It's good to be sailing again

The morning we head out of a marina after having been settled in for several weeks is always a bit hectic, even if the passage is only across the channel. This morning there was lots to do and remember and we set about our chores as soon as we rose while saying to ourselves all the while “There's no rush. We can take our time. There's no rush at all.” There were all the usual things that have been out and used at the dock or on deck like hoses, extra lines, and buckets to stow. Then there were those items below which needed stowing, like wine glasses and fruit bowls and computers. I wrapped the glasses carefully and tucked them away. The fruit went back in the fridge and the basket went into a locker. I laid out non-skid on the salon table and the computer rested there securely. Fiddles (shelf retainers) were put into place. Plastic crates were secured. Nothing can be left on flat surfaces that can easily land on the floor when an unexpected wave or wake hits us. We made sure all the portholes and hatches were dogged (latched and secured).

David had already refilled propane tanks for cooking and jerry-jugged diesel fuel in for the boat. Fuel jugs stored on deck were secured. Last night we charged every possible device we own while we still had shore power. We filled the water tanks this morning and emptied the trash while a fresh water spigot and trash bins were easily accessible.

Fuel and oil levels were checked and, since we haven't used the boat in awhile, we checked that forward and reverse are working and the steering seemed to be in order. We were backing out of our berth in Cape Town, South Africa one time and the shift handle broke off in David's hand while we were in reverse. Luckily, we were able to back right out of the marina and get some vice grips on the nub of the handle quickly enough to be able to shift into forward again. But since then, we always check...just in case.

Yesterday, we made sure all of our bills were paid at the marina and the chandlery. We said our goodbyes. Though we're staying in the area, I doubt we'll be back here again. Saying goodbyes is always a difficult part of the leaving process. The folks at the Oyster Cove Marina have been very friendly and hospitable to us allowing the free use of cars, trucks and vans … something a bit out of the ordinary and definitely appreciated.

We attached our ensign (US flag) and the Australian courtesy flag and hoisted them.

The last things to go...the electrical hookup to shore power and the docklines. Scott from across the dock came over, said goodbye and handed us our last line. Anne and Ian and the folks at the marina came out on the wharf at the fuel dock and waved goodbye as we backed out of the berth and headed out into the Channel.

Don't get too excited, we're only heading five miles across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel to Bruny Island to a snug little anchorage called The Duckpond. We have to ease into things. All this for a very short ride. But oh my, it's good to be out on the water again.

Chandlery

When I was looking up a boat term the other day, I happened to find a Wiki article about chandleries and it got me to thinking about the origin of so many nautical terms. I thought I'd share this particular one with you because I found it particularly interesting. A chandlery to us is a shop that specializes in boating equipment, gear and parts. We think as large as West Marine and Defender or as small and parts-deprived as Moe's in the Cook Islands. So it was a big surprise to find that a chandlery in medieval times was a room where candles and wax were kept. The chandler was the person responsible for making and stocking the household with candles for its evening light. Chandelier, from Old French, was an early lighting fixture which held many candles. Soap is a by-product of candle-making (unbeknownst to me) and was added to the list of chandler responsibilities evidently when humans finally began to wash. That must have been an interesting day.

As populations and towns and cities grew, commercial enterprises specialized in the sale of soaps and candles...still called chandleries. The larger towns were usually near the sea and the chandlers many times provided stores to big ships. In their efforts to expand their product lines, the chandlers began to offer nautical items to these same ships. These shops became known as ship-chandleries. Other sources suggest that maybe a chandler was a corruption of the word handler, meaning a dealer or purveyor of commercial goods, like a ship's chandler for nautical things or a corn chandler who dealt in corn and seed.

With the advent of gas and electric lights, candles (other than for romance, hurricanes and birthday cakes) went the way of dial-up internet, but the nautical items remained. Boat supply stores are still called chandleries or chandler's shops. The place that sells candles and soap is now called WalMart.

Though we do try to make many things ourselves on the boat like beer, bread and homemade cookies, candle and soap making is not on the list in the foreseeable future.

SPLASH!

After eight days on the hard, we are finally back in the water again. Returning to the water is just as exciting as the haul-out. The Travelift moves into place, encompassing Cups on both sides. The straps are moved into place and take the weight off the supports. The cradle and stands are removed and then the slow process of moving the boat back to the water begins. The distance is very short, but boats are close together and there seem to be all sorts of obstacles in the way that must be avoided. The marina crew here are professional and experienced. They're careful and precise and we appreciate their expertise. Once the lift is lined up with the tracks on either side of the haul-out berth, the driver painstakingly backs up along the tracks maneuvering Cups into place over the water. He lowers the boat into the water, then allows the crew to board over the bow, just as the boat is even with the dock. He lowers her the rest of the way into the water.

Being out of the water introduces some issues of its own. Minor things, but not to be forgotten, like turning on the bilge pump again, opening the thru-hull for the engine intake and burping the prop shaft seal. David also replaced the depth/speed transducer and replaced a stopcock on the forward head thru-hull. All of these things must be checked before the Travelift turns us loose. We have a little checklist because our memories are not what they used to be. Sometimes finding the checklist is an issue unto itself. Long story short, the splash went without incident.

We've moved back to our original slip in the marina. It's just around the breakwater and near the fuel dock. It's pretty easy access and egress which is to our benefit. We usually spend more time at sea than getting into berths and we're sometimes a bit rusty. Cups is all tied up and snug once again, but she kind of resisted heading back into the slip. After all this sprucing up, she's anxious to get out on the water again...as is her crew.

By the way...

We've gotten an increasing number of people wondering how the brew is doing. The brew has aged perfectly and David is now enjoying Australia Pale Ale in the evenings with dinner. The cider was bottled today and takes longer to age. It should be ready just in time for old Saint Nick's visit ... athough we anticipate some quality control sampling necessary along the way.