ET for short?

Hmmm … maybe not.

It is bad luck, allegedly, to change the name of a boat. Arcane rituals must be performed to appease the sea spirits. But, when you are retrieving the boat’s original name, we are hoping said spirits will be gratified, and smile kindly upon us.

Total Care (though we avoided saying it and fondly used initials) was the name given by previous owners to reflect their business name, but it always seemed inappropriate for a boat. The shadow of her true name, Ebb Tide, continued to be visible in certain lights. ‘Ebb Tide’ has now been liberated and can be seen once again adorning her sides. 

The process of changing the name is a relatively simple one: remove old name from boat, inform the registration agency, insurance company and AMSA (re EPIRB), arrange new stickers, carefully place them on beloved boat and celebrate. What better initiation ritual for the reinvented Ebb Tide than a sunset sail with fun friends and Mohitos?

We’re feeling fortunate, having managed to avoid cyclones for another ‘wet’ season, during which numerous boat jobs were attended to, e.g., the addition of an extra, flexible, solar panel, which we hope will mean unlimited fridge/freezer power. Some boat tasks require a pontoon so this meant the luxury of some marina time and the ability to step ashore as often as desired, without the need to plan the day and fill the dinghy. This made it easier to be involved in things going on around Cairns, which was enjoyable.

The most exciting job (!) of hauling out and antifouling is yet to occur, but we look forward to returning to Cooktown for this one, where there is a better view and fewer sandflies than at the slipways in Cairns. It's also a lot cheaper, but our friends, the crocs, come much closer … 
Then we hope to begin the journey northward up the east coast of Cape York — how exciting!