top of page

In search of DE38 Ketch "Vixen II"

You may ask who is Vixen II? Good question, I want to know as well.

She was built by Down East Yachts of Santa Ana California USA in October 1976, probably sold by Ventura Yacht Sales Inc. she may have been moored at Ventura Yacht Club and is believed to have had three owners between 1976 and 2001.

She was registered with the Californian Department of Motor Vehicles and that's all we know.

I have recently emailed Ventura Yacht club to see if any of their long term members might remember her or perhaps the marina manager may have records of a berth.

I've also contacted US Coast Guard and California Dept of Motor Vehicles as they keep registration records which may provide a clue.

I'm told owner No.3 was an aircraft engineer from the mid west who would stay on her when in LA and he is now deceased. I believe he had planned on extended cruising on Vixen II just before he died.

So why would I want to know all this? I already have a DE38 Ketch right! It's true and Vixen II is Tondelayo that's why. She was renamed in 2001 by her then owner Andrew Cleveland.

I realise it's a long shot, not unlike sending a message in a bottle but who knows, there might just be someone out there that can enlighten me and share their adventures from "back in the day" and I will put them on the web site Tondelayo.com to share with the world.

UPDATE AS AT 24/11/2015

I have just received an Abstract of Title from US Coast Guard which shows me the names of the owners before Andrew Cleveland;

Emery Erwin Volk (deceased) and Karen Marie Volk (nee Wentzel)

IF ANYONE KNOWS KAREN OR ANY RELATIVES WHO MAY REMEMBER VIXEN II PLEASE CONTACT ME.

bottom of page