Back in the Water
Blue Sky's Voyage
George & Michael
Sun 18 Feb 2007 16:55
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Dear
Friends
"17:05.6N 61:53.4W"
There isn't a huge amount to report, but I'm
enjoying being back on board so much, I felt inspired to write a
blog.
Annual maintenance went reasonably well and
for the yachties who understand the technicalities, I'll say that the maxprop
has been off, disassembled and re-greased and a new cutlass bearing fitted (the
previous one having suffered at the encounter with the lobster pot). All the
anodes have been changed and we now have a much larger hull anode and two shaft
anodes; we also swapped the 1/2 inch watermaker inlet for a 3/4 inch to improve
flow.
and if you thought THAT was too much
information, here's a photo to prove it !
 The antifouling has been completed, the teak
decks cleaned and a couple of dings in the topsides paint repaired and the whole
lot polished. So all in all, Blue Sky now looks quite respectable
again.
Provisioning up a ladder while she was still
out of the water was a bit of a bore, but the launch went well. I just motored round to Five Islands Bay and anchored
comfortably with lots of space and only the pelicans, ospreys and terns to
disturb me.
Or so I thought...
In fact a motorboat came along on Saturday
morning and fixed a racing buoy to some sticks about 200 metres away, so I
realised that I was to be entertained by being next to the upwind marker for the
Valentines Day Regatta. An hour or so later, "Maltese Falcon" (270+ feet, modern
square rigger, amazing) anchored a mile downwind, just to raise the tone a
bit.
 So I've spent a very enjoyable couple
of days being entertained by the racing (pause as the fleet rounds the mark
again). I used to say that I didn't like racing because it spills your drinks:
now I think I do like it after all and I could watch it all day!
George is due back in Antigua on Tuesday
afternoon, when I've arranged the 1,000 hour service for the main engine.
After that, probably St Kitts & Nevis
next stop.
Best Wishes
Michael
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