Wet pants

Tuesday, 04 September 2017
Hi, it’s Mark here. As I am flying back to Oz tomorrow I offered to do the blog today.
After the usual night at anchor, getting up occasionally to silence noises, we woke to a dull morning with promise of humidity.
We had to get 27 boxes for the Luganville Health Centre from Jon’s cabin up on deck then into the dinghy for collection from the beach at 0800, which we timed to perfection, more by good luck than good management. So good to have that space available for a bunk.

Our day involved a trip into Luganville to get some electrical spares. But as Rob was with us, we first went to the slip yard to see Ken’s trawler-yacht Trinity Castle, who was involved with MSM in 2013 and who recently broke his propeller shaft. We went to several engineering shops and electrical stores without much success. The stores here close at lunchtime, forcing us to the Natangora Café for lunch. Whilst there Barry, Annette and Richard arrived from doing the Oral Health Survey for their lunch. So many MSM and PCV shirts in one café!

Back on board Chimere, Jon started work on repairing the old solenoid, to keep as a spare for the anchor winch. Tonight, we went over to Aore Island for tea with Christer and Ann, who were dental staff of Mission Three, for them to meet Rob.

One of the joys of being on a yacht and commuting to the shore by dinghy is having a wet bum. Unless the water is completely flat (surf less than a foot high) and the sand is gently shelving, you have to jump out of the dinghy into what you hope is knee deep water (the water here is very clear and often you can see the bottom in 5 metres of water), to help steady the dinghy, turn it around, keep the propeller out of the sand and so on. Also, when leaving the shore you jump from knee deep water onto the dinghy and swing your wet feet across where you will be sitting, dripping salt water. And, often enough water splashes up from the bow bashing into waves, to wet your upper legs and hips. There’s no point washing and changing as you will be doing it all again shortly, so you have a wet bum all day. I don’t know if anyone has any salt water sores on their bum – no one has said anything. I am taking a wet bum as a good thing – it means I am not at the office!
Fair winds and smooth seas
Mark Stephenson
For those who don’t know me, I am from Devonport, Tasmania. I recently retired from over 30 years at Centrelink and have been involved with building and sailing a steel yacht for most of my adult life. I first met Rob last December when he sailed Chimere into Devonport.
For those that do know me, thank you for your prayers and support during these last two months.