A Family’s First Yacht, Rediscovered 25 Years Later

A few days ago, my older brother sent a link to our family group chat with a simple message: “Recognise this?”

As soon as I opened it, I realised it was a listing of the first yacht our family ever owned, more than 25 years ago. A 1999 Young 88 with a striking blue hull, unforgettably named Hanky Panky.

She was the yacht that, apart from my dad, introduced our whole family to sailing, sparked a lifelong passion for being on the water and, in many ways, played a part in where I find myself today as a yacht broker.

Our first-ever sailing experience aboard Hanky Panky was a baptism of fire.

Our family of five set off on an idyllic Saturday morning to join a cruising race bound for Rangitoto Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. Sunny skies, flat water and a gentle breeze made for the perfect introduction to sailing. We all thought this new sailing thing was pretty awesome.

Unfortunately, unbeknownst to us, it was the calm before the storm.

We anchored in a sheltered bay and spent the afternoon and evening enjoying the typical cruising activities. The next morning, we woke to grey skies and an uneasy feeling. After keeping an eye on the forecast for most of the day, Dad decided the weather wasn’t going to get any better, so we’d better head home in time for school the next morning.

The moment we left the shelter of the island, we were met with 20 knots directly on the nose, two-metre short, steep seas and driving rain. Not long after, the reef points in the mainsail tore out, forcing us to drop the main altogether. Reduced to a small headsail, Dad started the engine to help us speed up the headway.

About halfway home, things deteriorated further.

The wind climbed to 40 knots, three-metre green waves were breaking over the boat, and visibility dropped to barely 100 metres. With the boat heeled so heavily, the saildrive’s water intake regularly came clear of the water, causing the engine to overheat. This resulted in a pool of hot green coolant sloshing around in the cabin sole. My six-year-old sister and I, only four at the time, clung to the saloon table leg, absolutely terrified, while Mum, equally frightened herself, tried her best to reassure us. Meanwhile, my older brother appeared blissfully unaware of the situation, perched up on the rail, enthusiastically calling the breaking waves for Dad to steer over.

Hours later, we finally reached the shelter of the marina. Mum and kids thoroughly shaken, Dad thoroughly relieved, although probably just as nervous about the grilling he was bound to get from Mum once we got home.

As brokers, we spend a lot of time talking about specifications, maintenance history, upgrades and market value. Those details matter, but every now and then it’s worth remembering that behind every listing is a much bigger story.

Our family’s time with Hanky Panky was only one chapter in her life. We weren’t her first owners, and we certainly weren’t her last. Yet for us, she was the boat on which a lifelong passion began, where confidence was built, lessons were learned, and good and bad times were had that remain so vivid decades later. Looking through the listing all these years on, it was comforting to see how well she’d been cared for. New owners, new country, new home, new name—but the same old memories.

It reminded me that we never really own these boats. We’re simply the custodians of one chapter in their story. We care for them, create our own memories aboard, and then eventually pass them on for someone else to do the same.

Seeing our family’s first boat again was more than a nostalgic moment. It was a reminder that while our time with these boats is temporary, the stories they carry endure. And for me, it’s a reminder of why I enjoy this industry: not just because we sell boats, but because we have the privilege of helping the next chapter begin.

– Luke Holliday

Luke Holliday

Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Luke has spent most of his life on the water, cruising and racing around the North Island on family-owned keelers and fishing boats.

Now settled in the eastern beaches of Sydney, you will be able to find Luke out on the water, surfing, kiting, windsurfing, foiling, and of course sailing. He hopes to transfer his experience at sea and passion for all things marine to helping people find their own slice of enjoyment out on the water.

The Young 88 is a legendary keel boat designed by Jim Young.  Launched originally in 1981, and with over 150 built, they were known as fast family cruisers and continue to have a strong following today. Read more about how the history of the Young 88 here.