The big day came for Songster to be put on the hard for the Northern winter. We had hoped to get her out into the bay for
a bit of a motor before she was lifted out but alas, the motor wouldn’t start
again. We realised there must be teeth
missing on the fly wheel and the starter motor is just unable to engage the
engine. There is nothing we could do
about it until next year when a new motor will most probably be needed. It was very frustrating not to be able to
take Songster out at all this year
but with boat ownership, we have to go with the flow.
We got up early to do the last minute
preparations for the haul out and waited for the marinaros to come to tow us the 50
metres to the haul out crane. Finally at
around 4 pm they came, attached a line from the boat to their dinghy and in
about half a minute we were tying up to the crane dock in a queue behind two
fast Russian racers and before a lovely Najad that had circumnavigated and just
been shipped in from Thailand. The
marinaros are fantastic here, very efficient and professional.
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| In the queue at the haul out dock |
Then as the early darkness was descending
in the short autumn days, Songster
was lifted out of the water, put in a cradle and given a wash.
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| Songster in the straps being lifted out of the water |
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| Getting a wash |
Early the next morning we were nestled
amongst the forest of boats on the hard where Songster will stay until
our return in April.
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| Being moved into position |
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| Close neighbours |
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| View from the cockpit |
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| Climbing this wobbly steel ladder was a challenge, especially when the reverse polarity of the marina made it live. 180 volts gave me a tingle! |
