The Arrival
Introduction
We'd bought a boat! We'd been allocated a mooring. All that was needed was to bring the two together. Simple, no? My experience involving boats, sea and weather however, meant I wasn't surprised when things turned out to be less than straightforward. One always sails 'towards' a destination, never 'to'. 'To' implies a certainty which just doesn't exist in the sailing world! Nonetheless, we had embraked on this venture and needed to ensure that boat and mooring came together. We had one month in which to make it happen.
Background
She was called Duermevela and we'd fallen in love with her from the moment we saw her. A Westerly Centaur 26 built in 1977; a time when Westerly yachts were well known for their quality of build, both inside and out. 2444 were built between 1969 and 1980 and there were still many of them providing pleasurable sailing for their owners; they had also held their price well.
We'd risen to the top of the list for a mooring in our local marina and were told in early November that we had one month to buy a boat. Without a boat we couldn't sign the contract for a mooring and would have to go back on the waiting list, loosing our 100€ deposit in the process.
We thought we'd sorted a provisional arrangement with a friend to moor his boat in our mooring to give us more time to find a boat. That idea was scuppered when we were told by our contact in the marina office, that the Junta de Andalucia required a signed Bill of Sale which had to be registered and lodged with the port authorities. We were down to one week and beginning to think that may be the best option was to loose our deposit rather than buy a boat just to tie up in the mooring. However, when my daily email of listings of boats for sale in Spain arrived, there was Duermevela. She looked in good condition and was advertised by a broker some 40 kms along the coast. Arrangements to meet brought to light that the boat was actually moored a 3 hour drive away in Cádiz. A few days later we were on our way to meet with the broker and one of the owners of Duermevela.
We first caught a glimpse of her as we pulled up alongside the Rio San Pedro where she was moored on a pontoon. The tidal height in the river can vary some 3.5m and there is a strong current. We clambered aboard, inspected all, including the engine and then went for a short motor around. The tide was coming in and the current strong. The inboard engine coped admirably and when we returned to the mooring a price was negotiated and agreed, including sailing of the boat round to our home port the following Friday, December 8th.
Reporting back to the marina office, there was relief all round.
We'd bought a boat! We'd been allocated a mooring. All that was needed was to bring the two together. Simple, no? My experience involving boats, sea and weather however, meant I wasn't surprised when things turned out to be less than straightforward. One always sails 'towards' a destination, never 'to'. 'To' implies a certainty which just doesn't exist in the sailing world! Nonetheless, we had embraked on this venture and needed to ensure that boat and mooring came together. We had one month in which to make it happen.
Background
She was called Duermevela and we'd fallen in love with her from the moment we saw her. A Westerly Centaur 26 built in 1977; a time when Westerly yachts were well known for their quality of build, both inside and out. 2444 were built between 1969 and 1980 and there were still many of them providing pleasurable sailing for their owners; they had also held their price well.
We'd risen to the top of the list for a mooring in our local marina and were told in early November that we had one month to buy a boat. Without a boat we couldn't sign the contract for a mooring and would have to go back on the waiting list, loosing our 100€ deposit in the process.
We thought we'd sorted a provisional arrangement with a friend to moor his boat in our mooring to give us more time to find a boat. That idea was scuppered when we were told by our contact in the marina office, that the Junta de Andalucia required a signed Bill of Sale which had to be registered and lodged with the port authorities. We were down to one week and beginning to think that may be the best option was to loose our deposit rather than buy a boat just to tie up in the mooring. However, when my daily email of listings of boats for sale in Spain arrived, there was Duermevela. She looked in good condition and was advertised by a broker some 40 kms along the coast. Arrangements to meet brought to light that the boat was actually moored a 3 hour drive away in Cádiz. A few days later we were on our way to meet with the broker and one of the owners of Duermevela.
We first caught a glimpse of her as we pulled up alongside the Rio San Pedro where she was moored on a pontoon. The tidal height in the river can vary some 3.5m and there is a strong current. We clambered aboard, inspected all, including the engine and then went for a short motor around. The tide was coming in and the current strong. The inboard engine coped admirably and when we returned to the mooring a price was negotiated and agreed, including sailing of the boat round to our home port the following Friday, December 8th.
Reporting back to the marina office, there was relief all round.
The relief was short lived however, as a few days later we received a call to tell us that the turning mechansim for the furling genoa was faulty and the whole rig would be replaced. It meant the boat coming out of the water to complete the work. The arrival of Duermevela was put back yet again, to Tuesday/Wednesday of the following week. Meanwhile, the broker who'd been liaising on our behalf was off to Brasil on holiday. We arranged to meet the second owner of Duermevela to sign a binding contract commiting us all to the change of ownership. The change over date was to be a few days hence depending on the weather and completion of the new genoa rig.
Cue entrance of Storm Ana! Seas were huge, winds gale force. Lifting the boat out of the water had to wait. Back in the marina office we passed on the latest information and were told that the boat had to be on the mooring by the following Sunday, six days hence. On relaying that information to Duermevela's present owners, we were sent a series of photos to show us why it would be imposible to comply with that deadline. Once out of the water, it had become clear that Duermevela's hull, keels and prop needed to be cleaned due to a massive build-up of barnacles.
The marina office staff were not amused! We'd already been given several extensions and decisions needed to be made. Making an
impassioned plea and using logic to justify our stay of execution, we were allocated the mooring F71! The delivery date was scheduled for either Wednesday 20th or Thursday 21st December.
We learned today (Monday) that delivery was unlikely to be on either of the two last dates suggested. Duermevela is now back in the water and waiting for a weather window to come through the Straits of Gibraltar. Tomorrow and Wednesday the wind is strong and will be right on the nose. Thursday is looking better before strong winds once again present themselves. If the crew can get Duermevela through the Straits during the lull, it may be that we will see her here at the weekend, just in time for our Christmas present to each other!
Tomorrow I must brave the office staff in the marina once more and plead for another extension. At least the first four months of the mooring is paid for and they will hopefully be gentle with me!
The latest photos we've received of her cleaned hull and propellor make the waiting a little bit easier to bear. That's one job we won't need to do for another year or so.
impassioned plea and using logic to justify our stay of execution, we were allocated the mooring F71! The delivery date was scheduled for either Wednesday 20th or Thursday 21st December.
We learned today (Monday) that delivery was unlikely to be on either of the two last dates suggested. Duermevela is now back in the water and waiting for a weather window to come through the Straits of Gibraltar. Tomorrow and Wednesday the wind is strong and will be right on the nose. Thursday is looking better before strong winds once again present themselves. If the crew can get Duermevela through the Straits during the lull, it may be that we will see her here at the weekend, just in time for our Christmas present to each other!
Tomorrow I must brave the office staff in the marina once more and plead for another extension. At least the first four months of the mooring is paid for and they will hopefully be gentle with me!
The latest photos we've received of her cleaned hull and propellor make the waiting a little bit easier to bear. That's one job we won't need to do for another year or so.
On the Way!
Christmas spirit abounds! Nothing other than cheerfulness and helpfulness in the marina office. It helped that I'd received a message to say that Duermevela was on her way early Wednesday morning (20th Dec). Eta is now Friday Dec 22nd. We await further news as to approximate arrival time as we'd like to watch her coming in. The excitement notches up a degree.
Nearly Here!
A call this afternoon (Thursday) to let us know that Duermevela will be arriving in the port and at our mooring in the early hours of Friday morning. We won't be able to watch her sail across the bay into the port unless we happen to be up and can spot her navigation lights. The feeling of excitement is rising and I'm not sure how much sleep will be had tonight. Nell has taken to needing to go outside each morning around 5am. If she does this tomorrow, I may be tempted to see the boat on the mooring. Sod's Law though, it'll be the one night when she sleeps late! It seems to have been such a long time to get to this stage, however in reality, it's more to do with the hurdles we've had to jump through rather than length of time. Tomorrow awaits!
Arrival
Sod's Law, I had to wake Nell up to go out this morning at 6.30am! It was still dark and I peered into the gloom to see if I could make out Duermevela on the mooring. I eventually caught sight of the radar antenna on the mast and knew she'd arrived! I rushed back with the news and waited impatiently until dawn broke and we could see her properly.
The arrangement was that we'd get a call around 10am to meet up and complete formalities of the transfer of ownership, however we couldn't contain ourselves from walking along to get closer to the mooring beforehand. She looked good and even better than we'd anticipated.
Eventually we made it on board and had a final check before handover. Duermevela was finally ours.
A friend joined us for lunch and of course we had to show off our boat afterwards. I can see the learning curve will be a great one for Chris. As we stepped ashore, he had one foot on the quayside and one on the boat. As the boat moved away from the quayside, so he started to do the splits. It seemed to take him an age to realise that he had to be one side or the other if he wasn't to fall into the water. He eventually managed, just in time, to scramble back onto the boat completely! Fun times ahead, that's for sure!
Christmas spirit abounds! Nothing other than cheerfulness and helpfulness in the marina office. It helped that I'd received a message to say that Duermevela was on her way early Wednesday morning (20th Dec). Eta is now Friday Dec 22nd. We await further news as to approximate arrival time as we'd like to watch her coming in. The excitement notches up a degree.
Nearly Here!
A call this afternoon (Thursday) to let us know that Duermevela will be arriving in the port and at our mooring in the early hours of Friday morning. We won't be able to watch her sail across the bay into the port unless we happen to be up and can spot her navigation lights. The feeling of excitement is rising and I'm not sure how much sleep will be had tonight. Nell has taken to needing to go outside each morning around 5am. If she does this tomorrow, I may be tempted to see the boat on the mooring. Sod's Law though, it'll be the one night when she sleeps late! It seems to have been such a long time to get to this stage, however in reality, it's more to do with the hurdles we've had to jump through rather than length of time. Tomorrow awaits!
Arrival
Sod's Law, I had to wake Nell up to go out this morning at 6.30am! It was still dark and I peered into the gloom to see if I could make out Duermevela on the mooring. I eventually caught sight of the radar antenna on the mast and knew she'd arrived! I rushed back with the news and waited impatiently until dawn broke and we could see her properly.
The arrangement was that we'd get a call around 10am to meet up and complete formalities of the transfer of ownership, however we couldn't contain ourselves from walking along to get closer to the mooring beforehand. She looked good and even better than we'd anticipated.
Eventually we made it on board and had a final check before handover. Duermevela was finally ours.
A friend joined us for lunch and of course we had to show off our boat afterwards. I can see the learning curve will be a great one for Chris. As we stepped ashore, he had one foot on the quayside and one on the boat. As the boat moved away from the quayside, so he started to do the splits. It seemed to take him an age to realise that he had to be one side or the other if he wasn't to fall into the water. He eventually managed, just in time, to scramble back onto the boat completely! Fun times ahead, that's for sure!