The following weekend involved a day of cleaning inside and out and getting to know the boat and spending some funds on cabin utensils. Through the week the boat was booked for a complete engine service.
Last weekend was launch day and I met Dennis and his wonderful wife Elvie at Mooloolaba 9:00 am sharp. Elvie decided to go for a walk while we sifted through a first time set up. Although Dennis has a similar Mac X mine had a slightly different set up. I’m sure all of you have been through a first time set up and if it wasn’t for Dennis it would have been a lot more dramatic then it ended up being. Dennis was a God send. After a few minor dramas,one which involved a broken spreader Elvie turned up on cue with three cups of coffee and soon to be followed by my partner Teresa. A visit to the local ship chandler for some life jackets and a pair of bumpers by the girls and me doing a quick visit to a servo around the corner for some fuel and we were off. Or so I thought. We had troubles launching the boat on her near new trailer. The trailer sits quite high and the lack of rollers, carpet on the skids and anti foul were not a combination for an easy launch. Finally we freed her from the trailer by reversing the Terracan uncomfortable close to the waters edge so she can float off. Once on our way we motored out past the break wall then unfurled the big Genoa, followed by the main. All the time taking mental notes on what needs to be worked on, or replaced. The afternoon sail was just perfect for a first time sail. Heading back into the breakwater we emptied the ballast and revved up the 50 Hp Yamaha 4 stroke and had her on her toes. I had a smile from ear to ear as I did figure eights out the front of the Mooloolaba Surf club before heading into the breakwater and slowing down to the legal 6 knots. These things can boggie for a sailboat!
Leaving her on a public wharf the four of us eventually headed of to the Mooloolaba yacht club for a well deserved dinner and conversations about the day. Dennis and Elvie were fantastic and again I can’t thank them enough for their troubles. We said goodnight and secured the Mac for the night and went home looking forward to going out on the following day to carry out the re-naming ceremony. Dennis offered to meet me at the ramp at 2 pm in case we had trouble bringing her out. Teresa and I set off on Sunday morning and motored out to “Old Woman Island” due to lack of wind and laid anchor for the re naming Ceremony from Lochdubh to “SEA POODLE” Teresa recited a few pages of words to the Gods as I spent a bottle of fine sparkling wine into the Tasman sea and to the four brothers of the winds. The ceremony was over and the Mac is now officially re-named in a fashion to appease the Gods.
We sailed lazily back just under the genoa with Teresa having a snooze under a beautiful winters day sun. I couldn’t help myself as we drew nearer the break wall and again emptied the ballast and let “Sea Poodle” of her leash. What a blast! What are these things like with a 90 hp on the transom? We headed back in to meet Dennis and we loaded her on the trailer with out too many dramas. Dennis left to make a dinner date with his mum, and we put Sea Poodle to bed leaving her on the trailer with mast up at the marina hard stand area. A good wash down and flush the motor out then off we went for a relaxing evening at Teresa’s home just 5 minutes down the road,looking forward to carrying out some re-work and customising, and another weekend of play on Sea poodle.
To Dennis and Elvie a big grateful thank you for all your help and hoping to catch up really soon as ai hear another Mac X is making her way from the USA to Mooloolaba.
but I am not sure why he parted with it, I am sure though that he will really enjoy the 
, he has been in touch with me recently and I look forward to possibly being involved in his first launch also. I think we definitely need to get all our boats out on the same weekend, raft up near the rock wall just outside the river mouth and have coffee, sounds like a plan 
