On Monday night, Wiskun was hauled out successfully. We had to wait until the appropriate high tide, which was unfortunately in the dark. For a virgin trial, this just added another notch to the challenge scale. As I mentioned in the previous article, Wiskun was walked over to the other side where the slipway is. The cradle, sitting on the trailer, was already set up waiting for us. By this time, the tide was slack, there was no wind and we didn't encounter any problems walking Wiskun over. We felt Wiskun's keel bump the cradle and had to wait awhile for the water to rise. There were divers in the water checking the alignment for us. In the dark, I don't know how they could see. I assumed they are using their hands to feel their way through, and I also knew they haven't seen a keeled boat before. They have no idea what it looks like out of the water. Luckily, Kjartan knows his boat well. He knew we were not aligned straight, and the water was rising too fast for us. The bow was stuck and crooked, meanwhile the stern was already floating and moving. He told me and the rest of the deckhands onboard to move to the stern. Finally we got unstuck, and Kjartan sped up the tightening of the cradle arms to hold us in place. Onshore, I was speaking to Boboy by cellphone. I could not see the driver and he me. My hand signals went unnoticed. Our instructions had to go through by phone.
After a few minutes of metals moaning and groaning, Wiskun was hauled out successfully. Everyone was happy, the support staff were given food and beer, and me? - my whole body became limp with the outflow of adrenaline.
At daylight, Kjartan and staff wasted no time cleaning the bottom, the bulldozer already filling up the "hole" (Wiskun's home), and we even got a visitor - a big lizard. No, it wasn't inside Wiskun. It was found crossing the yard - got the workers all excited. Food - they said!! Yucks.
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Addendum: Our heartfelt gratitude to Boboy Bangayan. It was not easy meeting the standards we have set. In fact, he has not only met all, but went one step further to surpass our standards. Thank you.