Vessel History

Originally ordered and built in 1967 for well-known San Francisco Bay area yachtsman John Merrill, ALEGRE was launched with numerous custom features and was locally campaigned along with well-known sailmakers Jim Dewitt and Peter Sutter until 1977.

Delivered to Newport Beach ALEGRE was sold by Ardell Yacht & Ship broker Henry Garcia to Frank and Martha True of San Diego Yacht Club. Renamed PELAGOS, she was cruised in and around Southern California including the Channel Islands and made one voyage to Mexico as far south as Manzanillo. In 1992 Doug Weber of Newport Beach purchased the vessel renaming her LAI HOLOKAI and over a seven-year period completely refit and outfitted her for long-distance cruising. LH departed for Mexico in 1999 and cruised between La Paz, Puerto Vallarta, and south to Barra de Navidad then headed out to Hawaii from Cabo San Lucas in 2000. LH cruised the entire Hawaiian Islands for a year then sailed back to the Pacific Northwest in 2001. She was trucked from Seattle, WA to Cape Cod, MA in 2003 and cruised in the Buzzard's Bay area before being trucked back to San Diego, CA in 2009. She cruised Southern California waters and was eventually sailed back to San Francisco Bay in May 2015. 

In 2019 LH was purchased by Oliver Petzold for the purpose of cruising Mexico. He sailed her to San Diego and then on to Mexico as part of the 2019 Baja Ha Ha fleet. Mr. Petzold continued to cruise the Sea of Cortez and Mainland Mexico through the spring of 2021. Due to a change in personal circumstances he sold LH in August of 2021 to her current owner, Ty Katibah. Lai Holokai continues to sail the Sea of Cortez and beyond.