Messing about in boats

15 Aug: New owner Dave, and Forse, builder of Gabrielle, the Somes Sound
12 1/2 in the background, beached in Nim Shue Wan, for a bit
of "messing about in boats".

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — 

half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. 

Simply messing... about in boats — or with boats. 

In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. 

Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it. 

Whether you get away, or whether you don't; 

whether you arrive at your destination 

or whether you reach somewhere else, 

or whether you never get anywhere at all, 

you're always busy, 

and you never do anything in particular; 

and when you've done it there's always something else to do, 

and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not.

Rat to Mole, as they are rowing up the river. 

Wind in The Willows

Gabrielle on Nim Shue Wan beach, Discovery Bay, Hong Kong.
Dave's mate Lex, by their new little dinghy-tender

Dave, in dinghy, Lex in water, taking Gabrielle
back to her mooring in Nim Shue Wan, after the little
messabout.  That's the Bounty in the background.

EARLIER:

1 August: Noel, our boat manager for Xena, finishes off the
antifouling of Gabrielle.  Discovery Bay Marina, Hong Kong....

... while I take some time off on the water....

... courtesy mate Jonno, and his mate Mike's lovely
Island Gypsy 32 in the waters just off Discovery Bay, HK.

Jonno, with favourite tipple, Tsing Tao.  The cooler/holder is a
give-away from sailing mate Stevo, from his wedding to Zoe on 18 June.

*****************

LATER (13 May 2015): Here is a link to the launching of Paul's boat in Ireland. He's made a truly beautiful example of this lovely picnic day-boat.  Lovely sails and she sails lovely!