Webster - Captains Blog Stardate Monday 18 November 2013

The big day has arrived, no not start day that's Sunday, but the day we have the new spreaders fitted to the mast which will enable us to go on Sunday. Went down to the riggers to confirm a time for coming to the boat, they had already said it would be today sometime. Arrived just after opening time at 9am and already the queue stretched out of the shop and into the street. Some people were taking ages with lists as long as your arm but it was only a poor young lady handling it all, albeit very knowledgable and everyone wanting an appointment time with the riggers, as was I. An American skipper on a Southerly 42 next to my berth was most concerned that the mast may fall down on top of his and other boats and needed reassuring; he was trying to have me move out, and was going to speak to the marina people about it - not a good start to the day. I did not get an appointment time so faced an all day wait in.

You could tell Carl fancied the job though. He was rushing around the boat like a man on a mission letting off main stays and fixing up supporting halyards etc, presumably in preparation for the riggers. But no, he was sizing the job up and when Karl (the American) left his boat he got on with job; Ken and I manned the winches and up he went whilst Suez (Birthday girl) and Jerry ferried fuel to top the tanks. By mid afternoon the job was done, what a Star! So relieved....still no riggers turned up, even by 6pm. If we had not done it ourselves I would have been climbing the wall. I will be interested to see if they turn up tomorrow. All we have to do now is put the boom back on, rig the main and finish provisioning then we are there, well nearly!

Went out for a birthday dinner for Suez to a fantastic fish restaurant, Chacalote, out of town via a glass of bubbly on the boat and a G&T in the hotel Santa Catalina - very posh. Red snapper of some description was absolutely superb. We shall return.

Capt'n Baynes (Webster)



Charles Baynes