 2003 in Florida, where she was built. Betty Ann is an Island Packet 485, a 51-foot sailboat with a center-cockpit layout and a cutter rig (meaning rigged with a mainsail, jenny, and staysail). She feels extraordinarily solid, which is a comfort when you are miles off shore in rough weather.

Main salon

Betty Ann’s interior is incredibly spacious. The main salon has two berths, a navigation station, a fold-down dining table, and a galley kitchen. There are double beds in both the aft and fore cabins, and bunk beds in a crew cabin. The storage area of the lazaret is the size of a big walk-in closet, at least if you are 3’6″.

On family cruises, we have slept up to eight people pretty comfortably. For the trips to Florida, where you may be cooped up on the boat for several consecutive days, the Captain and five crew members are the maximum capacity.

Forward cabin (aka the Queen’s Quarters)

Betty Ann is also outfitted with furling mainsail and jenny, electronic winches, and chart plotter. The cockpit is surrounded by a canvas bimini with plexiglass sides. When I first sailed on her, I felt like we were cheating, protected from the elements by the canvas cocoon and spoiled by all the electronic equipment. But now, having woken for many watches at 2:00 a.m. on a cold morning, the comfort and ease of Betty Ann is much appreciated.

Galley

Captain’s aft cabin

Crew quarters

Navigation station

The original Betty Ann