Time flies, doesn't it?

Well it's been several days since I was committed, and things got all kind of busy. The short version is that the sign over had to wait for the funds transfer (Curse you, inconvenient time zones!) but then went ahead without a hitch. I met the now-former owner and had a bit of a chat, but nothing that was particularly revealing, except that he is a former navy pilot, and the boat was named after the World War 2 vintage navy fighter of the same name. He seems a nice enough chap and asked me to email him the outcomes of the 'big trip'.

So we handed over our various bits of paper, and the broker handed me the key. Metaphorically, anyway, as the main hatch is actually secured with a combination lock. I had already booked our hotel accommodation through to the next day, which is just as well as it turns out that they wouldn't let us move in until I could provide evidence of insurance.

Now insurance is all well and good, and I had fully intended to get it. But it turns out that marinas over here don't just want to you to have insurance, they want to see evidence that the marina itself is included on the policy as 'co-insured'. Just what this means is a bit of mystery, but it's done. I'm still struggling with the idea that if you change marinas, the next one has to be individually added to your insurance policy. What if you were cruising through several? Seems a tad silly to me, but at least it didn't add anything to the cost.

So, we moved aboard on Thursday, 23rd February, shortly before lunch. (Local time.) Since then I have been running up and down the boat (not literally, of course) trying to get things working or replaced. At the same time I've started the process of getting the Australian Ship registration in place. I've purchased an autopilot, and a chart-plotter, a new anchor, and a pair of binoculars. To see things with, obviously.

What's that? Did I say 'we'? Why yes. I may or may not (I can't remember) have mentioned that my younger son has joined me for the project. So "I" should actually be read as "we" from now on, unless it's about doing something really clever, in which case it's just me.

So, items done ... replaced the macerator (the 'poo pump' I talked about last time);  managed to get the old and rusted in place navigation lights off both bow and stern and will get the new ones on tomorrow; flushed out the water tank with Chlorox several times so that it now seems drinkable as against the water being a weird green-brown colour with lumps in it as it was, (seems drinkable to me anyway, I think James still has reservations about, but I'm still walking around so I guess it's OK.) and ... stuff.

Weather has been delightful. Clear, sunny days mostly, though pretty cool at night. Not as cold as Canberra, but otherwise similar.

So, that'll do for now. James and I are sharing a single wireless broadband account here, so we do have connectivity for the next several weeks. I'll try to be a bit more forthcoming about the progress.

W.