What a beautiful avenue to your journey, Dr Pete.
Sometimes there's circumstances that prompt one to buy a boat or others that happen around the time of purchase...or whenever, for that matter, that can taint the whole experience. It leaves us totally unconnected with the boat we had so fallen in love with and wondering what the hell to do next.
This happened when we bought our Crowther Eureka in my profile pic in Lake Macquarie. My dear old Dad who we though was as fit as a Mallee Bull had helped us get gear from Brisbane down to LM in preparation for bringing the boat home. He decided, out of the blue, to drive back to Brissie, and basically upon arrival, suffered a major heart attack and died.
My world was turned upside. I couldn't see through the fog of my loss. The boat stayed in LM. Dear Husband didn't know what to do. I was in no fit emotional state to do even a coastal trip from LM to Bne - especially with 2 young kids on a boat that was turning out to be plagued with engine and steering issues.
Long story short, DH and a delivery skipper eventually brought the boat home. I hated her! I think I blamed her for my loss! I seriously felt that I had lost my passion for sailing and the ocean! I cannot begin to tell you how this devastated me! For me, this was to say I had lost the will to live!
BUT, like you and your bro-in-law and nephew did, we used the boat and it all came right and I got my mojo back!!
We refitted her last year and rid her of all the bad energy from her previous owner who was a bad, bad man. I rubbed her and painted her and sang to her for months.
Then we did the same trip that you did...plus a little further, up as far as Gt Keppel.
Some of Dad's ashes are out in the lagoon.......it was one of his very special places too!
Enjoy your beautiful girl now...sing to her, rub her, and buy some nice paper charts and other proper nav gear...your girl will appreciate it!
Now you know it wasn't a stupid decision to buy her, hey????
Trace
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