Every once in a while you meet very special people. It’s hard to put your fingers on exactly what it is. You just feel it: these folks are next level.

Over the past few days we had just that experience with Lynne and Jeff, the current owners of JACE.

Karin and I both have a thing for high integrity, for warmth, for selflessness, and for generosity. And these two are off the charts on all of those attributes.

The kinship we feel with them for our passion for sailing and our personal stories is one thing: same age, two kids just out of the house, taking a risk and changing up their lives. Besides, Jeff could literally be my brother when it comes to level of organization. In fact, I have met my master in him.

What puts it over the edge, though, is how they deal with us in the context of the sale of JACE. Not only did they take exceptional care of her. But the openness and warmth with which they welcome us aboard, with which they share everything they know and learned about her with us, taking countless hours of their time – we are speechless. Not to mention the boundless generosity with which they share and gift to us so much of the equipment aboard without ever asking for a penny. And the honesty with which they disclose some of JACE’s issues and unquestioningly organize and cover the cost of repairs to “get JACE in perfect shape for you” – just incredible people!

We are inspired and feel drawn to them. Tonight we meet for a celebratory dinner at a nice restaurant followed by a live band performance at a local bar. We have a genuinely great time, chat and laugh the entire time. Saying goodbye is actually sad and we truly hope to meet them again someday.

If you’d seen us, you’d have thought we are old friends. Maybe we are new ones. We would love that.

And we will take even better care of JACE to honor their efforts and example.