The prop parts didn't arrive until Tuesday. Australia Post "Express Post" took 4 days to get here - but I sort of expected that. Coral Bay is a bit out of the way in the scheme of things. I have been reading that 900 jobs are going to go in Aust Post, but the CEO is getting about $5m a year as a wage. Given that people are what make a business work, over estimating how many workers you need, and then having to get rid of 900 of them seems a bit of a failure by management at some stage? I'm guessing the last CEO employed them and this one has to fire them. I wonder what the average wage of an average Aust Post worker is and how it divides into $5m?
I did ponder during our waiting days that I could probably have sailed a boat from Fremantle to Coral Bay in less than 4 days in non-stop sailing time. Maybe there is a spin off business in an exclusive cruising delivery service for AP - might not make a lot of money, but it would be cool to get your bits delivered by a fellow yacthie.
Anyway we got our bits. After various calls to the CB post office it was confirmed at 1300hrs on Tuesday that our bits had arrived. However don't be fooled readers! It is not as simple or easy as it sounds. The breeze had been blowing North East at about 20kns all night, so we couldn't just get off the boat whenever we wanted. Luckily at about 1pm (1300hrs) the breeze died down, we took the dinghy towing the SUPs to the edge of the "no go" boat area, then SUPed into CB. We picked up the bits and also wandered up to the Pub to get a 6 pack. Nic has been drinking an awful lot and I am a bit worried about her.
We SUPed back to the dinghy with black clouds gathering all around. We got back to the boat, quickly hooked up the Hookah and got all the necessary tools ready (big crescent, hammer, allen keys, bigger hammer) to put the prop back on. Everything went according to plan. Nic was a great TA (technical assistant) as we both worked underwater refitting the prop. She even took a break to scrub some barnacles off the bottom of the keel as I was attaching a new sacrificial lead anode on the prop shaft.
Job done, we clambered back up onto the back "duck board". I looked around and said to Nic, "we are going to get wet soon". Within 15 mins a SW change came through and it was blowing 25-30kns. We'd packed everything that moved away and snuggled up below with a glass of champers to celebrate (hopefully) the prop being reinstated.
Today (wednesday), awoke thinking we would get away around lunchtime to go to Exmouth. Some small pressure to keep moving. But a nagging feeling, the weather forecasts are not great. They have 30kns in them. Seas and waves are going to be 3.8m, I don't really want to head off in a strong wind warning. I think we will have to wait until Friday before the winds start to line up. I know that sounds strange, but it is about working with nature and not against her. That is what cruising is all about.
Nic's having fun doing her own website at www.nicatsea.weebly.com
I did ponder during our waiting days that I could probably have sailed a boat from Fremantle to Coral Bay in less than 4 days in non-stop sailing time. Maybe there is a spin off business in an exclusive cruising delivery service for AP - might not make a lot of money, but it would be cool to get your bits delivered by a fellow yacthie.
Anyway we got our bits. After various calls to the CB post office it was confirmed at 1300hrs on Tuesday that our bits had arrived. However don't be fooled readers! It is not as simple or easy as it sounds. The breeze had been blowing North East at about 20kns all night, so we couldn't just get off the boat whenever we wanted. Luckily at about 1pm (1300hrs) the breeze died down, we took the dinghy towing the SUPs to the edge of the "no go" boat area, then SUPed into CB. We picked up the bits and also wandered up to the Pub to get a 6 pack. Nic has been drinking an awful lot and I am a bit worried about her.
We SUPed back to the dinghy with black clouds gathering all around. We got back to the boat, quickly hooked up the Hookah and got all the necessary tools ready (big crescent, hammer, allen keys, bigger hammer) to put the prop back on. Everything went according to plan. Nic was a great TA (technical assistant) as we both worked underwater refitting the prop. She even took a break to scrub some barnacles off the bottom of the keel as I was attaching a new sacrificial lead anode on the prop shaft.
Job done, we clambered back up onto the back "duck board". I looked around and said to Nic, "we are going to get wet soon". Within 15 mins a SW change came through and it was blowing 25-30kns. We'd packed everything that moved away and snuggled up below with a glass of champers to celebrate (hopefully) the prop being reinstated.
Today (wednesday), awoke thinking we would get away around lunchtime to go to Exmouth. Some small pressure to keep moving. But a nagging feeling, the weather forecasts are not great. They have 30kns in them. Seas and waves are going to be 3.8m, I don't really want to head off in a strong wind warning. I think we will have to wait until Friday before the winds start to line up. I know that sounds strange, but it is about working with nature and not against her. That is what cruising is all about.
Nic's having fun doing her own website at www.nicatsea.weebly.com
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