All things seem possible in May… or not?
May 1st, 2021
April has gone among a lot of frustrations. After deciding to postpone the Maiden Trip until making sure the vessel was completely ready to sail, we spent the rest of the month looking for a lot of items, waiting for a lot of people, sweating and swearing while working below deck and accumulating disapointments every single day.
I have to be honest: I am sick of this «manly» attitude around me, guys telling me I should call this or that guy because this is not a job for a woman, or I am too pretty to get covered in engine oil. I’m sure some of them really want to help me out with their recommendations, but most of the times, I haven’t asked for their opinion and I still get it. The worst part? They come to my sailboat, uninvited, they ask to come onboard and then they start telling me what to do.
Sometimes, if I ask for a place where I can buy this or that, instead of giving me options, they start making questions: Are you sure that is what you need? What do you need it for? What makes you think that is what you need? Then, the same story repeats in the shops. I ended by looking for places around my house in Merida instead of Progreso, not with a very good luck but better than having to answer the same questions at every time.
I am grateful I count on the help from the Captain of a Beneteau two places from the Veiviseren. His advise has been very valuable and he is one of the very few people who treat me as an equal. He even gets upset when people downlook at me. The marine electronic technician is also a jewel. He’s a young engineer who is passionate about his work and he never hesitates to give me the best available options for what I truly need. Mr. Freddy is also a great help, especially when it comes to answering those small questions than require big responses!
And for the engine issues, a shop a few blocks from my house has been my salvation. The owner is a very nice old man who spends the day on the internet looking to improve his knowledge about the products he sells and even if he has nothing nautical related, he never hesitates to call a couple of friends or to look for very specific items for me. He has spared me a few bucks already, finding out the price of a couple of items, new, that someone else wanted to sell me for a much higher price… and second hand!
I don’t mind learning new things or getting my hands dirty, but when I find something I can’t do by myself, I prefer to look for someone who knows better. Some of my fellow boat owners at the marina have been very helpful, like Keith, a nice Canadian who came one day to help me with the engine and then called his mechanic to ask for advise. Since that, the engine works like a clock with a few adjustments I made myself with his instructions. Thank you Keith!
But in some cases, I totally depend on third parties to do some things, and that has been the most difficult part for me. I saw April passing by while I was waiting for this or that person to come and check this or that or work here and there. I am still waiting for quotes, supplies deliveries and technical visits that were scheduled weeks ago and I hope will happen soon. And of course, I now wonder if it was a good idea to delay our Maiden Trip to keep up with the improvements.
Anyways, I can’t go back in time and no regret has proved to be useful at this point, so I just have to keep moving forward. May has started, and my to-do list is growing at every time I come onboard the S/V Veiviseren. I have already accepted that this list will keep growing no matter how much I do, and that is part of the fun.
They say all things seem possible in May. I still have a whole month ahead!
– Diana
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