B2B: Back to Boat
17th August 2024
Every time we’re away from the boat for a period of time, like spending 6 weeks in the UK as we just have, I get nervous about returning to the boat and boat life. I worry that maybe we won’t like the lifestyle anymore or we’ll get back on the boat and it won’t feel right, we won’t want to be there, we’ll be over it… but, every time, it’s been worry for nothing and we’ve settled back into boat life no trouble, as if we’d never been away.
BUT this time was different. This time our boat wasn’t sitting happily in a marina waiting for us, it was on the hard, in a boatyard, after being repaired. It had been sitting out of the water for 6 weeks, gathering dust, grime & debris… sitting all closed up in the 35+ degree Montenegrin Summer heat.
We’d left it in a bit of a rush as once we’d been assessed for repairs and found it would take a few weeks (which turned into 6 weeks all up), we swiftly hightailed it back to the UK to stay with family. We did manage to clear out the fridges and empty the blackwater tanks but we didn’t think about the batteries or the watermaker…. So all of this was adding to my anxiety about returning – what state were we going to find the boat in?
Our journey back started with a 7am flight from Gatwick, which meant a 4am start, uggh. The flight was fine but I can safely say that arriving into Tivat was the worst airport experience we’ve had so far! Upon disembarking, all passengers were herded into an outdoor area with no queuing strategy – just a free for all to converge en mass towards 2 doors leading to passport control where only 3 staff were working. On top of the stifling heat, one of the many arriving planes pulled up with its rear end facing directly into the holding area – blasting hot aviation fumes directly at us! I’m surprised people didn’t start passing out. Almost two hours it took us to get through by which time we were all dripping with sweat and in desperate need of some fresh air.
Out we went to look for a taxi only to find that the drivers were all trying to charge €30 for a measly 2km, 8 minute journey! “No!” said we – we will not be ripped off! We will walk the 2 km along a busy road with no footpath, in the stifling 38 degree heat, carrying our 6 bags, dripping with sweat, muscles aching, kids complaining and we will smile the whole way so as not to let on that we are actually dying inside.
When we finally got to the boatyard the owner must have thought we looked a right state and took pity on us as he offered to drive us and our bags to our boat – which was only about 120 metres from his office! Funny.
We get the boat back in the water without a hitch and luckily there’s no mould, no water appears to have leaked in anywhere and it doesn’t smell too bad. But the watermaker is no longer working properly and we’re pretty much just pulling in sea water. This is really not good as it was only just 3 months ago that we spent €800 to get it fixed in Greece. After much searching we manage to find two options – get some parts sent from USA and fix it ourselves – long wait time and cost of €650 + customs charges, or fix locally in Montenegro within the week, cost of €1200! 😱😭😭😭
Still, at least we saved €30 by not taking that airport taxi 🤪Ha ha - we have to take the small wins or we might cry.
So, are we happy to be back on the boat?? Well, it’s by no means an easy life, but yeah - it’s home and we love it (most days). We’ve seen dolphins every day since we’ve been back, met a new sailing family, we swim several times a day and it’s the precious moments spent with these nutters below that make it all worthwhile…
