Lift off
Marita3
Mark & Helen Syrett
Sun 17 Mar 2013 04:09
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After the day trip to the Similian Islands we spent
a few more days in the Yacht haven Marina until finally we could not stand the
heat anymore----36 C degrees (96 F) day and night!
We decided to go and anchor down near the proposed
loading area and so, on Mark's birthday (Tuesday), we left the marina and
motored to the anchorage. It remained calm and hot with little
wind----ideal for loading yachts but not good for personal comfort. Even the
water was hot at 32.6 C degrees.
Thorco Svendborg was due to arrive at
the Phuket pilot station at 1300 on the 13 March and sure enough at
1415 she appeared over the horizon and anchored, having steamed up from the
pilot station.
 She tucked herself up in the lee of an island to
avoid the worst of the spring tides and as she was then out of sight
on Thursday we motored down to another anchorage about half a mile
from her in case an earlier loading slot became available-----Chris, the
Sevenstar (7*) agent, had called us on Wednesday to say that we would not
be loaded until Friday or Saturday. More frustration as both Marita and we
were ready to go.
At 1400 on Thursday Chris called and said that if
we were ready and could be at the ship by 1700 then we would be
loaded---hurray!.
Off with the bimini and the new dodger, away
with the dinghy, clean the fridge and out with the fenders and motor down
to Thorco Svendborg.
 We had to go alongside on her port side with her
rope ladder amidships
 Fore and aft lines were dropped down to us from
above
 Mark was then asked to detach the backstay----he
failed to take up enough strain and as he undid the final few turns of the two
bottle screws the backstay twanged off and it flew across his face. A lot of
blood but fotunately no damage done to the mast, and only superficial damage to
Mark---he was very lucky.
 Having thought we were well settled they then asked
us to move Marita 30 metres along the side of the ship, forward of the derrick,
as they decided they wanted to lift Marita onto the bow. Lines were cast off and
we moved forward and waited for new lines to be dropped. Helen was anxious
on the bow---could she manage two catches in one day?!
 and then the loadmasters came on board as the
slings were dropped from above.
  and Chris the diver (from Sennen and Falmouth !!)
went into the water to ensure the slings were in the correct
position
  the lifting bar was right up by the mast and as
usual the wind and sea picked up as the sun set and low tide
approached---it all started to get very bumpy and rolly alongside the ship..
 We were taken off Marita and round to the ship's
ladder (fortunately not the rope ladder)
 and Marita was lifted out of the water
 and into position across the bow of the
ship
 in the setting sun
 We were given something to eat, Mark's cuts
attended to by the first aider, who was also the cook (!), and then once
Marita was secure we returned to the boat to reattach the backstay and close her
up for the passage to Marmaris. All winches, clutches, instruments etc had
been wrapped in plastic bags in order to protect them from the emissions from
the smoke stack and the desert sand storms---she looked very naked without
sails, halyards and sheets (photo taken at Yachthaven fuel dock).
 and so after nearly two years we left her
alone on the bow as darknes fell
 we
About six other yachts had been loaded earlier in
the day and the afternoon before but they were towards the stern----and one
yacht had left it's mainsail and foresail on.
 In the meantime we had contacted Henry in Singapore
and he had booked two seats for us on the last Jetstar flight to Singapore
leaving at 2200 with a check in time of 2100.
We were ferried ashore by the 7* tender, jumped in
a taxi and arrived at check in with four minutes to spare---phew! The clocks
jumped forward one hour so we arrived at Henry and Livies' house at 0200 and
fell asleep. Thorco Svendborg completed her loading today (17 March) and
sails for Marmaris with an ETA of about 2 April, but timing is very much
dependent on speed of passage through the Suez Canal and assumes no piracy
delays!
We have heard about one yacht that had decided to
risk all and sail. They reached Sri Lanka but afterwards on passage to the
Maldives they were tracked by a 'fishing boat' for six hours in the dark. They
managed to get away but were so frightened by the experience they decided not to
carry on to the Gulf of Aden but instead sail back to Phuket and then
ship!!
We are both feeling a little bereft and look
forward to rejoining Marita in Turkey.
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