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After a false start, we managed to collect The Bob this morning and headed out for the short trip to our mooring. The new outboard worked beautifully, quickly and reliably. It felt excellent and not liable to stopping unexpectedly with noise, smoke and explosions.
The false start was because the guys who work at the boat shed have breakfast between 9 and 9:30 each morning during which time they lock the doors and pretend they aren’t there. We went and waited in Mekka with coffee where we watched the tourists come and go.
I noted how many spoke English as the language bridge between them and the woman in the café. One family of Germans, in particular. It wasn’t the only German sighting we had. This cruiser was docked in the harbour.
This is the Rudolf Diesel, built in 1961. She has a crew of three and can accommodate ten passengers in five cabins. I assume she is named after the German engineer Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913) who invented, along with other things, the diesel engine. He died in very mysterious circumstances, the subject of a book about him that I might, possibly be interested in reading.
However, this was not her first name.
She has previously been named Alfred S and Positano III. I don’t know who Alfred S is or was, but I have been to Positano and can easily see her cruising around the Bay of Naples.
Anyway, it was a glorious day to be out on the water and we certainly weren’t the only ones. As we left the harbour, we joined a long line of boats heading out, forming a sort of glorious flotilla taking advantage of the day. There were lots of happy waves between vessels. Both human and watery.
Sadly, though, our trip was relatively short as we had to get home for the girls. For a couple of reasons we had left them at home. Firstly because we were picking the boat up from the big boat shed and weren’t sure how they’d be but also, and possibly more important, Emma has started her latest season.
We’ll take them out now that The Bob is happily waiting at the dock.
Even so, although the trip was short, it was absolutely delightful, particularly given the engine felt super reliable.
And, the thing is, we have to take it slow for the first few hours of running the engine. And, while I enjoy a good putter, it can be a bit frustrating when you are actually heading somewhere specific.
Still, a thoroughly pleasant morning on the Baltic.
After returning home, Mirinda headed into Stockholm to meet Ashley for dinner at the Glasshouse while I slaved away, taking the girls for a walk and searching for an invoice. That was all a bit dull so here’s a photo from the morning, when Trosa Centrum looked beautiful.
At this point of the day, it was gloriously empty. I bet that changed.
