Boaty on the move

For those who may or may not already know, Justin and I have become the proud parents to a 1927 Derwent Class racing yacht. I know, sounds tres chic, glamourous and brings to mind cocktails in sun, flimsy swimming costumes, and sunny times swishing along the french rivera perhaps. I know that's what sprung to my mind when Justin announced the imminent purchase of said boat.

I am told by some resident old sea dogs that it is a Huon Pine boat, so very good quality, and will last a lifetime given the care and attention so deserving to yacht such as this. But I wasn't quite prepared for what presented itself to me as Justin gleefully gesticulated to the wharf opposite the motel, at the tired old grungy boat, harnessed to the the wharf, rolling about aimlessly waiting for a good time.

Is that it? Where's the yacht? Where's the cocktails? The glam? *SIGH*

But I will admit on closer inspection of the said vessel, I felt for the little tacker. Actually it was a lot bigger close up, and from the inside of that grimy cabin, I felt like the boat was saying a quiet little thank you to us for rescuing it from it's watery prison.

Upon doing a bit of research on the Derwent class yacht, we found a few good pictures of them in action- they were actually pretty fast boats and specifically designed to race up and down the Derwent River. "Pixie", as we discovered was her original name, was built in Hobart as part of a series of boats names after various mythological and fairytale creatures. So the name has to stay, as apparantly it is bad luck to change them (another old sea dog told me this).

Originally there was no cabin, but in our restoration we plan to keep the cabin (where else will we store the cocktail making equipment?) Our first plan was to raise the good ship Pixie and take her across land to a cradle at the back of the motel to be worked on lovingly by Justin and various other visiting sea dogs. (There are a lot of sea dogs around Wynyard). So in true Justin style, he made it so. The journey was surprisingly easy, and not fraught with the headaches we thought we might encounter. Everything fell into place and Pixie was hoisted ashore to the realms of the landlubbers for a spell.

So far we have had a spot of barnacle scraping, and Justin even managed to find a live fish in one of the boat's orafaces. The boat now rests in the back yard, adding a very pleasing garden ornamentation and conversation piece for our guests.

We have had many people swing past for a look, and some have brought around tools we might need for the challenge. I have had a few sea dogs say encouragingly to me, that it will look just beautiful when it's finished. I'm hanging on to the dream that it will.

In a quiet moment today, I stood outside with Pixie, our boaty, and could swear I heard a small sign of relief from the poor thing. "I am loved again", she said, "and looking forward to a margarita or two on the high seas around Wynyard when the work is all done." You and me both Miss Pixie, you and me both!

So if you are headed our way, come and have a look at Pixie, there's plenty of painting and scrubbing to go around for everyone!

Ahoy!

Cyndia