The BIG launch!
The day had arrived. Time for Aretia to have the first taste of briney water. The usual epics to be expected though we were a little more confident that the boat was going to go in compared to lauching Red Star Last year. Red Star with it's fin keel drew 5ft. Aretia 18inches. So launching the boat was hopefully going to be a case of just 'lobbing' it in.
The scariest bit was towing the boat from Langar Marina to the coast. Having decided not to do battle with the morning rush hour I left at 06.00am. All good all the way to Boston. As soon as I came through Boston there was an inch of snow of the ground and worse black ice under the snow. On the main A52 I was doing no more than 15mph. Specific nerves started to twitch when without warning the whole rig (Isuzu Trooper and Trailer and Boat) slid sideways down the camber on the road. 200m on and there was the enevitable pile up. Me not included thankfuly. A52 closed for an hour. It slowly got better after this and made it to Skeg for 09.00am. A little faffing around with the boat and it was off to Tesco for Brekkie.
Mast up using the gin stick, replaced the coving line with something that would stick this time. Boat fully rigged all good to go. Only issue was the tide. Being sure to ensure the tide was high enough to launch we inadvertantly picked one of the 2 highest this year. An average spring high hits 6m whilst we were looking at 7.5m. (piccie of Wells Harbour on same day)
This means the whole marsh area goes under water. Plenty of water for launching but could be an issue fo the Isuzu which would be under water. Decided to launch in the morining instead. At the boat at dawn, hithced up the trailer and dropped Aretia in no worries. Started the outboard all looking good. The got the Rudder downhaul wrapped around the prop. Not only this but pulled a chunk out of the Rudder. So after removing the rudder it was engine only to steer. Mooring was it's usual fun with the 
parking the bow on the bank tenchnique offically recognised as being one of the most effective./ Tied off and proced to fix the new Radio in. John was more concerned with how I was going to get off the ship. Again the trusty ladder was used. Off to Tescos for a well earned mighty fry up whilst Aretia settled in to her new home.
Mast up using the gin stick, replaced the coving line with something that would stick this time. Boat fully rigged all good to go. Only issue was the tide. Being sure to ensure the tide was high enough to launch we inadvertantly picked one of the 2 highest this year. An average spring high hits 6m whilst we were looking at 7.5m. (piccie of Wells Harbour on same day)
This means the whole marsh area goes under water. Plenty of water for launching but could be an issue fo the Isuzu which would be under water. Decided to launch in the morining instead. At the boat at dawn, hithced up the trailer and dropped Aretia in no worries. Started the outboard all looking good. The got the Rudder downhaul wrapped around the prop. Not only this but pulled a chunk out of the Rudder. So after removing the rudder it was engine only to steer. Mooring was it's usual fun with the 
parking the bow on the bank tenchnique offically recognised as being one of the most effective./ Tied off and proced to fix the new Radio in. John was more concerned with how I was going to get off the ship. Again the trusty ladder was used. Off to Tescos for a well earned mighty fry up whilst Aretia settled in to her new home. On returning we decided we needed to finish off the Jetty. A case of build your own in this neck of the woods. After a little thought, and I mean a little a GUCCI jetty was decided upon, one on which we could actually get on to the boat without worring about disappearing in to the mud.
The Result. (Looks like it grew there!)
So all was good Aretia still afloat it was time to go home. Only to return 2 days later to check out the channel. Next posting La Manche!
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