85. Saoirse’s List for Santa

There was a Christmas party in the Whangarei town basin the other night. A party where cruisers and marina staff walked in a long train led by a cruiser Santa and the mayor of Whangarei. All around the harbour, in search for boat kids that were deemed good enough to get an early Christmas present even though they were all up well past their bed time. You are generally not allowed to consume alcohol in public places in New Zealand but it turns out that hanging around the town mayor has its benefits. This well lubricated human train also included a set of judges that had been tasked with the role of selecting the boats with the most creative Christmas decorations. A carefully selected set of esteemed referees that openly reminded us of that they were open to all sorts of bribes. Ultimately though, I doubt that this annual award has ever be given to a non-American boat. When it comes to Christmas decorations Americans are in a league of their own.

As I was spending the following day recovering I was reminded of that Saoirse also has a list for Santa. She is in her early teens now and I have asked a lot of her, particularly during the last year. She has sailed almost 12,000 nautical miles since her last haul out in Grenada. More than many boats will sail in a lifetime. She is still in great condition and not in need of any serious repair. No need for plastic surgery or a new wardrobe yet. A paint and wax job at the local boat spa is all she needs to look as pretty as she always has. And I’m happy to note that most things that I have put on her list to Santa will make her a better boat, not just make her appear younger or less experienced. She has been my trusty companion for around 30,000 miles, crossed two oceans and taken me half way around the world. This little lady deserves a special Christmas and this is what I’m looking to put in her stocking:

• A new chart plotter. One with all the buttons working and that is able to connect to other screens via Bluetooth or WiFi.
• A new radar.
• Starlink. So that she won’t have to anchor so close to buddy boats with internet connection.
• New speakers in the cockpit.
• A new TV.
• A new joystick for her retractable bow thruster.
• More solar panels. To keep up with her captain’s continuous need for new toys that use electricity.
• New AC and DC electrical distribution panels. The current ones were damaged by salt water between Panama and Marquesas.
• New cockpit cushions. She lost one of them in a storm in Sicily.
• New rudder bearings. Or at least have the rudder dropped and inspected. It’s probably time and New Zealand is probably the place to do it.
• New anti-fouling. This could be quite a large job as I’m considering spoiling her with copper coat instead of traditional paint.