Getting ready to leave

Sandpiper being lifted out

 

After our visitors left it was time to have Sandpiper hauled out of the water so that her bottom could be cleaned and antifouled ready for the new season.  This was the first time we had been on board for a haul out and the prospect of our boat being lifted and manoeuvred on two straps was quite daunting. Thankfully Tony from Reveller offered to come with us, which was reassuring as he’s done it all before.

Moving the boat across the yard

It was very strange (and scary) sitting on Sandpiper as she was lifted up by the travel hoist. Once she was level with the hard we jumped off and watched as the giant hoist moved her forward and gently swung her round into the yard. As soon as she was chocked up we were able to go back on board to our new home out of the water. We spent three days in the yard as they blasted the weed off the hull and then repainted it with anti-foul.  We cleaned and polished the gel coat on the sides of the boat then I serviced the toilet while Cliff serviced the sea cocks - such is the romance of life at sea!

Cliff cleaning the mast

Now we are back on our mooring and we’ve almost completed the list of jobs we need to do before we leave. Over the winter we had wind from the Sahara which left the boat covered in a thick layer of muddy sand, and we knew that at some point we would need to climb to the top of the mast to clean it out of the mast track. Climbing the mast is normally my job as I’m not strong enough to hoist Cliff up, but this time Cliff decided to give it a go using a special climbing device, and it worked well. It was the first time Cliff had ever been up a mast and he seemed to enjoy it, so that’s one job I’m happy to hand over to him.

Hopefully our next update will be from a new port…