Yeah, we finally have a date for our boat completion and handover, marking the start of our adventure into the world of ocean cruising on board our new home Let’s Dance. We had been expecting a departure in April/May, however production of the new model Lucia 40 has had its delays and we now fly out on 21 June, just 8 weeks away.
To say we are excited would be the understatement of the century, mixed also with a healthy dose of apprehension and perhaps even a little bit of ‘far out, what the hell are we doing?’
So what have we been doing since our last blog - well I know its sounds crazy but I have been learning to sail. Sailing 101. First, I did a competent crew course, I followed up with some shore-based training on rules and regulations (the stuff that keeps you safe) before completing my marine radio operator’s certificate. And finally I have done two seven night sails up and down the coast, earning the right to call myself an offshore skipper! There you have it, I can now sail around the world!
Qualifications, Tick – Experience, Required
What Else
Well, we have packed two boxes of gear and sent them on their merry way to La Rochelle, France (hope we see them again) and I have been selling everything that is not nailed down - beds, furniture, cars, bikes, you name it, its goooone; this down sizing thing is fun. When we moved from a large home in Port Macquarie to a 2 bedroom apartment in Sydney, to be completely honest we struggled to let things go – things that we had accumulated over a lifetime together were hard to cast aside, but you know what – it’s just stuff, the more you let go the easier it gets. In moving from our current apartment to a boat we’ve had to be even more ruthless, but we have done it.
We have successfully leased our property in Sydney. A friend of ours will be taking very good care of our place while we are away. I have also been looking after the little things, you know, those things that you don’t normally think about because you take care of them year on year as they roll around - mail, insurances, licences, electoral roll, communications (both here and how we plan to communicate whilst away), storage for some of the stuff we are leaving behind, health checks etc. There are so many little things that require attention that I am sure we will miss something.
Saying Our Goodbye’s
We have started travelling on weekends to catch up with friends and family to say our goodbye’s and our spare bedroom is booked every other weekend from now until our departure with people dropping in to share a weekend with us in Sydney town. Our first month aboard Let’s Dance might have to be a dry one.
See You In The Med
While I’ve been managing the prep work for departure, Marita has been working harder and longer than ever. She really will miss her work place, she loves it here in Sydney and has a real passion for pathology and her part of the business. At this stage it wouldn’t surprise me if she worked right up to the day we fly out. It will be nice to see a little more of her, after all, over the years we have both done our fair share of long days and many nights away.
Blog Site Tweaks
We have made some minor tweaks to our blog site. Become a subscriber to our page and automatically be notified every time we post news from abroad. We are working on a blog comments box, but we have a Facebook linking problem at the moment, watch this space.
Here is the latest from Fountaine Pajot http://www.multihullsolutions.com.au/boats/new/sail-multihulls/lucia-40/ (then click on the video link at the top of the page).
Short and sweet, counting down the sleeps.
Stay safe, cheers
M&M