GHOST

Well they say that everything happens for a reason. Yesterday it looked like the stress might be about to build. The marina was struggling to cope with the admin of getting boats back in the water, people checking in and checking out and staff shortages due to redundancies blamed on the economic downturn. While we managed to get the green light from them re: being lifted long enough for us to change the rudder stock bearing and then be placed in the water the following morning, we didn't have a lot of confidence it would run smoothly and wholly expected to be working well into the night. But we managed the only way we knew how, by getting drunk!! We meet a Canadian chap called Jim Craig (nope not the man from Snowy River for you Aussie film buffs) but before you know it we were drinking on the back of his boat with his mate Bill and one beer turned into too many.

Alas the big day started with a hangover. But the good news was we were given the option to be lifted over lunch time, so after a frantic visit to all parties involved we had it confirmed. Right on midday around came the travel lift (big cradle crane for lifting boats) and we lifted GHOST high enough to get the rudder out, take out the old bearing, clean everything up, insert the new one and stand around waiting for the lift operator to return from lunch. We did have to raise and lower the boat a few extra times to get the rudder back in but actually it was a really smooth operation and thank god we weren't doing it at night time without the use of the lift. So by 2pm, only a little longer than expected, the rudder was in place and we were tightening it up as the travel lift moved us towards the water.

Now GHOST is where she's meant to be, moored up with a wet bum. It is good to be home.

Had Jim and Bill over to GHOST tonight for a couple of brews before heading off to the marina's workman's cafe. The restaurant here is good but we ate there a bit last year and never made it to the cafe, basically because we didn't know it existed. It's a real workman's cafe, dirt cheap but good portions and tasty simple food. So we scooted in there for a feed and another beer, but now I think it is getting on to bedtime. Altogether a pretty successful day, rudder in good working order, boat in the water, proved I haven't forgotten how to manoeuvre in close quarters, washed the deck and even managed to get a couple of lines back up the mast. Still plenty to do though.