Splashing With New Rudder

Monday 4 February 2019

Rudder still not done. Reason this time was awaiting delivery of graphite packing that keeps water outside. Let's recap: hoped to be in Cape Town for Christmas, now may arrive before end of February. This did give excuse for visiting friends and family in far off places, but rather have waited until Caribbean.

Tuesday

In other good news, insurance agent informed us recently that a new insurer would be necessary because, "Due to the changing marine insurance industry will are having to submit to a new insurer due to the fact you are US flagged" [sic]. OK, submitted a new application and asked if new survey would be required as we would be on the hard until today (surveys usually require boat out of the water). No answer after over two weeks so looks like we will be saving four to five grand on insurance this year.

Friday

Going naked. Not only was insurance well over five boat units, but underwriter wouldn't cover us for the US or anything above middle Grenada before December, named storm or not. No survey was required, but crikey, they weren't really insuring us either. We'll just have to be vewy, vewy caweful. May need to get third party coverage at some point to go into marinas. Wasn't going to, but since it won't effect premiums have decided to make a claim for the rudder. Since we didn't get permission before having work done may get blown off, pissed off and pissed on, but just might make a few bucks on this turn of events. Except of course we've already paid a diaper load of premiums over the last twenty four years, enough if put into a broad market index fund to buy another boat.

By the way, finally got splashed (haul out/in is a very traumatic experience under the best of circumstances, but quite primitive here (they do fine, but it looks excessively scary)) on Tuesday afternoon. Took two full days and then some to get more or less re-rigged and cleaned (yards are habitually filthy and for a special experience here, besides monkey poo, the boys were grinding gelcoat on boat next door).

Today was checkout day and it took nearly the whole thing to jump all hoops, getting proper stamps (6) in specified order. Paperwork at marina took forty minutes just to get the ball rolling. Remember, this is for remaining in country. Can hardly wait to clear for Namibia. No worries, everyone but marine police were friendly and, except for running out of petrol (the perp will be unnamed), process went OK and there were no charges (except for taxi to fill empty tank - guilty party remains anonymous).

Tonight is braai night at the ZYC so as members of PETA, people who eat tasty animals, we indulge our inner carnivore for a pittance. Eating cows, chickens and sheep is easy as they're as dumb as a box of rocks, but pigs are a bit different. They're more intelligent than horses, which we have an aversion to eating, but gosh if really that smart they should figure a way to stop being so yummy.

Iridium Go, satellite comms, is set and working so those of you who have no better sense will be exposed to this drivel as the spirit moves me. Motivation and inspiration have been lacking since return to SA, so perhaps a renewed vigor will infest entries from this point.

Jack & Jan