This summer Shimshal got herself deep into cold water when we strayed into the ice pack ice of Disko Bay. She got us out again without complaint but she has had to put up with a lot. After 3 seasons in northern waters it's now time to head seriously south to find yachting facilities that can cater for Shimshal's every need.
She's looking a little shabby after being scuffed up against a commercial and tidal dock for two winters in Reykjavik. Then she had to cope with the extreme cold of a Greenlandic winter where she was cared for by a team more familiar with icebreakers than the good looks of fibreglass.
She now craves a 'T Cut' and polish which is the marine equivalent of a pedicure. A bit of cosmetic surgery to the scratches in her gel coat and, maybe, a new coat of copper coat for her bottom. Her rusty bits are definitely ready for a beautician's make over rather than the 'make do and mend' she has had to put up with.
This morning then, we let go the lines that tied us to Greenland and pointed the bows southwest towards Lewisporte and onto Gold River Marina where, we are told, there are plenty of marine beauticians, mechanics, travel lifts, riggers, electricians and cradles. A Nirvana for yachts.
But before we get there we need Shimshal to forget her blemishes and carry us safely across a 700 mile crossing of the Davis Strait where she will encounter more ice, more fog and the odd gale along the way. She will be well rewarded for all her time in the North when she gets us there!