What began in March, 2009 with a phone call about Freyja’s history concludes with Freyja’s relaunching on April 11, 2011. More than Freyja’s launching takes place, Karl becomes the owner of Freyja and her skipper. Lorelie and I warn him that we will haunt him forever if he sells her.
Karl & Tim watch sea water gushing into Freyja’s hull from the failed “dripless stuffing box” located between the engine gear and the shaft entering the keel. Freyja must be lifted out of the water. NOW!
April has turned to May and Freyja rests quietly in Mystery Bay with a traditional stuffing box filled with packing material keeping her bilges dry. Skipper Karl is at work, so good crew Tim with good friend and experienced sailor Stan on a sunny morning wave goodby to Marty and Will waving from the dock.
See Tim pointing? Marty gave him specific directions for motoring safely out of Mystery Bay at low water. Tim, however, will soon be aground and waving to a passing fisherman to give Freya a tow off the bay’s bottom.
Towed free of the bottom, Tim engages the engine in gear before Stan has the tow line aboard. What? The tow line is wrapped around the prop?
Now Tim is stripped of clothing and under the boat unwrapping the tow line from the prop. Why is the boat’s ladder still in Everett?
Ah, Stan to the rescue and lifts Tim on board.
Underway at hull speed with a northwest breeze filling the sails. What can be better than this?
Well, this. A fifty foot ketch, north of Freyja and under bare poles motors towards Port Townsend. After passing Freyja and some distance away, the ketch turns about and bears down on Freyja. What could possibly be the matter? Closer and closer, skipper hails Freyja, “HEY!”
“What is it?”
“Do you know how beautiful you are?”
“Why yes, yes we do! Thanks!”
The ketch turns about and disappears toward the straits.
The Captain Midnight, with a crew of Freyja’s friends, crashes into the waves outside of the marina to greet Freyja’s return!
Karl makes a final check below to make certain everything is secure. Freyja, sound and ready to sail, rests quietly in her new berth.
