What a day! We wouldn’t have missed yesterday for the world. The temperature was in the 80s, glorious blue skies, an early start and a very late return to Cornwall! It was great to see Epiphany, the shell finished and it was all systems go. I am finally able to picture how she will look when she is finished. Despite the diagrams we have I was not sure how the portholes, bow proportions and 4-foot stern hatch would work.
The shell builders have done a great job and have lived up to their good reputation. Just a few minor matters to be attended to and they will do them at the fitters. It was quite an experience watching the crane lift Epiphany over 20 feet into the air, over a very large trip boat and onto the lorry. We hedgehopped the lorry down the roads and motorways and arrived at the fitters 3 hours later. A less dramatic but safe craning into the workshop and Epiphany was settled into her next phase.
We were able to go and watch one of their refitted boats craned into the marina where Epiphany will be launched into her natural environment. After a thorough inspection and a few discussions we ended the day with celebratory drinks at a local hostelry and headed home. I think we took around 200 photos, which will be a comprehensive record of the day. We are looking forward to visiting to see the next developments in a couple of weeks. The fitters hope to have the ballasting, insulation, flooring, wiring, lining out and possibly some room bulkheads by then. We will see!
What a journey - glad to see she arrived safely!
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