Sunday 11 Oct, HHN, boat winterizing day 11:
Whenever there is a monotonous task to be done, I always think of Dorey, in Finding Nemo, saying: “just keep swimming, just keep swimming ….. “. Polishing fittings is just such a task, and one that I do all day. Except, that is, for a small break in the morning.
Before getting filthy dirty I visit the “private” Hallberg Rassy show. The USA dealer for HR is based here in Herrington Harbour North Marina – Free State Yachts, run by Roger. And, as it happened, we bought Cloudy Bay through this agency 4 years ago. Odd, because the boat was located in Europe, but there you go.
Because the Annapolis boat show is cancelled this year, Roger decided to do a small Hallberg Rassy show of his own “by appointment only”. He has 4 HRs lined up in the marina, all polished and ready for viewing. A 372, 40, 43 and 44. So before the first appointments are scheduled, I go see Roger and take a look around a new HR44. The first of the new models with twin rudders, wide stern, built-in bow sprit on a plumb bow and a swept-back spreader rig. Have to admit, I’m impressed by the design. Very modern and surprisingly roomy for a 44 footer. But I prefer Cloudy Bay 😊. A far more dignified design in my (un)biased view!
After a chat with Roger, I’m off to my hard labour room in Weaver Boats, where the rig fittings and polishing wheel await me. It’s quite a satisfying task, making dull rusty fittings look bright and shiny again. But it really seems to affect my back and neck. I’m still suffering from struggling across the deck carrying the outboard motor 2 days ago, and now paying the price. At one point, I feel sick with the pain and head back to Cloudy Bay for a hefty dose of Advil pain killers. After 30 minutes the potion does its stuff and I’m back at the spinning wheel. I’m determined to finish everything tonight so that I may clear my stuff before the workers come in tomorrow.
I finally get done and back to the boat by 9pm, exhausted and aching all over. It started raining this afternoon and by evening it is pretty heavy. Left-overs from the tropical storm that recently made landfall in the Gulf or Mexico. I get soaked cycling back to Cloudy Bay and welcome a hot shower and some food. Finally flopping into bed by 11pm. Isn’t getting into bed just wonderful sometimes?!