05/24/2013, Nidri, Lefkas
Hi - some delay in updating the blog but we have been more than hectic. To sum up we have sold our house, bought a new boat, celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary back in the UK, and have put Nuance up for sale. We have just about caught up with ourselves now.
But as ever, to put things in some kind of order....
Our house sold just after Easter and we marked the end of a long era in No. 35 with a few well chosen bottles of wine. Ed mentioned a boat he had seen, in the same marina as we were in, in Gouvia Corfu, and well, why not have a look?
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We found her tucked up under canvas up on the hard standing where she had been for at least two years. It was hard to see everything, smelling musty and looking very dusty and covered in all the sand blown in the wind. However! She appealed to us greatly and we decided that day to buy her.
She is a Constellation 44, cutter ketch. She was one of only a handful or so boats built back in 1980 by Brewer & Walstrom in Sri Lanka. She weighs in at about 18 tons whereas Nuance was about 12. Longer than Nuance she is also much wider giving her so much more room down below and with a lot of attention to detail making her very attractive.
We have a lot to learn about her and how to manage her. But having our own private quarters at the stern of the boat with our own loo and shower is great! That and a freezer!
She is called Rubaiyat after the poems by Omar Khayyam and after much deliberation we have decided to keep her name. The poems are especially known for this particular verse:
"A book of Verse underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread - and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness -
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise now!"
A survey showed her to be sound so we were more than pleased to purchase her. Then we went back to the UK to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary, St. George's Day. Arranged at very short notice, our visit was only a fleeting visit of less than a week so only time to catch up with a few - will do better next time. Thanks to Tim and Becks for putting us up (putting up with us?).
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Caught up with some of my side of the family at Annie's and had a lovely time. Lots of good food, wine, dancing and cake to celebrate. A good day and thanks to Annie.
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A few days later up to The Savoy hotel - we used to love going there back in the distant days when we were both earning good money! Our friends (on SV My Time, Martin and Julie) suggested we mention the reason for our visit - and we had an instant upgrade to a most fabulous suite, with views over the Thames. The bathroom alone was the size of a boat. Needless to say we had a wonderful time there celebrating our long and happy marriage.
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Back to Corfu to sort out the two boats. Rubaiyat was launched in our absence as the yard was very busy in the run up to Greek Easter and we had no choice of launch time. We delegated antifouling as we were seriously short of time (that or not go back to UK - so it got my vote!).
We were pleased that the engine worked and she was parked opposite Nuance on the same pontoon. This made our lives for the following week much more possible. We had to unload Nuance and make her look as appealing for the broker's pictures. Rubaiyat had been left with many contents intact so we had to go through her sifting and sorting as well as cleaning her from top to toe. We had a deadline of our mates Tim, Becks and Piers coming out within the week. Of course this could not stop us having a little drinks party with our local friends, Martin, Julie, Terry from White Dove and Ray.
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We sailed Nuance round to a local yard. The creakiest hauling out gear we have ever seen was used but she will be fine parked up on stilts the time being. She did us proud and we will miss her, especially her sailing/racing prowess. All boats have their own character and Nuance certainly has hers - her mast got a big hug for keeping us in one piece and safe and sound for these past months.
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