Location: Schooner Maggie B in Hobart
Friday, 03.23.2007

The Schooner Maggie B continues very happily tied up at Elizabeth Street Pier in Hobart as of March 23rd. Tonight is the opening for Dream Masons, the opening show for the Ten Days on the Island Festival. We are proud that Hannah and Bori have significant parts, as theatrical unrollers of the series of banners that frame each scene. Owen and Frank have also been working hard as riggers, helping finish last minute details.

We haven’t done too much boat work as our attention is on Dream Masons. Nevertheless, we have replaced two bilge pumps, drained and refilled the hydraulic steering system, ordered new cockpit cushions, ordered new paper charts for the South Pacific, got electronic charts for the same region, replaced some broken electronic systems, etc. One of the big surprises is that our main Danforth steering compass is broken. It had occasionally been sticking on one heading, not great. Some other yachties had said that it was because it was a Northern Latitudes compass and was trying to point upside down here (an error called “dip”), but local adjustors say some piece inside is plumb broken. Fortunately it has a three year warrantee, so perhaps it will be replaced for free.

We are all marvelously happy to be in such a neat town as Hobart. A gem. Some observations: less obesity than in Fremantle — lots of bush walkers; very boatie/yachtie, a high proportion of people know what they are doing on the water and appreciate wooden boats; in respects to Fremantle, more people have kids and fewer have dogs; warm days, cool nights equals perfect weather; very artsy, hippie, down-to-earth, organic; a great outdoors cafe society where in a block you can both get a perfect Guinness and a perfect macciato, with excellent fresh (organic) food everywhere. Other towns we ended up quickly with favorite restaurants and pubs, here we still have a dozen of each and new ones continue to be discovered.

The Salamanca Saturday market just must be experienced. Yes, there are some silly wooden toys and strange t-shirts, but mostly it is marvelous people who tend sheep, card, spin and knit during the week and sell lovely hats and sweaters each Saturday. This is a lovely time as there are many growers here with their best apples, raspberries or flowers. There are bands and buskers on every corner. We all are quite taken with it.

Our general plans are to work Dream Masons through next Tuesday, then focus on the boat through the end of next week. Then probably a motor tour of inland and a sail back around to the SW coast, then a bit more fun in town, then off to New Zealand sometime towards the middle of April.

All is well.