17:04.005N 061:53.006W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Sun 17 Mar 2013 15:52
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"Jolly Harbour,
Antigua - 13th March"
It is lovely to be back 'home', Whisper is fine and we spent the day taking her out of her temporary moth balls and restocking the fridge. Amanda and Dean went out for the day with friends and very kindly lent us the golf buggy and let us use their washing machine. We met them at the super market for a handover of keys and with Demon Dilly at the wheel we carted the shopping to the boat and then took the washing back to their very lovely house alongside the marina wharf and enjoyed the cool of the terrace catching up on emails and the blog. "Jolly Harbour - 14th March" Jobs to be done on Whisper was the order of the day, but this did not go according to plan. We had several tasks, replacing the fraying topping lift & splicing on the shackle; making and securing a mini hammock for our fruit and vegetables; stitching Whispers recently replaced Ensign which it's just starting to wear at the corner; filling the water tanks; tightening the hinges on the saloon table; replacing the bung on our new dinghy as the original bung leaks as it is loose and any other task which should come to light. Over breakfast we watched a boat as it was hauled out and scrubbed, this started us thinking! Whisper has been in the water since June last year and although we have been able to keep the water line clear and Noel has 'had a go' at cleaning the propeller, she would benefit from a scrub before we cross the Atlantic again. A trip to the marina office to enquire about costs and availability of the sling gave us the information to ponder on over morning coffee. Apart from a slot at 2:30 today, the sling was not available until Tuesday and the cost caused much sucking in through teeth (and mustache). The debate then followed, if we didn't have it done here, where would we be able to get it done? Would it get more expensive the further north we traveled? This would most probably be the case in Bermuda, our last opportunity, when we would wish we had it done here. The morning was gone before we had come to a decision. Life in a marina is full of distractions, there are always people to talk to and manoeuvres to gaze at and no real urgency to time, especially as there are no tides to catch in the Caribbean! Finally, realising the morning had passed and we needed to make the booking before 1pm, Noel asked me "What do you think?". I replied, "If it was up to me, I would have it done here". The booking was made, we had lunch, took down the awning and prepared to motor the short distance to the hoist when called on Channel 68. We discussed the strategy for leaving our berth, there were no boats next to us, only the two large wooden pillars on either side at our stern and general conditions calm, with plenty of room between us and the next pontoon, it should be easy. We then watched in amazement, half an hour before our scheduled manoeuvre, a giant yacht of about 55 feet with a substantial bowsprit reversed into the berth on our port side! Now our simple manoeuvre would be interesting. As it happened, when the time came, the breeze remained constant, a lady passing by on the pontoon helped release our bow lines and our long keeled 'lady' slipped out backwards on the line she was steered. As we approached the dock, hands were waiting to take and secure our lines and we were handed four folded cardboard boxes, this was alarming, the first tip given to us from experienced 'cruisers' was never to take cardboard on board in tropical climates, because they can harbour cockroach eggs and the last thing one wants on board is cockroaches! Apparently these were to put between the slings and the hull to avoid marking the hull. The huge hoist trundled towards us and the weighted slings lowered underneath us. As I learnt when I had carefully placed my folded box in place and proceedings stopped, these had to be unfolded and the inner side (without stickers and printed labels) should be facing the hull! Slings with cardboard in place we were assisted to step ashore, fortunately through plenty of experience clambering over the pulpit and anchor this was easily achieved. Gently Whisper was hauled out of the water and the extent of the ecosystem growing on her was visible. We were delighted that the copper coating has done a good job over the past 7 months, but she definitely needed a scrub and we were very pleased to have made the decision. In no time at all the encrustations were scrapped off by two men, one on either side, then a third man pressure washed one side and a forth man the other side. Thirty minutes later we were back on board and slipping easily out of the slings we made our way back to our berth. I called up the Dock Master to help us back into our berth. He asked me what our was our last port of call? Slightly taken aback, I explained we had just been hauled out for a scrub, the penny dropped and "Oooh roger, roger, roger!!", flowed out over the airwaves! We enjoyed dinner at the local Greek restaurant with Dean and Amanda. "Jolly Harbour, 15th March" Today we took a bus into St Johns so that we could buy some fruit and vegetables at the market. There were no cruise shops visiting the harbour, so the tourist shopping mall was considerably quieter than usual. In the afternoon we did a couple of the tasks on Whisper which we should have done yesterday before we were diverted, so now Whisper has a brand new topping lift and smart hammocks for our fruit and vegetables. Amanda and Dean cooked us a terrific Italian dinner this evening. We have been quite spoilt these past few days and have enjoyed their happy joyful company. Tomorrow we plan to take them for a sail on Whisper. Dean loves to sail, but it is a whole new experience for Amanda. Photographs: "Swinging in the Breeze"
"Before..... and ....After" |
