Loads of B's

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 3 Feb 2015 23:57
The Big, Broken, Bather, Brave and a Beautiful Sunset
 
 
 
 
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We heard on the morning Net that a very big girl was in the bay for a brief visit. Standing on the back of Beez – hard to tell. Off in Baby Beez to get some bread we would take a closer look.
 
 
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Getting closer, yes – this girl is big.
 
 
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We passed by Hemisphere, the world’s biggest catamaran. There are many articles, blogs and advertisements on the web about this lady, take a look dear reader, for us – the decor is not to our taste but they do have eighty two more films than us...........
Her vital statistics are:
  • Length: 146 feet
  • Width: 54 feet 
  • Mast height: 191 feet
  • Draft: 9 feet
  • Hull material: Aluminium
  • Displacement: 500 tonnes
  • Speed: 13 knots under engine power
  • Guest cabins: Five state rooms
  • Crew cabins: One captain's cabin and three double cabins
  • Charter cost: £172,900 per week – plus food, drink and fuel.........

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    We had just settled at the dinghy dock when a sad tow passed very slowly.
     
     
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    The broken remains of a wooden sailing lady – she was over a hundred years old.
     
     
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    Next, up popped a pied shag. I’m still trying to work out why, after spending so long underwater, this chap came up and promptly bathed. He did stay in a smite too long as take off didn’t really happen, he made it just out of the water but it was an awful struggle. He gave in, flopped back into the water and paddled over to the end of Q dock. Once safely on the side he gave his armpits a good sniff and all was well. Time for a thorough drying session.
     
     
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    The lead in the tow vessel above gave a circuit and both aboard gave cheery waves. Julie standing is very worthy of a mention.
     
     
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    Julie built every square inch of our impressive neighbour, Blazing Shadz. It is very well worth reading the article that appeared in the New Zealand Herald and looking at the pictures of the boat build on Julie’s blog. We wish her every success for “her planned world trip of 1000 days at sea, covering 100,000 nautical miles, while sailing below 40 degrees south”. Safe winds and a following sea, Julie.  Way too cold for us lightweights.
    The Herald article link - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11220289 and the build pictures right down to fashioning the chain plates and steering wheel -

    http://www.longestsolovoyage.com/ 

     
     
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    After all that it was time to go home for a swift backgammon victory. Huh.
     
     
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    ALL IN ALL INTERESTING IN BAY BEEZ