At Sea - 11. AS Chapter 11

As were neared the completion of your course in science. I had taken on extra studies again, so I was doing two courses like last year, this time doing a Bachelor in Applied Science, so that I would have a Masters Ticket for Commercial ships, instead of just being a Navigator.

After finishing my first degree in Marine Science in Oceanography at the end of this year, I will be studying for one more semester, to complete the second Bachelor degree, so I will be able to manage the operations of the Trident, without Uncle Jay’s supervision.

I had also been asked by one of the senior lecturers to be an assistant for him, with Associate Diploma lectures in science, that would go towards me gaining a Diploma in Education, as an extra qualification. When the final examinations were finally over, after months of long hard studies, Amanda and I were both pleased that it was finally over, even though I still had another semester to go with my other course.

Aunty Jacq had notified me a few days ago, that she would be travelling to Launceston to pick me and Amanda up, for a week of rest and relaxation before Christmas, before Amanda travels to the mainland to spend Christmas and New Years with her family. Amanda and I were waiting at the apartment when Aunty Jacq arrived.

We happily chatted for the over one-hour long journey to Arthur River, and Aunty Jacq mentioned that they had purchased the fifteen - acre property on the west side of the river, and that the Trident, was now moored at the small jetty on the property.

When we arrived in town, we could see the catamaran, and she had a new paint job that looked magnificent, painted a royal blue colour, with a light blue wide stripe at the top, and a thin red strip along between the two blues. When we stepped onto the main deck, I noticed that the windows had a stronger double glazing, Aunty Jacq let us go ahead, and as we stepped indoors on the main deck, we saw that there was Tasmanian Oak panelling along the passageway, with the internal metal doors replaced with thick wooden doors.

We looked into the first research work room, to find it also with wood panelling, the metal side benches and central work table are now all wooden, and there is 6 large computers setup on the side benches, along with two printer fax machines, on the back wall there is a large white board, and there are two chairs in front of each of the computers.

The second research work room is identical as the first, while the office, has two computers, a large white board and four chairs, there is the book shelf and a large topographical map of Tasmania on one of the walls. As we walked up to the next level, we looked into the crew cabins, and found that they too had been renovated, to be a lot more comfortable.

We noticed that the grey walls had been replaced with white with a slight green tinge, the dining room now has a wooden table tops, the floor is now heavy duty carpet tiles, the walls are also painted, with a number of large paintings secured to walls. Looking into the galley, there was now brighter walls, and a couple extra appliances that was about all we noticed that had changed in there.

The guest cabin walls are now painted, with carpet tiles on the floors, and pictures on the wall, making them looking for inviting and comfortable, the cinema lounge and the main lounges had also been painted, with wooden floors laid and rugs added, plus some extra seating, paintings, plus a baby grand piano included.

Heading up to the bridge deck, we said hello to Uncle Jay who was studying the weather radar, before we checked out my cabin, which also had been painted, some paintings had been added and some extra shelving included also.

“So, what do you think of the changes” Uncle Jay asked us as we stepped out of our cabin, “I like it Skipper, makes the catamaran look a lot more luxurious, instead of looking like a working fishing boat” Amanda said with a smile, “Yes that was the aim of all the work, you remember Amos Parks the cabinet maker, he did all the work for us” Uncle Jay said to us, “Yes, I do, and he has done a great job” I responded with a smile.

“The cottage is quite small, so we thought you both might like to stay on board when we are moored here at base” uncle Jay said to us, “Yes that is fine by me skipper” Amanda replied and Aunty Jacq appeared from the stairs.

“How about we go over to the cottage for some afternoon tea” she said cheerfully, and we followed her down to the main deck and we walked towards the cottage, when we spotted a car stopping at the front gate, and Uncle Jay walked over to the front gate to see what the visitor wanted.

When Uncle Jay appeared at door of the cottage, he had a smile on his face, as he sat down at the kitchen table, “During the renovations we have done a couple of small fishing charters, but it seems we may have our first main charter, a family of six plus four family friends, 6 adults and four children” Uncle Jay said to us as he accepted a cup of tea from his wife.

“Do you have any more information about them, and where they want to go” Amanda asked, as it sounded very mysterious, “No, only that they are overseas tourists, and they will be arriving late tomorrow afternoon, and that they will be wanting to sail down the west coast a little and also to go up the Arthur River for a few days.

Carlton, can you contact Sam and Marcus and see if they can crew for us for six days” Uncle Jay said to me, “yes that shouldn’t be a problem, they asked about wanting to do more crew work” I replied, and I went outside to make the phone call on my mobile. A returned inside a few minutes later, to announce that they would catch a lift with some friends in the morning, and would arrive before lunch time.

When we had finished afternoon tea, we returned to the catamaran to start planning the charter trip, and we decided on a trip up the Arthur River for the first night, after exploring the river we would return to the river mouth at about lunch time the next day, and make a 36-kilometre 2¼ hour cruise down the west coast to Temma, where there is a sheltered harbour, for another overnight stop.

We would then continue on south to the mouth of the Pieman River 62 kilometres further south, where we would anchor overnight just inside the river, before making the 18-kilometre journey upstream to the historical hamlet of Corinna. Once we had completed planning the charter and printing out a 5-page report, describing the journey, with general information about the places that we would be going, we headed back to the cottage for dinner.

The next morning straight after breakfast, we all went into town, and we did a large food shop at the general store, and Uncle Jay included 4 boogie boards to list, in case the guest’s children want to do some wave surfing.

Aunty Jacq mentioned during breakfast that she had purchased another 4 sets of uniforms for everyone, including long shorts for the warmer weather and also deck shoes. As we came out of the store over an hour after we entered, with four trolleys full, we found Marcus and Sam looking around, with their luggage at their feet.

“Perfect timing guys, you can help us with all of this” I said to them, and they swung around to face us, and were a bit shocked at the size of the shopping, after making two trips, we had all the food and everyone, back at the catamaran, and Amanda and Jacq kept busy putting everything away, as us boys brought it up to the stairs to the dining room.

Once everything was finally put away, Jay asked us to sit down for a briefing. “I am not sure all the details, only that our guests are VIP tourists, I’m not even sure where they are from, the guests consist of a businessman, his wife and 4 children, I’m exactly sure of their ages, they will have, the wife’s parents, two friends and two business colleagues, they will be arriving sometime after 3pm, and we will set off soon afterwards.

I know we haven’t had much training to deal with VIP guests, we will just have to do our very best, remember to be courteous, only speak when you have been spoken too, and no chatter amongst yourselves in or near their presence. I will get Jacq to so some research on etiquette, so until then just do you best, Jacq has bought some extra uniforms for us all, so we don’t have to do washing so often.

For now, I want you all to check all the guest cabins to make sure they are in top condition for the guests, and after that check all the living areas as well” Jay said and we all set off to do our assigned jobs.

After lunch, everyone had a shower and changed into fresh uniforms, and at 1.30pm while I was on the back main deck, I saw 2 cars approaching our gate, and so I walked up the gravel drive to greet the visitors, not knowing if it was our expected guests or not.

The car stopped halfway down the drive, where I met them and a man dressed in a smart suit exited the front passenger seat of the first car, and I saw an early senior aged couple step out of the rear car and walk forward towards me.

“Hello, I am Carlton Henderson, part owner and Navigator of the Catamaran Trident” I said to the man in the suit, who shook my hand but waiting for the couple to arrive before speaking, “May I introduce Mr and Mrs Donaldson, who will be joining us for this journey” the man said to me, I knew that name was familiar in some way, but I couldn’t quite work it out, as I politely welcomed them.

“My daughter, her husband and the four children will be arriving shortly by chartered helicopter, I hope it is ok to land it here in the paddock” Mr Donaldson said to me, and it was then that I suddenly realised who they were. “You, you don’t mean his…” I was to shocked to say it our loud, “yes dear we do, we are sorry for all the secrecy, you can see now why we did it” Mrs Donaldson said.

“May I leave you to await their arrival, while I speak to my uncle and aunt, who are the other owners” I said as politely as I could, and I turned and dashed down to the catamaran as quick as I could. Out of breath from the running, I struggled to get the words out to Jay and Jacq who were standing on the jetty.

“The guests… some of them have arrived by car, the VIP’s are arriving by helicopter, the senior couple are Mr and Mrs Donaldson” I said to them, and it took a few moments for them to catch on my urgency in letting them know.

“You mean our VIP’s are the Crown Prince of Denmark and his family?’ Jacq said looking shocked, “Yes Aunty, we are hosting royalty, can I suggest that you check everything is in readiness for their royal highnesses, uncle and I will go and greet our guests” I said as I turned and walked quickly the way I came, with Jay close behind.

When we reached the two cars, still parked in the middle of the property, I slowed down and stopped in front of the Donaldson’s, “Sir, Ma’am, may I introduce my uncle, the skipper of the catamaran, Mr Jay Henderson” I said as politely as possible, and Jay shook their hands and gave a slight bow of his head.