I must admit that even though I hadn’t wet her hull for a while, it a really emotional moment for me to see her go to a new home.  She was the boat that took me out to the FADs for the first time here in WA (my first solo trip as well).  Her hull raised fish and gave me the opportunity to spill Mahi blood on her decks on our very first fishing trip out.   







I still remember the day well, there was a Easterly blowing, which made for a nice ride out and we skimmed across the surface at 32 knots.  I remember how solid she felt, each time she landed after letting the prop see air and how enjoyable it was to have a dry ride all the way out to the FADs.  Even though this was my first fishing trip with her, I knew she would handle the conditions well and bring me home safely.  She did not let me down.



The family enjoyed going out with her as well, crabbing on the Swan and in the marinas







and one of my deckies even tried to test her patience but fighting a large bull dolly with a 9ft toothpick and 10lb line for over 45mins………..







We shared a few comic moments as well, such as backing her down the ramp, taking off the winch hook and chain and then wondering why she wouldn’t roll off the trailer.  Thank goodness there was no one there otherwise it would have been really embarrassing when I had to pull the trailer out and undo the back straps!

Another incident that sticks out was the time where I had just launched her, parked and walked down to the jetty before realising that I had left the keys at home.  She was pissed about wasting time getting the keys instead of getting out there and enjoying being on the water.







There were less then funny moments as well, like at the NOR Fishwrecked Comp, I lost the bungs, but still launched her and fished in the storm.  I knew that it would make little difference other then the decks being wet but figured the rain was going to make that happen anyway.  The only tense moment I had was when a wave broke over her, but thank goodness, for her more then adequate flotation - she stayed upright and all I had to do was to drive her forward to empty out the water a little faster.



Or the time where I was out at the FADs on another solo trip and the weather changed and it started blowing 25-30knots coupled with 4.2m swells - that was a day to remember - it was the first time I had caught a fish on a line without a hook!  A large Southern Blue had take a drift bait and it’s twin charged in with it’s mouth open to see if it could pick up some scraps and as luck would have it, it swam straight into the line and somehow got it twisted and tangled round it’s lower jaw!  Oh I got carried away – the wind and swells made for it a less then comfortable experience that day, but I knew the old girl would handle it well and once again she did and in style.  In fact as luck would have it, the wind turned to a Westerly and I got to fly in at 34knots!



Then there was the time up at Two Rocks.  We were out about 14 miles when a storm can in, talk about a wet day, no vis at all, thank goodness the snapper were on the bite but as we started releasing then the damn sharks started to hassle us non stop.







Yes she has provided a lot of very good memories and experiences but the time has come for us to go our separate ways.  I am sure that Paul and his family will enjoy owning her up in Karratha.  

Bye – bye old girl. Sob!