An emotional reunion with MnM as we all remember how well we got on when we met after the sale. We navigate down to Cleopatra boatyard in their motorhome, a very comfortable drive of about 50 miles, Loulouditsi looks fine – the re-rigging, which we commissioned in October, has finally been done (when we chased last week the response was, no problem, it’ll be done in time – and it was!) As expected, she’s covered in boatyard dust, so we move around carefully so as not to spread it around down below. Mike and John open up and we go below.
Mike shows us how to turn all the power on and check the battery charge. The voltage looks fine, but the amps are not as expected. surprisingly, all the switches are on, but some work’s been done over the winter, so perhaps that’s why. Then, the aft cabin starts to fill with fumes. Mike quickly realises the diesel heater is firing up, but the exhaust outlet is closed off. He turns everything off, Mary opens hatches to clear the boat and between them they work out what’s happened and sort it out. They have owned the boat from new in 1999, sailed around the UK and then down to the Med, so they know her inside out. We have so much to learn and we thank our lucky stars that they’re so willing to pass on their knowlege so we can enjoy her as much as they have. Legally, the sale happened in August, but in reality, ownership is still transferring. It’s a process, not an event.
Mary soon has the aft cabin cleared and she and I make up the bed while the chaps get our bags up the ladder and down below. We’d planned to hose the dust off today, but it’s late and we decide to leave it til tomorrow.
Over an excellent meal at the marina restaurant, we reconnect and relax and laugh together. The litre of wine doesn’t last us into the meal, so we somehow need another. The next 10 days working together feel like a lovely prospect and we head back to our beds relaxed.
MnM are in their motorhome parked opposite us between the boats. We take a while to settle, pottering around the boat, which feels huge! We keep losing things and have to look in every bag til we find what we need. In our king size bed in the aft cabin, this feels totally normal and surreal at the same time.
We’ve arranged to start work at 9.30 tomorrow. It’s now nearly 1am, John’s asleep already and I’m signing off now. Night night from aboard Loulouditsi.