Up, Up and Away

Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Thu 22 Oct 2009 10:53
36:49.080N 28:18.638E

Monday 19th October

The day for the haul out finally arrived and it proved to be an epic day.

The water and electric meters were read and disconnected quite early so we
were optimistic of an early lift, but as the hours ticked by, we realised we
were not going to be too lucky. We both started doing some of the day's jobs
in the hope that this would be the catalyst for crane crew calling us up,
but still nothing. We put the kettle on endlessly as that usually brings a
workman of two out of the woodwork, but still nothing.

Our new neighbours Fred and Phil from Texas were great fun and when Sarah
asked if she could just borrow one of their fenders which was a shape that
she has long felt was perfect for our Hydrovane, Fred told her if it fitted
she could have it! Feeling guilty we donated them some wine and beer and so
they invited us aboard to share it with them while we waited to be called
for the hoist. Fred (who I am quite certain is one of the original members
of ZZ Top) also invited a passing French couple to join us and it turned out
that they are going on the rally to Israel etc. with us next spring.

Eventually Fred and Phil had to call time as they were being taken out to
dinner in town by some Turkish friends, but as we stepped back onto Serafina
we got the call! It was 8.00pm and had been dark since 7.00pm, so we put on
the nav lights and felt our way carefully round through the marina to the
boat lift area. We reversed up to the waiting dock and were the third and
final boat in the queue. There was only one hoist working at this stage as
the 330 ton lift was tied up with a huge gullet so we knew we had a long
wait still. Remarkably, we now enjoyed a whole series of visits from friends
and neighbours, mostly Kiwis and Aussies as we tried to scoff a brilliant
meal that Sarah had prepared as we waited. Finally around 10.00pm we were
pulled into the hoist bay and as the crane dropped the straps under us, one
of the work crew urgently requested me to lower the Turkish flag. As we have
noted in the log before, they are very proud of their flag and you will get
fined for displaying a slightly tatty one, so we just assume that they do
not want their flag left flying on an empty boat through the winter.

The lift went very well indeed and it is well worth mentioning the role of
the diver. This is something we have never come across before and it
involves a diver going down under every boat on the day they are due to be
lifted and noting carefully the underwater shape and obstructions on your
boat. He then marks on the hull exactly where the lifting strops must go to
get the perfect lift. This was the first time we have been lifted without
the strops fouling our forward looking sonar so we were very impressed. At
this stage the whole thing was being done by just two staff as most of the
others had either gone home or were involved in propping the gullet. Despite
the time and the darkness, they then carefully pressure washed the hull,
taking their time to do it right which we felt was remarkable given how late
it was and we were their last lift. Then there was a problem...Serafina was
too big for the cradle and so they were going to take her to her parking
position in the hoist and then prop her with timber props (which is what
they do with all the larger boats), but this needed the full propping crew
so more time passed as they waited for them to all appear (riding in the
bucket of a JCB as it happens) before we were finally placed in our winter
home directly behind all the super yachts. Still the lads did not wander
off, but carefully put a ladder up for us and taped some cloth to protect
the hull and insisted on tying it firmly to the boat. All this at 11.50pm
and after 14 hours at work. They were all smiling and cheerful and very
polite throughout even though they must have been pretty shattered. Cannot
see that happening in the UK!