Progress: Launch Day Finally Arrives

The day we have longed for has finally arrived. Four months after our original launch date our baby would leave the factory.

The process to move a boat that measures 40 feet in length and 24 feet wide in width is not a small task. It requires a lot of preparation, special permits, specific type of cargo truck, and finally under the dark of night movement to the water can happen.

Moving the vessel to the water is a unique experience to see. The special truck arrives and a team painstakingly spent more than 5 hours moving the truck into place and securing Blue Tortuga for the journey. Four men from the moving company and the Operations Manager, Colin Elis, from Celtic Yachts worked to place the vessel onto the truck (and due to her location in the shop – very close to the back wall), place her back on the ground and pick her up again for the final placement on the truck for the journey.

Movement to the water cannot occur during daylight hours. We are told the men would return at 2 AM to make the 20 kilometer (12.5 miles) journey from Celtic Yachts to the Royal Cape Yacht Club. Tim Duncan, the owner of Celtic Yachts, picked us up at 1:15 AM to return to the shop and follow the truck to the marina.

Unfortunately, our biggest disappointment was that the vessel was NOT done . . . still. The woodworking was significantly behind and we were told they just would not be able to complete cabinets we had ordered AND PAID FOR months ago. Gelcoat work was being completed, re-worked, re-done, and done again. The floors were not in place, electrical installations were not complete, plumbing was not complete. . . the list goes on and on. What did not change is that our visa was set to expire the next day.

Waiting for the dark of night.

Cabinetry work continues.

Now move to the marina.

Determined to reap the best of the situation we reveled in the event. The boat would be launched – we were closer to starting our journey back to the United States. After being in South Africa for more than 4 months, we were looking forward to starting the long journey home.

The trek through the dark demonstrated the expertise of the delivery crew. Sometimes driving on the opposite side of the divided highway to manage narrow portions of the road. Other times, working with the police escort to manage traffic that appeared at intersections, and finally the skill to expertly back the trailer and vessel through a narrow gate and precisely to the edge of the concrete launch area where we waited for first light to get her into the water.

The owner of Celtic Yachts, Tim Duncan, continued to reassure us the men would press on with the work and get her completed. We strongly urged him not to leave the country again until the work was finished since work ground to a virtual halt when he was not physically on location. However, Tim was focused on the cabinetry, and a specific staffer that had been working with Tim from the beginning (more than 15 years). It was clear this relationship was unique and, if it were viewed through a mental health lens, an unhealthy co-dependent bond. We learned from others that dealt with Tim years earlier that the situation had been the same way back then. The disfunction meant things weren't done and likely would not be completed prior to our departure from South Africa.

That was not the end of our surprises! There's MORE! The kind that no one wants to hear, especially a boat builder. Stay Tuned!