Beez Haul 2014
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 30 Jan 2014 23:57
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Beez Out of the Water for a
Well Earned Rest
  At eight this morning we were quietly
motoring toward Ashby’s Boatyard, next to Opua Marina, for our eight thirty
haul. We passed by an elderly classic and a working girl passed us – this lady is the mooring ball
maintenance vessel. Quite dark here until the sun
comes up.
  At the back of Beez there am I playing at sailing on the spot. At the front a really grubby Baby Beez, all that
slime has happily found a home on her bottom in the six weeks we have been here
in Opua.
 There was a lady in the sling,
Afia of Luxembourg, we clearly had to wait a
while.
   In we went, Pete
on the crane (clutching a printout of Beez bottom to get her perfectly
secure), in seconds he tightened the slings. We assumed at this point a ladder
would appear and we would stand by and watch as we have done on previous hauls.
Nick, the yard manager came out of his office to
check on the girl, thumbs up to Pete and up we went. The
skipper had a wooden smile and I was not looking forward to stopping at
the top as I knew we would swing like a pendulum. I have had this experience in
Sopromar, Portugal and needed a stiff libation at the end of it..........
   This time, it seemed, that it was all
over in a flash. We trundled at speed, passing the yard office and coming to a stop, a bit of a waggle –
Ooooooooooo and lowered a bit, next to the short stay
lot. They use this area for boats coming out for just a few
days.
   A ladder appeared and down we went.
Within seconds Mo (Moses) was at the girl with his
pressure washer. Considering Beez last haul was in Deltaville on the 8th of
August 2011, she didn’t look too bad. Slimy like Baby
Beez from her stay here.
   The deceased bow
thruster looked very poorly, but five minutes under the ministrations of
Mo and it looked so much better. Time will tell when Bear strips it out as to
whether it can be resuscitated. The propeller looks a
little worse for wear, a fair few barnacles had hitched a ride.
   Mo finished and off Beez went toward the far end of long stay. Pete
expertly took the narrow corner and we followed as we
passed a few ladies we recognised, including
Almacantar (last seen in Tonga).
   A nifty three
point turn, Beez was gently put into her cradle. The
boys adjusting for a perfect fit. A relaxed Pete and a relieved Bear.
 Skipper set about rigging a bilge pump in a sandwich box the other
day...........don’t ask I didn’t. Apparently once settled in a bucket of water I
get to keep my main fridge running. If it works I will be a very happy Mistress
of the Galley. Watch this space.......... A few false starts and Hey Presto, it
works.
 ALL IN ALL QUITE
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