Milly has splashed! January 15, 2015

It was a momentous day!  We got a call early in the morning from Santiago at the Antares factory saying the truck was 30 minutes away.  The boat would at least be loaded and perhaps splashed.   We aren’t too fast in the morning anymore but a train ride with two walks on either side later we arrived at the factory to find no boat.  Milly was on her way!

Our first view of Milly.  Under the hull, you can see the truck driving in reverse!  

We flew around the corner and there she was edging done a narrow street just a little wider than her, pulled by the truck with magnificently clever driver.  Trees were trimmed, drivers had been asked to repark their cars elsewhere; residents and employees were hanging out doors and windows watching.   

One owner of a newish SUV must have been late to the scene, too late to move his car.  He watched anxiously as the boat squeezed between his car and a hydro pole on the other side of the road.  Honestly, there were only mm to spare.  Even more amazing, the truck driver was going in reverse, hauling the boat from the front of his truck.

Note the car almost under Milly on the left and hydro pole to the right.  

So close!

Note high tech gear used to raise hydro lines over steel arch.  

All along the 800 meter route, the hydro lines dangled lower than the top of the boat.  It was the job of the group of guys on Milly’s deck to raise the lines up and over the bimini roof, the stainless steel arch and the precious KVH antenna.  All was accomplished without hiccup.

This was the corner where the lines were tight.  Our KVH antenna is being protected.

Milly is the 16th boat splashed on this route.  The team is pro!

Then rounding a corner.  Spectacular driving!  Hydro poles, street light poles, tree trunks - I’ve never noticed how many obstacles there are to negotiate on a narrow street until yesterday.  And the driver who was extremely focused and had his own troop of guys on the ground with hand signals - no shouting or jumping up and down needed - managed the entire drive very calmly.  Hydro lines are particularly numerous at corners.  The ones that are loosely slung seem to be a cinch.  Those that are tight are not so easy especially when the truck has to go forward and back a couple of times right at the KVH.  But the guys up top did the job.

At one point the group of guys had to get down and, together, manually move a heavy trailer whose long, sharp steel hitch was in the way.  At another the truck had to be unhitched so that it could haul another huge boat trailer that was blocking the path.  

Milly unveiled.

Finally, Milly’s protective hull blankets were removed and she was backed into the water.

This is the ramp.  Note a fence and triple threat gate post in the middle;  red brick very solid gate post on the left.  Yet another tight squeeze.

And steep corner to enter the tight squeeze.

No problem.  An inch or two to spare.

Success!  She's in safe and sound thanks to great team work.

No time for fanfare.  Her motor could not yet be used so she was shimmied backward along a motor yacht with dock lines and hands.  Peter and I climbed aboard via the yacht.  Wow, did that feel great!

A little excited!

Greeted by our first wildlife.  

A slight delay as the two boats that were to tow us from the ramp to the yacht club next door did not have gas.  The two guys had to head to the (car) gas station to fill the tanks.  Peter and I enjoyed exploring Milly inboard, opening lockers and drawers and pinching ourselves.

The dinghy, to be named Tom Tom, is on the davits

Still a little work to be done.  Those are our cushions for cockpit and saloon.

Leaving the ramp, cool little floating houses with hot tubs on deck.

Oops!

In the bigger river

Then the tow to the yacht club - beautiful boats will be our neighbours once we move in. 

One hundred foot aluminum catamaran that takes passengers to Antartica 

The club is reportedly the nicest in Argentina; lovely buildings, lush trees of all varieties, two restaurants and a fantastic working boatyard where I know we will enjoy several hours of observing the work going on…if we have time.

Entering the yacht club

Milly looking pretty while we ate lunch.

The next step for us will be watching the mast being stepped, tentatively scheduled for early next week. Then comes commissioning - 10 working days or so.  Can’t wait to move in!

Thrilled!