Wednesday, 17 September
All things come to he who waits.
Whoever authored that must’ve been a sailor. Let’s face it, whether it’s wind, weather, tide or in today’s case, diesel parts, you can’t rush it. It’ll be there when it’s there.
Once again tucked among the big boats and racers.
Kevin the parts guy doesn’t start at Fawcett’s ‘til 0830. That left plenty of time for a cup o’ Joe, vigorous walk, more caffeine and digging into lockers for the tool bag, box of wrenches, clamps, bag of oil absorbent pads and disposable gloves foreseen as needed for the impending task.
The only thing lacking was the replacement housing for the Racor and, on our 0832 call, Kevin the Parts Guy assured it would be delivered shortly, that there’d be a call Tom the Delivery Man (no last name) to coordinate time and place.
Spirits thusly buoyed, breakfast could be savored and enjoyed. After all, any minute, the phone would ring, it would be Tom and the work could commence. Any minute.
An hour passed, an hour-and-a-half. No call from Tom. Nor could Kevin be raised, only a facsimile of his voice promising to call back “as soon as I can.” A message having been left earlier, a more direct approach seemed in order. By this time, there was reason to wonder whether Tom’s last name might be Godot.
Shiny new and nary a leak. Ain’t she a beaut?
The call went to Fawcett’s.
“May I speak with Tom, please?”
There was much time spent on hold hearing NOAA’s marine forecasts for various part of the Chesapeake Bay, interrupted briefly by intermediaries, before talking at last with Tom. There was something about his just waiting for some paperwork. He’d “be leaving in five-to-seven-minutes.” We were to meet next door at WhalerTowne.
Waddya know? At 1100 hours, Tom was there, with a new Racor and, best of all, it appeared to be the correct size and model. How crazy is that?
The plan of attack was reviewed over lunch, work commenced and at 1515, Red was roused from her slumber, cranked and fired, humming her happy tune as ever before. She spent some time at idle, then in gear under load. No leaks, in either mode.
So far. We’ll see. This is no time for bravado. Nope. It’s more like the man said:
All things come to he who waits.
Steadfast out.
At Sea with Steadfast 
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