The day before the launch all systems seemed ready to go but as usual in times of great expectation sods law steps in and kicks you in the teeth.
As you can seen in the videos it was as if Chasca did not want to venture onto the sea to spend her next few years in this new big wide world.
I should have reversed all the way down to the jetty, it would have been much easier. I'll know next time
I had chosen a week when the tides were at their slackest and it seemed to take an age for the tide to come in far enough to start the launching procedure so I decided to splice an eye in the mooring rope that would be used when Chasca finally sailed to her berth where, with a bit of luck she will spend the summer months.
Pass over the next video if you don't want to be bored with me displaying one of my old skills as I kill time.
This next video is of Chasca eventually getting her hull wet but refusing to power up after behaving so beautifully at home.
Sods law, when the vital moment arrives the engine starts but splutters so bad that the small engine had to power her to the berth. Hold your ears or concentrate on the wind noise if you do not wish to hear the oaths of me as I struggle to tempt Chasca's main engine to fire properly and allow me to continue towards the mooring with some dignity.
As you can see it was like trying to persuade a stranded whale to head back out to sea.
All that was missing was some whimpering, but then again maybe it could not be heard above my curses.
She is now lying alongside the pontoon where after going through the eliminating procedure I am waiting for a spare part to be delivered which with any luck will solve the problem and have her ready when the fish begin to show.
The only consolation so far is that the weather hasn't been too great and any boats that have been out came back with no fish at all, so its a case of nothing lost, nothing gained for the time being.
Lets hope that the next installment will bring the positive and interesting stories you have all been expecting or Chasca's new life will be short lived.
I am sure by now if you have watched all the videos, you will have begun to doubt that I had ever been at sea but I can assure you that these small boats are a long way from the boats I was used to and I realize that I have a lot of learning to do yet.
Thanks to Robbie who can be seen assisting me and who has had more experience than me with small boats, my education will be short,sweet and rapid.
Hope you all find it as amusing as Pat, my partner did and who can be heard laughing in the background while filming our escapade.
My entrance would have been more dignified if I could have used the controls for the big engine and stood proud at the wheel, with all controls at hand. The small engine is for emergencies only, sits on the starboard corner and has manual controls for the throttle, and a gear that works one way. If you need to go astern you have to turn the whole engine around, hence the extreme difficulty in handling a stubborn Chasca.
Never mind, they say a bad start is a good finish, lets hope so for Chasca's sake.
I was not the only one to have misfortunes that day.
The man who launched his boat after me managed to pull his trailer into the harbour, where it had to be extracted next day at low tide by a digger.
