So how does a replacement part arrive from the UK faster than from Melbourne?

Well I could theorise,but it still won't make me feel better!

Jo flew in Saturday afternoon, Peter (from previous adventures) arrived on Sunday. Both of them got to attend the Wooden Boats Festival as well. Dave returned to Launceston on the Sunday.

Monday rolled around and there was no clear answer  on the status of  the order, it was a work in progress apparently.What was clear, was that it was an entire new footblock that was required and not just a replacement sheave - the footblock was apparently readily obtainable in Australia, however the car/s were more of a problem, but were apparently being tracked down.

We attended the pre rally briefing, met a couple of the other participants and I did tell the organizers that we were going to be  tad delayed leaving Hobart due to the jibcar failure incurred during the Parade of Sail.

Wednesday and we still aren't any further ahead- the rally fleet however was!

Then I had a light bulb moment. I remembered  an incredibly helpful contact I knew in Brisbane, Matt from BLA, who should be able to help and at the very least give me a straight answer about the possibility of replacing the jib car and the time frame for doing so. We had actually begun tossing around the idea of  totally changing out the existing system and switching to another brand. Something I didn't really want to do because of course different brands use different tracks and it would be a major undertaking.

Matt in Brisbane was magic. A few photos of the track , some measurements of the track as he specified, photo of the broken part and he was able to find and order the replacement part required. The catch was it had to come from the manufacturer in  the UK. The order was paid for and confirmed on Friday exactly a week after the damage had been done.

All dressed up (rally logo in place), but still can't go,so we
will share the Hobart waterfront with the Queen Elizabeth. 

Advised the rally organizers that it was extremely  unlikely we would be joining them as by the time the replacement parts arrived they would be at best a good week and a half ahead of us. It would still not be absolutely impossible though, as the rally is organised so that a group of boats sets off from Hobart but two weeks later they join up with another group who have sailed across from Victoria, meeting somewhere on the NW corner of Tasmania.The entire fleet then proceeds down the west coast and back to Hobart.  The Victorian contingent  then proceed up the east coast and home to Victoria- thus also completing their circumnavigation of Tasmania. So it was unlikely but still not impossible that we would participate.

We decided we would visit the Salamanca  Markets on the Saturday morning and then push off to the D'Entrecasteaux Channel for a few days if the wind was ok for making our way there and back  with just the mainsail whilst awaiting the replacement parts.

What can I say? Its not possible to have better facilities in the heart of a capital city.

We had moored for the night at  Elizabeth St Pier facility- please tell me another capital city in Australia who have such prime positioned facilities for yachties- I can't think of any. The facility is available for limited time period stays,(signs specify the limit in hours not days, which need to be honoured by all to ensure equitable and  fair use ) but enables such wonderful ease of access to restauraunts ,shops,and  the markets. Thank you MAST, your facility and commitment to boaters is superb and much appreciated.

Uphaul splice so 'sad' and fat that it would no longer smoothly
run through the eye-rings and would not therefore hoist fully  

Departing after we had visited the markets and stocked up with fresh vegies, we hoisted the mainsail, but it just didn't look right. Closer inspection revealed that the splice on the uphaul  was looking "sad" indeed. So plan change number one for the day had us instead anchoring back over near Sandy Bay and waiting for Monday morning when Rod from Qantum Sails, in an hour or so had spliced a new one and we had it back on board and were on our way again.

Barnes Bay moonrise a little different to the last time

Jo used the time at anchor to go to the  site of the  Female Factory on the Saturday afternoon  and then climbed Mt Nelson on the Sunday morning.

Spent Monday evening back in Barnes Bay, now clear of smoke.
Imagine how astounded I was to receive a call at Tuesday midday telling me the jib car had arrived from the UK and was actually sitting on the counter in Hobart at the chandlery! Four days including a weekend since confirming the order. Paying the express delivery charge was worth it.
Or not......because there was no sign of the footblock as yet.

Yes the footblock that was coming all the way from the 'big island' had not appeared in a time period greater than the transit from the UK!

We returned to Hobart the following morning- still no footblock. Thursday the mystery is solved- it hasn't actually been ordered here in Hobart! Taking up space in the chandlery until I actually heard the order being placed, we returned once again to 'our' mooring at Bellerive.

Friday dawns , hallelujah, the footblock arrives. All we need to do is pick it up and fit it by undoing the three screws holding it in place, replace it  and we are on our way..........