Moorglade's Voyage - Rum,bottoms,Bushy and bushes and a shed

Rum,bottoms,Bushy and bushes and a shed

Moorglade's Voyage

Ted Wilson

Sun 6 Mar 2011 20:59

Position unchanged Sunday March 6th

The focus for this last week has been getting a place for Moorglade to safely spend the coming summer (hurricane season) while Kay and I are back home. The two usual options are pulled into the mangroves with strong warps to the trees and at least three anchors out into the muddy bottom from the stern, or have her hauled out and supported by many steel stands that are then welded together to form a supporting structure. The yacht is then strapped down to ground anchors. There is a significant difference in cost and risk and our insurance company does not like either. However I learned from one of my TOT club friends that There is a very large facility built by Stamford as part of his ambitious plans on Antigua which is now starting to be used for summer storage managed by a Devon chap called Tom. Canadian tot club member, Don, and I hired a car and went to take a look. Along with a huge area of concreted hard standing, there is a massive shed, built to stand category 4 hurricanes high enough to take Moorglade with her mast up. It costs much the same as on the hard in English harbour so that is where Moorglade will spend her summer protected from all the elements.

Another task which has seen some progress is scraping off the growth from Moorglade's bottom. With a tidal range of only 0.3m leaning her against a wall to clean her off is not an option. Lift outs and pressure wash are for the rich, so it was on with the mask and snorkel and plastic scraper in hand get in the water.

Graham (Tot Club) advised bunging up the ears to stop all the tiny wiggly creatures disturbed by the scraping getting in them. Although the growth does not seem to be inhibited much by the antifoul it does come off very easily. The fish turn up in large shoals to eat the wildlife released into the water. A rope tied from toerail to toerail under the boat helps to get you down and keep you stable while you scrape but even so the keel which has yet to be done will be a challenge. See next weeks blog for outcome)

Friday was more relaxing. I volunteered for a Tot club rum run, organised by the Chairman "Mike". The idea is simple, set off at midday to drive to a small rum blender called "Bushies" He supplies excellent blended rum at modest cost. In recognition of the large quantities purchase, not only for the club but also for the bars were the evening tots are held, he kindly opens a couple of bottles for immediate consumption. There were six of us present. With the nuts and nibbles thoughtfully provided by Fiona and with plenty of ice and fresh lime slipped down surprisingly easily.

Bit of shopping on the way back and time for a snooze.

A new member started his 7 required tots on Friday. He is Tiny Little, single handed Atlantic rower and Hull Grammar School old boy. I've passed on my Nelson notes.

This mornings Keep Fit group was more numerous than usual thanks to several guests and much was achieved at the Old Royal Artillery Quarters before it was time for a lunchtime beer.