FRUSTRATION AND WAITING

12 June 2023

It has been a lovely weekend in the marina.  Lots of new friends to chat with and share a beer.  Some new friends know other friends so we have something in common.  As lovely as marina life can be it also slowly sucks the life out of you.  The good news is that Mickey has undergone surgery, been reinstalled and is ready to go again.

Last Thursday the search for a workshop that could repair Mickey proved fruitless.  I must admit to becoming quite frustrated at the attitude of the locals.  They didn’t seem to understand that my problem should really concern them.  Friday, I trekked around the industrial area from one shop to another, always being sent somewhere else that could do the job.  Finally after visiting the fifth shop I had success – but of course the weekend is coming and nothing will happen until Monday.  Nothing I could do but enjoy the weekend.

Monday, the ladies at the marina office helped me phone the workshop.  It turned out the manager wasn’t available (still sleeping), and nobody knew what was happening.  Finally, a couple of hours later it was confirmed the work was complete.  I took a taxi to the workshop.  The workshop had no facility to take a credit card so a taxi trip to the bank and return.  Finally, cash handed over I had the repairs in hand, the repairs look good, they have inserted helecoils into the screw holes, everything seems tight now. 

I had planned sailing in the afternoon so took the taxi to the immigration office, just making it before they shut for lunch.  Then I had to go to the customs office and Port captains’ office for clearance out.  Well, it was lunch time so I had to wait.  The walk to customs was a long way, the paperwork process, although simple took a long time.  Then it was onto the Port Captains office, another long walk.  By the time I had the clearance in hand it was mid-afternoon, and I was hot and tired.  I needed a beer. My enthusiasm for sailing had disappeared and sailing in a hurry when tired is not good.  So, I booked another night in the marina, will have a good nights rest and be fresh for sailing in the morning.  The rest of the afternoon I spent reinstalling Mickey and checking everything was working properly.

Looking at the weather forecast the next leg of the trip across to Australia could be a slow affair, the winds are predicted to be very light. But, the swell and waves also look low so should be slow but comfortable. I have stocked up on a few food items, not too much as its crazy expensive here and any excess may be confiscated upon arrival on Australia.