Exciting week

Exciting week
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

“They are starting to flood the dock!” It was said by someone, who announced it in an, Are we ready for that yet!!? sort of a way. Are we!? Hmm!!?? I guess we are…. Bloody hell.

The energy that went into the week before the launch was inspiring. Even though the nobility of our goal or purpose is questionable, it is quite remarkable, what a motivated team, with a shared purpose can achieve in a few short days.

There are not very many photos of the launch as the whole crew were running around, getting things ready for the move. The boat floated free of the chocks at around 1630 on the 31st of January, by 1830 we were secured to two tug boats that helped us manoeuvre out of the very tight dry dock, into the mooring next door. The weather conditions were perfect, calm and clear with a full moon that lit the sky as we pirouetted and gently swung into the mooring bay that is to be our home for the next month, while we under go the finishing touches to the refit.

The energy from all this action had to continue in preparation for the owner, who was to visit the boat on Friday, just two days after the launch! It was once again fantastic to see how much we managed to achieve.

Our boss, the owner, was pleased to finally see the light at the end of a very long, very expensive tunnel. The shining exterior of the boat was a bit like a smoke and mirrors illusion, where beneath the surface there was still so much to do. It has however made us all feel good to be floating and to see her shining and presentable.

All that the owner wants to do, like the rest of us, is go to sea