SPLASH!

Today was really eventful. We got to Eastern Yacht Sales to find several people working to get everything ready so that our boat could be launched as scheduled today. I was going to paint the bottom but found that the marina policy does not allow boats to be painted and launched the same day. We didn't want to wait and the bottom paint is in good shape so we opted not to paint (except for a couple of touch ups we snuck in). Faye did some cleaning inside and I took measurements for a cradle. Two other guys detailed the hull and took the old name off the transom. When it was ready I read John Vigor's denaming ceremony (up to the libation, which we couldn't do as we were a long way from the water). After that I put the new name and home port on.

Soon things slowed down as all the work on our boat got done. At 4:00pm the truck showed up with a hydraulic transport trailer. It was nerve wracking watching them remove jack stands as the trailer backed into place but soon she was up and being towed to the Hingham Dockyard Marina.

The boat was transferred to a travel lift and lowered into the water. This was an important moment! And the battery in my camera DIED! Of course the spares were back at the hotel. Faye and I made a quick run back to get them and stopped off at a market for rum, sugar, lemons and a bottle of champagne.

Back at the marina we met Peter Galvin from EYS, who sold us the boat and Sean, one of the EYS boat wranglers. We invited them to join us for the Christening. First we finished the libation part of the denaming ceremony with a batch of Grog; some for us and some for King Neptune.

Next Faye took to the bow and Christened our new boat GALEFILERO, pouring champagne over the bow but leaving enough for us to toast her future. Right now she's docked at one of the EYS berths until Monday when we plan to start our homeward odyssey.

Tomorrow we check out of the hotel. Faye and I make a run to CT to pick up an order of boat bits from Defender and make a pilgrimage to Mystic Seaport. Tomorrow night we spend our first night on board. On Saturday Faye heads home and Gary arrives.

Stay tuned for the next installment!