Piriapolis - Launch Day

An absolutely perfect day for launching. Flat calm, sunny and no wind.

I had been told to be on hand at 08:30. I was, but nobody else was there. Around 08:45 Walter, the yard manager showed up and asked if we were ready to go. We were.

Bow at haul out in May...
1108B4

About 3cm of red gelcoat at the waterline was ground back to the laminate and replaced by epoxy, effectively raising the waterline by 3cm.

...and today.
1108Aft

Travel lift moving into position at 09:10.
1108LD01

Slings on and weight taken. The slings here are not particularly clean and marked the topsides during haul out. I took the precaution of having some thick plastic sheeting on hand to wrap the slings. Steel sling pins were also a hazard so Laurence wrapped them in cloth.
1108LD02

Last minute touching up of prop spots and keel base.
1108LD03

09:45 and we were all set.
1108LD04

This is a 90 ton travel lift. Kiriwina is around 4.5 tons.
1108LD05

Lining Up.
1108LD06

In we go.
1108LD07
1108LD08

Laurence and some of the Hidrografia team.
1108LD09

Ian and Elisa, our port crew.
1108LD10

A very tranquil Piriapolis harbour.
1108LD11

Launching dock.
1108LD12

A photo opportunity with the skipper. At this point we were shipping water rather faster than was desirable. The cause, discovered later, was a pre-launch dummy log placement malfunction.
1108LD13

All fast in our allocated berth at 10:20. This was well into the harbour and more sheltered than our berth in May. Stern buoys were much closer to the dock making for a much better and more secure mooring
1108LD14

Kiriwina lying safely in her berth. She will spend 6-9 weeks here before we return to Brazil in the spring.
1108LD15

Piriapolis waterfront at 22:45. Sea calm. Wind zero knots.
1108LD16