The Big Splash

The day has finally arrived! We are ready to splash Liahona - to get her floating in the water! Our 1:00 appointment slot had come and gone. We were anxious to get on the water as we had a slip waiting for us about 30 minutes away. We had to motor there because our sails were taken off due to the boat being stored over the last 9 months. It is a tremendous job to install all of the sails.

At 4:00 we were invited back to watch the 8-man team move the boat toward the water. The first step was to hoist and lower her onto a truck to move her to "the Giant Green Hulk"- the boat lift that would take her off of the truck, and gently place her into the water. This was quite a process. Many things happened at once; the supports were loosened and removed, while the boat was situated on the hauler truck, white the bottom of the keel was painted, while the team worked together to squeeze Liahona between many other boats that were precariously poised at their resting places. Finally, she reached the Big Green Hulk, was transferred and lowered into the water. SPLASH!!!

Of course, our docking appointment had passed, and that marina was closed. We spent our first night at the dock at Clarke's Court. They squeezed us in between 2 boats, with only a few feet between us.

The first night I had trouble sleeping. I, unlike Tim, was not used to all of the sounds emanating from the boat, the lines, the fenders, the dock, the water and the other boats. I ended up sleeping in the pilot's birth - an extra bed, more centrally located and away from the noise. The next morning, we awoke and set off for Secret Harbour. Luckily, we had help getting out of there.