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More men with plans

Posted by on March 3, 2012

The title of this post is, of course, a reference to my previous post, another bearded mumble on the topic of employment and cruising.

First of all, it looks like I have landed a job. This is great news, because it means a much needed cash injection is coming soon.

Ironically, the job is in Hobart, about 300m from where we were berthed in Kings Pier Marina, back in August last year, so…

…we are going to sail back to Hobart.

There, I’ve said it, and I feel better. I have had some conflict about sailing back, as it feels like going um… backwards. I have been sternly telling myself not to be silly. A job was always the aim at this point, and I was always going to have to travel to get to it. Cash will also mean being able to give ERIK a haulout, and kit her up with some gear to make our next cruising venture a bit easier.

Things like self-steering that works in a seaway. Refrigeration that keeps food from spoiling for more than a week. A lighter, tougher dinghy that will double duty as a life raft. A toilet that’s legal outside Tasmania is also on the list, and a chart plotter is also under consideration.

The cruising kitty needs to be topped up, so we can cruise again without having to rely on Centrelink and all the square-peg-into-round hole drama it brings with it.

…and yes, you read that right. We will cruise again. This has been too much fun to do once!

So, the plan goes something like this:

1. Haulout at Tamar Yacht Club as soon as possible. Get some soft wood around the exhaust outlets fixed, new anodes and a paint job.

2. Get the refrigeration leak fixed and the system re-gassed.

3. Get the boat surveyed so we can renew our insurance.

4. Get a berth in Kings Pier Marina sorted out… This one is already underway, as it looks like we can take over Sorcerer’s old berth.

5. Get ourselves out to the head of the river for the last time, and I think we have earned the right to carve our vessel name amongst the others on the sandstone cliffs.

6. Arrange to have the kids picked up… They don’t want to do the non-stop journey south with Lis and I. My dad has kindly agreed to look after them while we sail south.

7. Wait for a weather window and set off. It should take 2 or 3 days to get down to Dunalley. We’ll take the canal through, and pick up the kids from their dear Grandpa on the way.

Then it’s off across Storm Bay and up the Derwent to Hobart for at least the winter. We plan to be back before the end of Match, and I must admit, I’ll be glad to spend winter plugged into shore power!

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