2002 dawns and finds us in the process of moving house twice in a short period, so Dixie has been effectively abandoned in the Harbour compound at Wells. Actually it's probably safer there because of the geese that are loose in there. We've had no real opportunity to visit until late March, when she was checked over and a list of jobs made. Launching day will be April 17th, so time off work before that has been booked for the anti fouling etc.
Suddenly realised that Ships Radio Licence has expired. Did we get a renewal notice? If so did I lose it, or send it? If I sent it where's the new licence disc? Did that go missing in the great pre-moving clearout? Phoned Radio Communications Agency, who promise to check whether it's been renewed or not.
Radio licence has been renewed and arrived in post two days later.
Tuesday morning at the boat compound. Lots of lovely black antifoul goes on. Filthy job but someone has to do it. Battery back in, still just a clunk from the starter. Removed Dynastart from engine. Faulty earth connection cleaned up and everything back together. Now turns over a treat. Quick fire up to make sure it's going, but no coolant ashore so stopped it straight away. Lines and fenders prepared for craning in in the morning.
Wednesday morning on the quay. Bob (now promoted to Harbour Master, congratulations) has been working for ages getting boats lined up on the quay ready for the crane. All the boats that can be moved from the compound have been moved, so we start at the compound where there is now room for the crane to get in. In go the bigger boats. One nice old wooden boat leaks as they do, but that soon takes up and stops leaking quite so badly. Next boat won't start, so the local engineer is soon down and fixing it.
With all these out of the way, we're back to the quay, where one comes out onto a lorry and the rest go in. Mast craning next. At this point the only real disaster of the day occured where somebody let go of a mast before the shrouds were in place. Cracked the masthead down on the quay and broke a few bits. Also managed to stab my finger on an untaped split pin on the same boat. Ouch. But by the time all this is done the tide is going back out again so it's too late to move some of the boats to their moorings. Left them, including Dixie, moored along the quay wall ready for Bob to put them on their moorings tomorrow. Finally lowered the new pontoon into place outside the harbour office, so now there is easier access for visitors and such.
And just for a change the weather these last three days has been nice and sunny without too much wind and no rain.
All in all a good few days. Got to know more of the local sailors, which is normally quite difficult to do if you live some way away and only see them on their boats as you pass each other.
Now waiting for the weekend so we can get our mast up and everything
squared away for some serious sailing. Hope to join in some of the cruises
this year to neighbouring harbours, all being well.
Now Dixie is back in the compound at Wells, waiting for next year. More time should be available for sailing, now that we've more or less settled in our new place, which is closer to Wells, which means trips to the boat can occur on nice evenings as well as weekends.
We shall see what 2003 brings, but we expect our experience level to
climb to newer heights.