Launch Day

We set our alarm clock reasonably early on 10 April to tackle the last couple of tasks before launch. We reconnected the fridge to its normal plumbing, put out fenders and lines and stowed the power cable. At 8am we were ready to go and spoke with the lift-in team who promised to be with us very soon; we’d be number 2 lift-in. They finished launching the first yacht and then came back for us. The transporter was carefully positioned around the cradle BV was sitting in and tongues of metal extended underneath the cradle. The transporter then lifted the cradle with BV and moved though the yard, across the main road, and over to where the travel hoist was waiting for us.

The travel hoist lifted BV off the cradle, which was then moved away, just as the first yacht to be launched gunned her engine and moved away to make space for us in the launch area. This was a slick operation!

Inching forwards, the travel hoist moved BV out over the water and lowered her down. This was when we were allowed back on board to check for any leaks. Once we were satisfied that there were none, the slings were removed.

We fired up the engine, which sprang into life first turn of the key, and left it idling whilst we adjusted lines and got ready to move off. At this point the engine died and refused to start again. How embarassing, we might end up messing up the yard’s slick launching operation! The last throes of the engine sounded like fuel starvation and so we had visions of fuel pipes blocked by the dreaded diesel bug. Not a nice thought. We made a few checks, quickly changed the fuel filters for good measure and then fired the engine up again – success! Just as well that the boat yard staff had been moving a few yachts around in the yard before they returned with the third launch for the day. That had given us just enough time to get the engine running again. However, the engine failing was a concern. There were no indications in the filters of diesel bug, perhaps some air had got into the system over winter; very odd, and definitely something to monitor carefully.

BV afloat again

However, we had other things to concentrate on. It is quite shallow in Koiládhia bay and so we moved off quite gingerly. Once clear of the dredged channel we watched the depth gauge drop almost to our draught (2m) but eventually were able to anchor in 2.5 metres, which was much more comfortable.

Looking down whilst fixing the wind anenometer to the masthead   

Whilst it was great to be afloat again, there was still a list of jobs that needed doing and so, after lunch, Nicky found herself winching me up to the masthead so that I could refit the wind anenometer/indicator which we had removed for the winter. I also lubricated the sheeves and checked the rigging on the way down. Fortunately, I found nothing amiss.

It wasn’t all just work; I managed to also stop on the way down to take a couple of photos. The lower one towards the boat yard and the upper one looking at Nisís Koiládhia, the small islet just off the town which is apparently owned by a wealthy Greek shipping magnate. We were one of just 10 yachts anchored in the bay, far quieter than when we had lifted out in Spetember.

Sunset looking at at Koiládhia   

We were both delighted to be afloat and properly on board BV again and the sunset for our first night afloat this year was fabulous; hopefully the first of many.

BV at sunset anchored off Koiládhia   

Koiládhia, Greece