John Rice
When Ricki Lee Hagen announced he was selling Grendel, his Lord Nelson wooden boat, little did he know that he’d be making someone else’s dreams come true.
“For a long time, I’ve thought about wanting to be a sailboat captain,” said John Rice, the new owner of Grendel and Lord Nelson Charters. “I grew up in Kansas City near Lake Jacomo and my brothers and sisters and I used to go sailing with my dad.
“He liked to race, and times on the boat while racing proved to be too intense, my dad eventually stopped racing and preferred more relaxed sailing outings with the family. We went sailing nearly every weekend, so much that I used to think ‘do we have to go sailing again?’ ”
At age 7 Rice was already single-handing, and by age 16 he was sailing a 26-foot Chrysler on Truman Lake. When he moved to California during his college days, he often sailed in the Pacific, even sailing out to Catalina Island, and became comfortable with ocean sailing.
In early 2000, he and his wife Barbara moved east to northeast Georgia to follow his job in IT services. The couple settled in Cumming and he continued to sail on Lake Lanier.
“Over the years, I’ve owned other sailboats including a Viking 28 and now my current boat, a Catalina 25 that I purchased locally.”
One day last spring, Rice was looking on Craig’s List just, well, you know the way boaters do: just seeing what was out there.
“I saw the perfect boat – just what I’d been looking for,” he said. “Ricki Lee Hagen had decided to sell Grendel, his 37-foot wooden cutter, along with his business, Lord Nelson Charters. I didn’t really need a boat; I already had a sailboat, but now I own two.”
Still, he didn’t hesitate. He purchased Lord Nelson Charters Ltd. and Grendel.
Since then, Rice has been busy taking guests out for sunset cruises, witnessing several marriage proposals and an onboard wedding. Guests who sailed with Hagen over the decades continue to come back for anniversaries, birthdays, full-moon sails and other experiences.
Grendel sailing at sunset.
He is keeping the business name “Lord Nelson Charters,” along with the website, Facebook page and phone numbers. She will continue to be docked at Aqualand Marina in Flowery Branch.
“People get so excited when they see her and when they step onto the deck,” he said. “I love sharing her with people, seeing their faces when they feel a breeze on their faces and experience time on such a classic sailboat.”
Rice said he plans to change Grendel’s name, something to reflect his personal relationship with the boat.
“I’m renaming her ‘In Paradise,’ because when I’m sailing I’m in Paradise. It’s my happy place.
“She is such a beautiful vessel and a perfect way to spend my retirement, when I retire,” he said with a smile. “For more than 30 years, I pictured my ideal job as a sailboat captain. And now I say, ‘why wait for retirement? I’m living my dream now.’ ”
For more info about Lord Nelson Charters visit lordnelsoncharters.com or call 770 271-1888.
Photos: courtesy Lord Nelson Charters.
