Onward to 2019!

After another safe drive down south to Beaufort, North Carolina, we rejoined Wakataitea on December 19, 2018. She was patiently waiting in the boatyard, just as we had left her a few weeks before. We quickly moved aboard and arranged her launch for December 21st at 0900.

On the morning of the launch, we were finishing breakfast when a group of guys from the boatyard arrived with solemn faces. They said that there was a problem. They could not bring the 50 foot wide travel lift to Wakataitea, because Olympus, a 92 foot classic motor yacht that was brought in at the end of November, was blocking the entrance to our yard.  I thought for moment they were joking, but clearly they were not.

Olympus

Not enough room!

After a meeting with the boatyard staff about their oversight in planning for getting us out of the yard, they clearly laid out our options. We could wait until mid-January when Olympus would be launched (refit finished on time, of course,) or use a trailer to move Wakataitea  300 yards to the road where the travel lift could then pick her up and bring her to the water.

Using this trailer would mean picking Wakataitea  up underneath on four points by her cross beams. The ropes lashing these beams to the hull would be supporting the weight of the entire boat. This was an operation we weren't sure was safe to do. 

We contacted Michael at his west coast home. Despite the early hour, he was his usual chipper self. Michael wasn't sure if we could move the boat this way either. We were time pressed to make a decision, as the yard crew were leaving at noon for the Christmas break, and the boatyard owner was antsy to get 'er done. We were the last boat they were going to move for the year. There was a spark of tension in the air. 

When John asked who would be liable if something were to go wrong, the yard owner had a full blown hissy fit, swearing and stomping out of the room, then slamming the door as he left the building. He was muttering things like "people pay me big bucks to move their @!":# antique boats all the time...".

We had to make a speedy decision. We certainly didn't want to live in this boatyard for another month. My mind reeled with options of where else we could go.

We quickly reached out to the people who could help. Michael had the good fortune to contact Hans, the builder of Wakataitea somewhere in Africa. The stars aligned further, as we were able to reach Hanneke Boon, the boat's designer in the UK. Both thought that this lifting maneuver could be done and would "probably be OK." With that tentative endorsement, we decided to proceed. 

This trailer, which was operated by a remote control, was set up below Wakataitea. Using four posts, it carefully lifted at four points under the beams close to the hulls. 

Trailer underneath Wakataitea

As the trailer slowly drove along, we watched the eight rope lashings that actually hold the boat to the beams being lifted. They were stretching, but not by much.

                                           

In several minutes, the boat was delicately moved to the yard entrance and carefully lowered onto blocks.  The travel lift arrived, lifted and drove Wakataitea to the water, where she was launched. All was well. 

Nothing is ever easy with boats.

Driving the boat out of the yard

Beside Olympus

Travel lift preparing to pick up boat

Picking up boat

Driving to water

Getting ready to splash

Once she was in the water, we scrambled aboard Wakataitea. The jovial staff helped us to tie up alongside the wharf several meters away. We waved, "Merry Christmas" and they were gone.  The yard emptied out. We were floating.

Floating beside our trusty car

Once we were launched, our focus switched to getting south to warmer temps. However, we still had not unpacked and settled in. We also needed to do more shopping. While shoppers were getting last minute Christmas presents, we were buying carts full of canned and non-perishable food to fill up the boat for our Caribbean winter. There were last minute boat parts, school supplies, rubber boots, and mundane items like sunscreen and lip balm to bring aboard and squirrel away.

Stowing provisions

Our other focus was to get ready for our first Christmas aboard Wakataitea. We found a plywood Christmas tree in a locker that someone had lovingly painted green, and the kids set about decorating it.

Christmas Day was one of the coldest days, but one of the brightest. It was just above freezing when the kids coaxed us from our warm beds to find the deck covered in a thick layer of frost.  It was a good substitute for snow, and they got their white Christmas by making mini snowmen on the dodger top.

Hot chocolate kept our fingers warm enough to open the presents that fit under our tree.  Our gifts were simple and geared towards learning, playing and creating at sea.

Simon's model replica of Wakataitea

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Simon thrilled with electronic parts for boat building

A replacement for my favourite game that got wrecked earlier this year!

It's been a bumpy ride getting afloat again. There have been lots of challenges in the past year. We look forward to the many adventures ahead as we get to know Wakataitea and make her our home.

We are grateful for all the love and support we received in 2018...it has been a doozy of a year!

To all of you, we raise a toast to 2019!