OK. The current scheme is to leave heading north along the Australian coast around Thursday of next week. We hear it is fantastic up there. Our list of things we are waiting for looks like this;
x Main Sail (received today - and it looks fantastic! see the photos)
Bimini and skirts (for shade) - due tomorrow
EPIRB (safety device that let's the authorities know if we have trouble) - due on Tuesday
This is Andrew from Ultimate Sails fitting our new Main Sail.
When we have finished with the last two items on this list - we will start sailing off beyond the docks. There are more repairs, more work that can be done. It is a boat. For all of you land lovers a boat takes a lot of love. Imagine a fixer-upper house and an old car, floating in salt water. We will do many projects as we travel. Really, we haven't been waiting on anything other than the essentials. Though we have kept busy while at the dock.
We have conquered much of the little rust spots around the boat. We cleaned out the water system today and are quickly figuring out the best place for all objects, making our life aboard a small boat with three people much easier.
Although we are anxious to leave, we are having a great time in Brisbane with our new friends. We were lucky to find a bunch of great folks at Moreton Bay Trailer Yacht Club (it's funny to see "trailer" and "yacht" together, but you can say it with a smirk - so it's OK). There is a BBQ every Wednesday and Friday, almost enough to fill a social calendar of three yanks doing boat work. Thanks to Frank, who lent us charts (water maps) and has generally acted as ambassador to Australia, we have met a bunch of sailors that have cruised all over this region of the globe. We get advice about fixing the boat, commiseration on the bureaucratic hurdles, and great stories about traveling, Australia, and anything else that might come up.
This is Craig demonstrating our "vang" (the thingy that pulls the sail down and helps us sail better). It isn't usually made out of old car parts, but it is plenty strong enough.
2 comments:
nicely done! the new main is smokin hot. you guys are gonna do great. remember, make a list of all the hundreds of tasks you have to do. then pick the top 5 things, and try to do them. let the rest just sit there - they're not that important and if you fix those things, new repairs will just take their place on the list. set a day to leave, and, barring major catastrophes or breakdowns, make a dock neighbor hold you to your leave date. ask them to come and untie your lines no matter what you say. kind of like a sponsor. it works. and let's face it, as long as the darn thing is floating and has steerage, you are doing jes' fine. keep us the good work! hugs, UTE
Hi Craig, Evvy and Dave. You're practically on the move -- fantastic! I'll be following your adventure, so keep the stories coming. Love the pics.
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