The Call

Rather frustratingly last week we had been awaiting a call confirming Moonshine's month long incarceration was at an end and that repairs had been completed.  Unfortunately, this wasn't received until the latter end of the week, which in turn had spoilt our plans to have the half term week away after being promised she would be ready for our holiday at the start of the week. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and discovered Kildale Marine had not yet completed the additional wiring required for the new anchor winch, so we left them to it and was finally free to board Moonshine at 4pm. We had been itching all week to get away on her, however we would rather the job be done properly, and it did allow us to complete a few involved jobs on the house namely replacing two upstairs windows, but once these were completed we had been sat twiddling our thumbs some what unable to make any firm plans.

 

On the Friday pm tide we departed Hull Marina for a few hours downstream for sea trials to test the new anchor winch, and anchor and roller set up.  The new winch has a combination gypsy which can deal with chain and rope, which handles the job very well and is very powerful. The new winch is also incredibly quiet in operation, unlike the old one.  We anchored off Brickyard Chimney upstream of North Kilingholme. 

 

 

 

After a successful winch trial we had a speedy return back to Hull Marina, and penned in with another sports cruiser. 

 

The outdoor amphitheater in the old Ruscador dry dock also known as Central dry dock next to the River Hull has recently been completed ready for Hull City of Culture 2017.

 

 

 

We departed Hull on the late pm tide on Saturday to return to our home port of Goole.  We had a very calm fast run back until Blacktoft, where we reported in to Goole Docks and were told there would be a bit of a wait whilst they despatched two outward ships. At this point we slowed down to displacement speed and trickled up to Goole, where at this stage we had just a short wait whilst 'Vastanvik' had enough water to set sail.  Once through Ocean Lock and South Dock Bridge Moonshine's mast was raised to get benefit from the remote spotlight to assist entry into our mooring at Goole Boathouse. 

Forget Me...Not!!!!

We had started to forget we owned a boat, but since we have only been parted company for the last 2 weeks which in practice feels like an eternity, we decided to have a run to Hull in the car to check on Moonshine's progress.

She is coming along nicely, with most of the fibre glass work completed.  The winch has been partially fitted, however the fitters are unsure at the moment as to whether the existing cabling is up to the job as the new winch has 200w more power.  A new bow roller has been fabricated ready for fitting (the fitters had ordered a replacement Lewmar bow roller but considered it far too flimsy, hence the new fabrication which looks fantastic!), and the new Lewmar anchor is ready and waiting on the workshop floor to be fitted.   Moonshine's names on her bow are being removed to accommodate her new names port and starboard to replace her damaged ones.

We are hoping she is ready to be relaunched by the end of this week for a week away during the half term holidays, however this may be scuppered if the repairs over run or we need to approach our insurance company due to any additional costs....fingers crossed....

Dropping Off

On Sunday morning we awoke to a bright and chilly start, which was in stark contrast to the previous mornings fog. We enjoyed a good uneventful run to Hull Marina in a NW3, as Moonshine is booked in to undergo repairs to the damage a Dutch yacht caused to her anchor and winch whilst moored in Brighton Marina back in August.

Moonshine is provisionally booked in for repairs for the next three weeks, hopefully she will be ready for our week away at the end of the month.