Dear Friends
First and foremost. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings you joy! Happy 2025!
What fools would buy a boat without receiving at least one picture of it? Then abandon the most beautiful boat they spent so much time working on, and pack up everything to start a new life somewhere else again. And if that was not enough of a challenge, fly off to the other side of the world (literally). Add to that the insanity of a hope that all will be plain sailing upon landing.
You get it, it is US TWO! You would have thought that by now we should have known better and have some wits and sense about us, but no such luck. We are Incorrigibly Foolish (ad)Venturers! Definitely.
In the 8 years we’ve been together we owned: 5 boats. We spent years working on them and sailed 10s of thousands of miles on different oceans visiting various continents. This is our new chapter or maybe only a paragraph! Wish us luck.
A while ago when I was about to set off seafaring I ‘renamed’ myself to ‘Gypsy Venus’. I loved the sea so much, believing that I was born from the seawaves like Venus. And Gypsy because of my wandering spirits. It seems I am following my path.
In one of our getting to know conversations a long time ago, I posed a question to Neptune: “What is your life’s mission?” He responded: ”To build and sail junk rig boats.” Little did I know how truthful he will remain to his words, and that I will take a big part in this journey.
You might recall from my previous message that something was brewing.
So where are we now?
What’s going on?
We have been in Tasmania (Australia) for just over two months. Yet again, working hard on getting the new boat “China Moon” (catamaran) ready for cruising in the Pacific. We are as surprised as you may be.
China Moon, Neptune’s ‘new’ boat, just landed in our lap. It was not planned. But unlike Kokachin, which we decided to buy on a spur of the moment, to try something new, “China Moon” was a temptation that we contemplated for about 9 months, thinking carefully about all complex logistics and implications. One thing we were adamant about, we did not want to do any more major refitting work. We decided to buy her, to pack up Kokachin and fly to “China Moon” in Tasmania. That’s what we did.
I was attracted to “China Moon" and understood Neptune’s draw to her. Having designed and built her he single handedly sailed her to Antarctica and South Georgia, fulfilling one of his life’s ambitions. Eventually selling her to Simon, with whom he jointly delivered her to Tasmania (in 2005), via the Southern Indian Ocean, taking 72 days.
On our very last day at anchor just before hauling out Kokachin in Southdown (UK), we ran aground. She got well stuck in the mud, immovable for a few hours during low water. She did not want to be back. I felt so sorry for such a beautiful young princess and her fate, to be wrapped up again, leaving the joys of sailing for a while.
Once in Tasmania, so much was behind us, not only in terms of the miles. Kokachin was stored inside the most sturdy tent we could find. In perfect condition, immaculately maintained and spotlessly clean, she was “mothballed” holding most of our possessions, awaiting us to hopefully get back to her, in years to come.
We were getting ever more excited about the momentous occasion of stepping on board “China Moon”, marking the beginning of our ‘new life’. Alas, our elation pretty soon turned into despair once we boarded her. Speechless, we walk along her extensive decks; black mould everywhere, slimy green ropes and sheets hanging off the rigging, utter neglect in evidence everywhere. Insurmountable amount of work to be done on her, if anyone was fool enough to undertake it. Not a word was said. We could not take her anywhere the way she looked. Simon sat there crestfallen, so did we, utterly shocked, devastated, ashamed and angry of what we let ourselves in for. Terrified of what is to come. Serves us right, fools; to trust, to assume and to believe that all will be right! What next? Where do we go from here? We were well stuck. Turning back and walking away looked like the best solution.
Alas. After a long walk and on a deeper reflection, we concluded that we were committed and decided to give it a go, if we could find a workable solution. The boat was on a swinging mooring miles away from any shop or facility. There was no way that any work could be done on her there and then. Nor we had budgeted for extensive renovation wherever that might take place. Not to mention the time it will take……
Here we are now, working our guts out, living with dust, noise, heat, discomfort, pain, exhaustion again. All for those precious days of freedom and utter immersion into nature while sailing the seas. But it feels as if this was meant to be. Our new location is, and probably never will be again, perfect. Launceston, where the boat now is, is an incredibly charming little town, around which I joyfully scoot, discovering many of its little gems, theatres, museums and shops included. Everything is at hand, green spaces, parks and huge old trees. I marvel at them. They are like my new friends.
Caroline and Simon (the previous owners) could not have been more helpful and utterly hospitable. I am amazed by how, with nothing much said, but everything being understood, they wholeheartedly and fully threw themselves in assisting us to bring “China Moon” to life again. Their beautiful house, with sweeping views across the valley, is open to us any time. We often stay there, enjoying en-suite luxury and their silver service with tea, wine, food provided. What could have turned into a very nasty situation and ended a long friendship for Neptune has become a much enriched relationship. How wonderful. We look forward to sailing with Simon again and for China Moon to spread her wings.
This project is a straw that nearly broke the camel's back and my straw is hanging onto its last strand. I have had enough but I am still hanging on here. It demonstrates my deep bond with Neptune and our common desire to sail high seas once again. Were it not for his ever present loving care and utmost support during these difficult times, I would be gone. Mentally, physically and emotionally I am utterly exhausted. It will take us a few more months to get the boat into shape, then we will be off sailing again, with all hard work in our wake.
Here is Neptune’s take:
I designed and built China Moon in South Africa at the turn of the century and of the many boats I have owned she is the best. I sailed her again some years after selling her and was pleasantly reassured that my memories did not play me false.
We had had a survey done, which found the boat to be structurally sound and were led to believe that China Moon would need a little work, but would be in a ‘tidy’ state, so we were shocked to find her so run down and our first reaction was to walk away.
After due consideration we decided to continue with the purchase after easily agreeing to a renegotiated deal. The first thing was to find a place to do the work as China Moon’s mooring was very remote, probably the main reason for her state. We are now in an excellent location, a floating pontoon at the Tamar Y.C., a short walk from town and all supplies. Simon has given us much help and the arrangements continue to work well. He frequently drives us to his house to make use of his extensive selection of power tools in the workshop. The last thing we both wanted was a big refit job, but that is the way it has turned out and we are working very hard to get back to cruising under sail on a lovely boat..
======================================
Dear Friends, please drop me a line so that I hear how you are doing and what is going on. I really appreciate it. Although this is a ‘mass communication’ I opened my heart to each one of you because you count in my life.
What one friend sent, gave us comfort:
That must have been pretty devastating on several levels, and I'm glad you managed to find a workable solution - but what an unexpected drag to have to start doing unplanned refurbishment! Hopefully you'll be finished soon and able to take some advantage of the southern summer.
Hope to hear from you.
Cheers
Kommentare