It’s cold but the sun is shining. We are seeing the sites and eating too much of the wonderful food. We plan to be in Istanbul about three more days.
Loading DoraMac
BBC Everest tied to a wharf on Thilafushi the “garbage island” 6 miles from our anchorage off Hulhumale’.
Thalifushi was the 3rd site for loading the yachts and the best since Everest could be tied to a wharf to stabilize her. There is a gigantic yacht taking up way too much deck space and between her and the ballast containers there was only just enough room for our 16 yachts.
The yacht Raven being reloaded just before we were to be loaded.
Because of the tight space on deck boats were loaded and then reloaded to make more room. We were told to be ready for loading Thursday at 11 am but we were loaded about 11:30. Then it went quickly which was a good thing because the weather changed and winds and rain came.
Heavy duty lines were attached to our lifting points. Ian, the load master in the blue shirt said we were the easiest boat to load since divers weren’t needed to position straps under our hull. We’d had underhull straps in Rebak when we were lifted onto the hard. Ian chose to use our lifting points so we wouldn’t need to take down stays, lines, whatever that other yachts had to do.
The giant crane lifts DoraMac.
We look like a toy boat!
Being lowered onto the deck of the BBC Everest.
Straps hold the boats in place
Our Ukrainian friend Nikita tightening down some of DoraMac’s straps.
From left to right, Songster and BeBe and I don’t know the last boat.
Being set into place like Gulliver!
Some of the crewmen were women!
Nikita setting the fastening line.
When we were told we could go back aboard DoraMac to make sure she was set for her voyage and to collect our stuff, we also found out we had about 20 minutes before the launch would be available to take us to shore. We raced like mad so I have no final photos. Then we sat around for another hour or so waiting for someone to actually call a launch as the weather worsened. By the time a launch came it was raining and the sea was pretty choppy. Our friend Nikita helped us with our luggage as Randal and I climbed over railing and down rope ladders onto the unsteady launch. Confusion to the end! The last boat, Mustang was finally loaded and settled in with just enough time for all of the cruisers on Heartsong, Lurline, and Mustang to make it ashore, get a bite to eat and then catch the 11:55 flight to Dubai. And hopefully they lived happily ever after!
Ru
DoraMac