Despite all the hard work done on the boat, we had some fun this year during the process. Boat yards inspire a sort of ready comradeship: owners working on their boats in the yard find themselves chatting with the other owners also working on their boats. Asks for advice and exchange of tools, materials and favours is “yard currency”. For example, we rented a car and our boatyard pals took rides into Tapachula on numerous shopping runs. On the other side we were given help procuring all manner of difficult to obtain items and getting our rudder installed.
The big excitement this year was the launching of Andreas and Karin’s four-years-in-the-making boat project. Their 45 foot trimaran was restored and refitted with loving care and the highest possible standards of materials and workmanship. On our four trips through Chiapas from 2018-2021 we were afforded periodic glimpses of progress on their monumental effort. Being able to spray them both with Champagne when their boat was finally afloat was our great pleasure. They are a lovely couple and we wish them happy passages in the years ahead.
This year our new friend Steve is working on his own big project, bringing his newly purchased 38 footer up to standards. With Sheddy and Jim on Chuffed, our group of seven shared a communal kitchen at the “Perla del Pacifico” motel in Puerto Madero.
With Anduril back in the water we have graduated from our previous status as boat yard slobs and have suddenly become classy yachties. Yard work means being constantly filthy dirty and our status upgrade now means we also get to look classy with better clothes. Well, maybe not better clothes - just cleaner ones.
The morning commute from Puerto Madero to Marina Chiapas with our fellow sailors.
The Marines keeping a close eye on things as we head into Tapachula for stops at the bank, Home Depot, Walmart, Comex, Chedraui, and many many more shops.
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