The crew

Murielle

I am born in Brittany, in Brest, with that genetic particularity that gives me a natural call to the sea. I may also blame my Gaelic genes for my “slightly” stubborn and rough temper.

I am a dreamer and I am passionate, I take interest in everything.
In our team, I am the creative mind with a mix of technological and artistic sense. I am not afraid of hard work and need to keep my hands busy; my hands and mind need to create.

I did my schooling in mechanical engineering technologies; learning to design and fabricate. Of course this background has provided me assets and confidence in this boat building adventure.

I have been passionate about boats and loved sailing as far as I can remember. I was sailing with my parents before I could walk and started dinghie sailing before I started school. 
That intense passion for traditional boats hit me in 1992 during the Brest Tall Ship festivities. While I had always felt an attraction for old rigs, it is then that I truly fell in love.

While life with dogs is not practical to pair with a passion for boats and life on the water , the relationship I have with my dogs is also a big part of who I am.


Mark

Don’t all the best nautical stories involve a French/British duplicity? Mark will say he is Canadian as he was born and grew up in Ontario but it’s always fun to tease over our opposing origins.

Mark is our glass half full man. With Mark the sky seems never too high, the water never too deep.
I may have done a lot of the work on the boat but it would have never happened if Mark did not make me believe I could. 

Water is Marks natural element and sailing was an early devotion. He started windsurfing in his youth and evolved into high level competition.

Mark in his element

Mark did his electrical engineering degree in Ottawa, where he also started dreaming of life on a sailboat and world travels. He was living on his 26 foot Contessa, ready to leave for greater adventures…. when we crossed path…. and the dream took a twist.

Mark is an engineer right through his core. No decision is taken without a full understanding of the problem; pros and cons are evaluated; all solution analysed and information research is thorough. This project without Mark would be a ship without a rudder or sails.  


The four legged bunch

Marley

Marley (2006-2019) was my bouviers des flandres puppy. She has been our property guard dog and my first harness dog partner. Marley was my sidekick and the pillar of the pack for most of Mimi Jane’s construction.



M’opus and M.E.Fhast

Those two come as a pair, often referred to as the pointer sisters. Very sweet and lovable, they are also very energetic dogs that need to run… a lot. They are sprint racing sled-dogs and there job has been is to keep us fit.

Both girls are now retired from racing. To fill in there spare time they volunteer as therapy dogs in nursing homes. Spreading love and smiles is an other one of there natural talent. M’Opus using the clown approach and M.e.Fhast with a sweet cuddling style.

Mr Eden

Mr Eden is our latest crew member as he joined us summer 2018. Eden has been my grand-mother trusting companion for the past 8 years and, as it was time for him to retire from his functions, he made the trip from France to Canada to come live with us. 

We have gave time for Eden to adjust to his new life and eventually he also certified as a therapy dog. He is a pro at sharing cuddles.

Maggie (2017-2022)

Meet the Captain! Maggie arrived on a cold night in February 2017. She owned the crew from the minute she set a paw on deck. 

We were certain she was going to rock the boat life but life took a different spin. The day before Mimi Jane was to be launched I noticed Maggie was having difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, masses were found in Maggie’s lungs and we had to say goodbye. It was a hard loss at a time when there was already such a mix of strong emotions.

Maggie wasn’t with us for as long as we wished but she ruled the house yard and shop. To us she will always be the shipyards captain.

Murphy (2009-2021)

Murphy is the 2009 miraculous kitten. Marley found this abandoned 2 week old kitten and wouldn’t leave it. I honestly did not think this tiny rat could make it, but Murphy grew into this gorgeous giant and oh so sweet cat.

He was a gentle giant, troubled by his being cat to the core but wanting to be dog.


The gone by not forgotten

Moon


In the fall of 2007 we had to say goodbye to our old dog Moon. Moon and I were together when we met Mark and she spent 11 years by my side. Moon was with us through  the construction of our little schooner, the Marie Ty and lived aboard 2 years. Moon accompanied me through the end of teenage and all of my young adulthood, I dearly miss this girl. She was my protector, my companion and my best friend.
Moon was the one dog in a lifetime.

The original crew

Mack-a-Pousse

Mack’s actual name was Mackerel, but as I would call her “Sac a puces” (flea bag) which, with Mark’s english touch became “Mack-a-Pousse”. Mack was one of those rare love at first sight story. In her cage at the humane society our eyes crossed and I adored this cat. Second guessing getting a cat on the boat (we were living on the Marie Ty), I left. Mark called me fool and told me to go get the little girl. It was a 17 year love story and, like Moon, Mack was the one cat of a lifetime.

Marvin

Even though Marvin only spent a couple years with us, I had time to develop a very special relationship with this boy. There are dog like that which can change you, in very little time.

2 Comments

  1. Jay Greer Yacht Design

    You are an amazing as well as delightful bunch! Your boat makes me think of Pete Cullier. Please keep me posted with your adventures and dreams.
    Aloha Mahalo
    Jay

    • Thanks Jay, I do think also that I have a delightful bunch by my side 🙂 I will definitely keep updating the website and even try to be a little more regular at it. I do also have a facebook page for the boat “Dundee Mimi Jane” where I post more day to day insights in our work with the boat. Cheers, Murielle

Leave a Reply to Murielle_O Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *