Lift in day!!
 
Well Mrs Muffin and Captain Stripe (Team Moli) returned to Finike on the 23rd April, two days before ‘launch day’ or should I say ‘Splash day’ as some of the yachties refer to it. Quite like the sound of that, Stella getting splashed! Makes a change from the crew getting sploshed! Despite being in quite a lot of pain Captain Ian soldiered on (it’s his discs you see needs to get his old 78’s replaced) and in no time at all he had Stella looking hot to trot. Brings a lump to your throat seeing how well the old girl scrubs up. Stripes on she was raring to go and show off in the water. Propellor count on Stella went from zero to 2 this week. Which is a relief, our local chandler chum came up trumps for us and not only returned the old one (needed it to make the new one) but also more importantly the new one in time for ‘Splash day’. Call us old fashioned but we’ve always found having a propellor quite useful. Stella was positively glowing with all her new bobs and bits. The Captain had one final treat for her a polish up on the old hull. The afternoon before ‘Splash day’ he plugged in his pod and set off waxing on and waxing off. ‘Splash day’ arrived and we had been told by Mr Lift that we or rather Stella was going in the water in the afternoon. So that morning the Captain continued to wax on wax off. I spent my time faffing something I’m really very good at, even if I do say so myself. Two o’clock came and so did Monsieur Lift and his rather large travel hoist he scooped Stella up (whilst we tried to put on the last drops of anti foul to cover where the props had been) and carried her off. She was then placed very carefully into the water and we hopped on. The Captain went below to check the new Sea cock was ok, he then burped Stella’s stern gland (I know all sounds very undignified and her a lady as well). All was in order. Time for the moment of truth, as the dinghy men approached to help us back to our berth the Captain went to start the engine. Would there be coughing and spluttering? Would there be black smoke? Would the darn thing start at all? Well you could have knocked us both down with a feather (and a lickle one at that). The engine sprang to life, no hesitation, no coughing and no smoke! Then came the second moment of truth as we eased out of the travel hoist area to return to our berth. (The wicked wind thought it would help us along by blowing 17 knts our way). I steered to starboard (right landlubbers) ever so slightly and you’ll never guess what, she went to Starboard. Stella Maris no longer had a wheel that thought it was a tiller, she now had a wheel that knew it was a wheel! We steamed out into the marina area and when the Captain asked me how she felt all I could say was ‘fast’. What a difference a new prop, clean bot and go faster stripes make! Unused to this new found speed as we moored up alongside Moli, I was bringing her in a little hotter and faster than usual and rather a lot of fending off was required. Stella is now tucked up snugly bugly alongside her chum Moli. What can I say readers other than it’s good to be back in the water. Saying Au revoir to the le bucket (you know the one I mean) was the first good-bye I’ve enjoyed! We’re now getting ready to leave Finike on the 1st May to head North to Fethiye (meet up with shipmates Carillion) and then onto Marmaris to meet up with chums from Crete. So the work goes on, it’s been going well Stella has her sails on and a new sail cover (she’ll be getting airs and graces above herself that one). The Captain has been carrying out some engine work, don’t worry he has started it since (only joshing). He’s also been up Stella & Moli’s masts the lickle mast monkey loves it up there! Goes without saying I’m still varnishing! Hi-light of the week was a trip out to a ‘traditional’ Turkish night. The night started well a nice meal accompanied by some Turkish folk music followed by some Turkish dancing. It then became apparent that the Turkish dancers were merely the warm up act for the grand finale a ‘Belly dancer’. The ‘Dancer de Belly’ shook and shimmied to the delight of the audience (particularly the males). After quite a bit of shimmying and shaking to the traditional Turkish tunes the tone of the evening changed slightly. Now I don’t claim to know a lot about Turkish music, but I never would have thought I’d be watching a Belly dancing writhing around to the sounds of 50 cent (that’s Gangster rap, to my more discerning readers). This was a definite turning point in the night. Next it was time for a bit of audience participation something our French shipmates are always quite keen on. What did we do, well we egged them on of course! Over the last couple of days some boats that are taking part in the Levant Basin rally have arrived in the marina, so it is a real hive of activity and excitement! Must dash oodles & oodles to do before we setsail. Well take care of yourselves me hearties, speak soon. Love, calm seas and gentle winds (in my dreams) The Minkey de Mast et le Minkey XX
Wednesday, 30 April 2008