Lots of jobs

Weekend of 1^st march MJB

The boat was taken out of the water this week and placed in the boat yard.

We had Friday and Monday off work in order to do a few maintenance jobs required before the trip.

The main item of work was to replace the cutlass bearing and the shaft seal on the propeller shaft, which required removal of the prop shaft and the coupling between it and the gearbox.

I had made a special hub puller just for this job and am pleased to say it worked a treat, and the prop shaft was quickly removed.

Whilst this was going on Ann-Marie was busy washing the hull of the boat with various detergents and our secret weapon ALDI caravan and black streak remover.

We then went into Largs and had a fish and chip supper at Nardinis

Saturday morning came and the first jobs were cleaning the propshaft, propeller, and servicing the rope cutter which means lots of polishing and removal of barnacles and other marine things.

The next job was replacing the cutlass bearing.  It is held in by 2 M6 plastic screws which sheared off when an attempt was made to remove them so they were carefully drilled out with the hand drill.  The rubber bearing could then be prised out and the P bracket cleaned.  The new bearing was pushed into place and the first plastic retaining screw inserted and tightened.  Then disaster!  The second screw sheared off half way in (I hadn’t cleaned the thread out after removing the old screw).

What now? I couldn’t leave it as it was, I couldn’t really put the prop shaft back in and carry on, it was 0935 on Saturday morning in a boatyard in Largs and I needed a M6*12mm raised head countersunk nylon screw what were my chances?

Luckily at Largs are Euroyachts, a main agent Jeanneau dealer, maybe they could help. Dressed like a vagrant I entered their very trendy Yacht dealership full of mega boats and asked if they had a plastic screw.  ‘I don’t think so was the reply but hang on‘. After a while he came back with a large plastic bag full of all sorts of bits and pieces and emptied it on the shiny meeting room table. Lots of small plastic bags were investigated and then ‘ahah I thought so’ a small bag with two of the screws was discovered. I was given one and told there would be no charge.

He didn’t have to look but he did. Customer service from a mega yacht to a plastic screw is hard to find but available at Euroyachts in Largs. Thank You.

Back to the job in hand. I cleaned out the threads tightened the new screw and re inserted the prop shaft.

As the weather was not great, and rain was threatened, Ann-Marie suggested that whilst the weather was still dry we should do the antifouling, so after much washing, scraping and preparation a new coat of international EU antifoul was applied.  

The seal for the prop shaft was a Volvo shaft seal that needed to be burped whenever the boat had dried out to remove the air from the water lubricated seal.  I replaced this with a RMTA seal from Sillette as it does not need burping.  It does however require a vent pipe to be positioned above the waterline.

As the hub was starting to rust it was treated to a coat of paint and everything was re assembled.

As the weather was not great, and rain was threatened, Ann-Marie suggested that whilst the weather was still dry we should do the antifouling, so after much washing, scraping and preparation a new coat of international EU antifoul was applied.  

New anodes were then fitted to the propeller, prop shaft and rope cutter.

The seacocks and skin fittings were then checked for correct operation and greased from the outside.  They were also photographed to check for de-zincification.

The keel raising mechanism can only be greased when the boat is out of the water, which is done from the inside and involves winding the screw up as the keel cannot go down.

Meal tonight was a super meal at the Indian restaurant in Largs.

Sunday we both ached from antifouling.  It was raining hard so Sunday papers, breakfast, tidy up and home.

The Big Sort Out

Weekend 8^th Feb AM

 

The Big Sort Out

 

 

 Pieces of boat have been making their way from Ebay through our letter box for several years.  Most had made it to the boat in their protective postal envelopes and then squirreled away until needed.  The Big Sort involved finding all said items, removing them from their protective sleeves and re-uniting them with their friends.  And so it was that a large Tupper ware container now holds ‘Stainless Steel’, another ‘Shackles’, another ‘Bungs’, another ‘Tape and Glue’.  A large Tool box now contains Tools of the same variety, a large compartmented tool box contains Electrical items (eg. Terminals, enough for the Queen Mary),  the top of the cupboard under the chart table has been designated as the place to put the Microwave and therefore will be seldom moved,  the cupboard under the chart table now holds items which are vital but seldom used (Spares).   A drawer now holds electrical items, chargers etc.  A cupboard will contain Electrical items in constant use, ipads, kindles etc. 

The operation took 7 hours over an afternoon and a morning.  Everything has been sorted, logged and its location noted.  2 bins bags of mostly packaging have been removed.  Some ruthless sorting and soul searching parted with a small number of unwanted/old items.

Spare/Visitor bedding has been returned home to be replaced by 2 x sleeping bags.  We are not unsociable but we will need the space.

Jolly good therapeutic process, which yielded a whole under-seat locker and enough room in the outside locker for an additional diesel tank.

The dinghy storage is up for debate.  Regular usage may require relocation.

A world of future bartering and trading ‘Useful’ items has been revealed and therefore these items are deemed useful, but maybe not by us!

The Plan 2014 - ?

The Plan AM

Mick has been sailing for more than 30 years.  He started with Wayfarers on a reservoir.  Over the years the boats have slowly increased in size.   Starting with a Sea-wych, trailer sailer, to a Swift 23, Jeanau 26, Jeaneau 32 and for the past 7 years a Jeaneau Sun Odyssey 35.

Mick has completed many sailing courses over the years and has a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification.  He is a practical person and as a professional engineer has always been a hands-on DIY sailor.  He regularly reads and occasionally contributes to the PBO forum.

I completed my Dayskipper Practical and Yachtmaster theory several years ago.  I am the food and subsistence end of the partnership.  I have a wanderlust and am looking forward to seeing many new places.  I am self appointed ‘Tourism Officer’ and look forward to wandering around new towns and cities and any tourist attraction (preferable free) that comes onto my radar.

During the summer months we go sailing as often as work allows.  Most weekends are spent sailing or caravanning on the boat.

We made a conscious decision when we became a couple to live in a small house and have the best boat we could afford, with the long term dream of sailing off someday.

We have seen friends retire and go sailing their boats, some more successfully than others.  We came to the conclusion that sailing is a physically demanding pastime and if we were to do it for an extended period we should try to go as soon (or as young) as possible.  We all have friends who have sadly passed away or become less capable and these events have propelled us towards this decision.

Mick’s daughter has graduated from University and is now living happily in Ireland.  Our parents have all passed away and we have served our time as carers and companions.  So the coast is clear.  We have numerous friends who we will miss whilst away, including my W.I. and craft club friends and close family.  However, technology is on our side.  We have grown up in a technological whirlwind and so keeping in touch has never been easier, with the help of good and often free WiFi.

The time feels right to live our dream.  We have both been granted a sabbatical from work for 1 year and so off we go.

I still won’t quite believe it until we actually leave.

Preparation So Far….

The voyage should be sponsored by Ebay.  Mick has been accumulating stuff, important stuff, for a number of years now.  We need very little, except food.

Mick is partial to a computer or two.  We currently have 4 computers capable of navigation.  There have been many rounds of new software, upgrades and updates.  We have several GPS devices but have chosen currently to forgo Radar, though we do have AIS (Automatic Identification System, which beeps if large registered ships get within range).  I would like to be able to silence the AIS from the cockpit but this is a work in progress and good exercise.

The Radio and CD player now automatically cut out when a maritime information broadcast is active.

Mick has been accumulating Maps, Charts, Cruising Guides and has spent many hours planning the route.  Although this is difficult until we know exactly when, and then the weather interferes.   The boat has a full suite of Raymarine instruments although Mick prefers to use Open CPN (laptop software) as the primary navigational system, although for those in the know, the laptop is fully integrated to both the Sea-Talk Network and the AIS receiver.

We have both lost some weight, with the added bonus that the boat feels bigger.  (By the 5:2 fasting diet method, if you are interested).

There has been experimentation with Wind power, but we have currently decided against taking the windmill.

A microwave has been acquired and will be installed this weekend (8/2/14), somewhere…  The theory being that electric in a marina is free whereas Gas costs money.  Have I mentioned we are quite frugal, tight, scrimpers who love to save a penny or two when possible.

We have been clearing the boat of all the miscellaneous junk we have filled it with over the past few years.  We have enough glasses, cups and crockery for a decent sized party.  There will mostly be 2 of us, though we have kept some extra glasses and cups, just to be sociable.

We have had some cards made to hand out if we meet people en-route and for people back home to keep in touch with the new phone numbers, email and blogspot.

Dental and Sight checks have been made.  One tooth removed.  It had always been a nuisance.

Boat Preparation…..

Mick carries out all the boat servicing other than sail and canvas repairs.  The boat has a lifting keel and a Volvo MD2030 engine.  Annual servicing has always included filters, oils, anodes, and keel mechanism lubrication but in the last year Mick has also changed the exhaust elbow, drained and cleaned the heat exchanger, replaced the batteries, installed a water filtration system, serviced the furling main sail mechanism, winches, electric windlass and outboard motor, de-coked the eberspacer, changed the toilet valve, and upgraded the lights to LEDs.

We will be taking the boat out of the water for Anti-fouling in Feb/March and Mick is going to change the cutlass bearing and prop shaft seal and replaced all the running rigging.  Mick went up the mast last summer using the mast-climber to check the standing rigging and replace an allen screw in the Genoa furling foil. 

We like her to look good so we will give her a good polish too.  I just hope the weather is good enough so that the polish goes off OK.  We have had a previous bad experience where the polish just would not budge and we ended up looking at unsightly streaks all year.

Boat Insurance – You think you can just set sail and go with the wind.  Wrong.  The boat insurance has caviats starting when you can and can’t go to particular places.  The one affecting us is the Bay of Biscay which cannot be crossed after September with only the two of us.  I think this is a good idea, but it may have some bearing on our course and how long we linger in places.  I would like to get passed the Bay of Biscay this year and aim south for Winter.  Mick thinks we may not get so far.

The other big unknown is how often we may return home.  Mick is going to do 3 days work a month and so may need to travel a little.  Neither of us has been away from home for so long before so we don’t really know how we will react to homesickness.  We do have the added advantage of working together for many years, so we are only parted due to work commitments.  We are used to being together which most couples are not.

People keep asking how long will it take to get to places but we just do not know.  The weather is the main decision maker.  It did not sunshine until July last year, but previous years we have sailed from March to November.  All part of the adventure.

I joined the W.I. a few years ago which re-ignited my interest in sewing and has lead to all sorts of new crafts and activities I would never of thought of.  I would highly recommend joining whatever your age.  During the last few years I have been accumulating skills in small scale craft projects which I can take afloat.  My main activity is making teddy bears, and they too have become smaller to accommodate the trip.  I have enjoyed patchwork and quilting, crochet, felting and painting so I think I will be able to keep myself occupied during the long hours waiting in marina for the weather to change.  I am also looking forward to getting truly lost in a book.  I think the domestic duties will take longer too.  Washing and drying are the things I am most uncertain about.  On every other long trip we have taken in the boat the washing has been taken home at the end.  It should be easier when we get further south and the weather gets better.

Mick has made a backup of all the music CDs in our collection for us to use on the trip.  Again technology is on our side. 

About The Boat

The Boat - MB

Our previous boat was called ‘Fleur’ after Ann-Marie’s childhood teddy bear which had been named after the lady in the ‘Forsyth Saga’.

As the boat is Part 1 registered we needed a unique name so ‘Fleur of Pendle’ was chosen as we are both proud Lancastrians.

Fleur of Pendle is a 2005 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 with a lifting keel and twin rudders.  She has a Volvo Penta MD2030 engine with standard shaft drive and P bracket.  We bought her when she was 1 year old on Windermere.  She was the unwanted purchase of a Motor boat owner who thought he would become a sailor following the introduction of the speed limit.  One year on he bought another motor boat.  Our good fortune was his purchase of many extras such as In-mast furling, holding tank, electric windlass, full cockpit awning, Eberspacer with remote dialling feature and extra batteries.

She is the owner’s version which means she has one very large double aft cabin which currently has a regular King sized memory foam mattress and a large locker accessed through the large heads (toilet) and shower compartment.

Additions since purchase include life-raft, dingy and engine, auto-helm, AIS ,Navtex, Rocna 15 anchor, rope cutter, dan-buoy, life sling, 2 PLBs

 

 

Being a lifting keel with 2 rudders there is no prop wash and slow speed manoeuvring especially in reverse is painful but with judicious use of the throttle and an understanding of the wind and tide can be overcome
We are regularly an entertainment feature as we would rather abort and retry than crack on and crash.

The furling main sail concept has both fans and detractors if you visit any forum but as a short-handed crew we find that providing we reef early and maintains correctly it provides benefits which so far outweigh any shortcomings in performance.

Navigation - Fleur is equipped with a Raymarine C70 chart plotter, with navionics charts, connected to an S60 graphic repeater and the autopilot a Raymarine SPX5 in the cockpit.  A laptop with Open CPN and charts by ‘visitmyharbour’ is also connected to the Raymarine network and AIS, this is my preferred method of passage planning and navigation.

I should at this time give acknowledgement and thanks to Jim Dew, the owner of ‘Full-Circle’ a similar SO 35 who has provided invaluable information and resource to me on the construction, engineering issues and solutions to this design of craft.  He has single-handedly stripped down, re-built and enhanced his own vessel over the years and shared his experiences.

Future modifications - If and when we get to the sunshine power will be an issue.  I have experimented with a Rutland 503 wind generator and found it to be inadequate and noisy.  Reading other peoples experiences I think we will utilise solar panels but will leave the purchase of these until required.   We have a small 4 stroke petrol generator which can be used when required where noise permits to provide both 12 and 240 Volts.  This has not on any of our previous trips needed to be deployed.

A Bimini (sun shade) will be required in warmer climes and we hope to modify the cockpit canopy frame to accomplish this.
 

Fleur is definitely an AWB (Average White Boat) this is the description given by purist to a mass produced, usually French, cruising boat.  As such whilst similar boats have crossed oceans Fleur will be used for what she was designed for which is cruising, sometimes off-shore in predominantly good weather whilst providing a comfortable base in port.

In the next 12 months we will spend more days on shore than at sea, and as such Fleur is a good choice for the mission in hand.  We have no desire to be heroes braving the worst and whilst not having all the time in the world will have more time than we have ever had before.

 

Just added link to location
 https://sites.google.com/site/fleurofpendlelocation/

The Return Journey

11^th August – Sail to Troon

Our original return trip was planned via Stanraer, but anyone who has been to Stranraer recently may agree it is not the place you may wish to spend your first wedding Anniversary.  The best day to go to Stranraer would have been the 10^thAugust…..

Another option on the 11^th was to sail the Stranraer and then on to Troon another day.  Journey commenced around 6.00am.  Sandwiches made and drinks on the go.  The forecast was for 4 to 5’s blowing 6 later, we decided to leave, as the next few days were even worse. The sea state in the morning was a little rolly but manageable.  We were passing Alice Craig and the point to turn to Stanraer at approx 3.00pm but decided at this point that we had made good time and we would carry on the Troon. 

From this point onwards the seas started becoming larger and the wind increased gradually over the next few hours.  By 6.00pm the wind was blowing to 7’s with a very uncomfortable few hours ahead of us.  Remembering this is AUGUST I was wearing 5 layers of clothes.  At one point whilst helming while Mick was reducing sail a large wave decided to make acquaintance with my underwear.  A yelp of ‘I’ve got water in my bra’ was return by a ‘Never mind that, keep steering’.  The good news is, the water warmed quickly.

The potential hazards of going into Troon are several fold.  There are the ferries, the shore and several rocks.  At this point we were joined by a double Rainbow, just to remind us what we were doing!  The huge fast catamaran ferry approaches very quickly and obviously takes priority, so we had to hold a position until it had passed and docked safely.  The harbourmaster told us to wait until the ferry was securely tied before we started our last approach, in case he could not dock.  We were being tossed around quite a lot but I managed to keep a course, as I had already had 2 hours to get used to the steering in this bad weather and the way the boat was re-acting to the waves.  Mick took the helm to take us into Troon and quickly realised what an excellent job I had done in the last few hours, as the wheel was almost wrenched from his grip.  He successfully steered us in and the peace supplied by the outer harbour wall was immediate.  We asked for an easy birth and scooted in behind Super-yacht Constance at approx 8.30pm. 14 and a half hours since our journey began. We could not muster the energy to go out to eat and settled for a cheap ready-made Lasagne purchased in Ireland.  It is one of the best things I have ever eaten.  We sat opposite each other muttering ‘we did it’.  Phew.

Lessons Learned

Ignore significant Anniversaries and go with the weather and safest destination.

Realise that blowing 6’s may mean constant 7’s.

Button your coat properly.  Including Velcro

Always have an emergency meal on board to end a difficult passage.

Buy a larger flask.

Wondering previously ‘Can I?’ now I know ‘I CAN’.  Being tested in relatively safe waters is not always a bad thing.  We know that our-selves and the boat can cope.

12^th August – Big Sleep.

13^th August – Sailed to Port Banatyne.  Good sail from Troon, past Largs, cut through past the back of Cumbrae, up the east coast of Bute.

Port Banatyne is a pleasant small marina North of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.  The facilities are in a Portacabin, clean and functional.  A friendly small shop across the road holds most supplies you would require.  A very regular bus service stops just outside the marina.

14^th August - Visit to Mount Stewart, Isle of Bute http://www.mountstuart.com/

I am a history buff and cannot resist the lure of a stately home, so Mount Stewart is my kind of heaven. We caught the bus into Rothesay and continued on the same bus to Mount Stewart.  The bus goes right up the drive of the castle and drops you at the gate.  There is a large new visitor’s centre with usual shop and FANTASTIC Café upstairs.   Do not miss the restaurant standard Café.

The map provided shows the Walk to the Castle through the gardens and woods.  There is also a minibus.  The red sandstone gothic mansion is breathtaking, and it only gets better as you enter the building.  The main hall approached from the entrance hall up a flight of stairs is the most memorable I have visited.

The current Marquis opened the house a few years ago simply to provide employment and tourist trade for the Island. 

15^th August - Sail back to Largs

Scotland has a unique habit of being able to display 2 totally different weather systems at the same time.  To the Port side we have the darkest black clouds and to Starboard we have a summer’s day.

 

2013 Cruise to Northern Ireland via Mull of Kintyre

4^th August - Sailed to Troon

5^th August - Sailed to Campbeltown. Good Marina, some of the facilities are in the Royal Hotel across the road. 

Very friendly gentleman on pontoon gives good information.  There is also a reciprocal agreement with the swimming pool leisure complex.  Marina is very convenient for the Town Centre which is literally across the road.  Tesco (well hidden behind leisure complex) and Co-op.

I made Flatbreads on board which were successful enough to eat with cooked chicken.

6^th August - Sailed to Glenarm, Northern Ireland. An early start from Campbeltown

Across the North Channel in view of the Mull of Kintyre

The wind seemed to be on the nose all day.  Tired and glad to arrive.  Sailing into direct sun made visibility difficult and tiring.

The Marina has recently been updated with a new office, shower and utility block, friendly staff made everything easy.

Glenarm is a very small town with a picturesque main street, with an Artisan Jewellers.  A woodland walk appears at the end of the street which winds around very pleasant woodland and forest.  The forest has a number of sculptures,

which aid the journey.  Make sure you go up the left hand side (as you look from the entrance) of the loop track, as the right side is very steep and easier to walk downhill.

Oops, Diesel in the Boat.  In a conscientious effort to keep the boat full of Diesel a touch of overfill had occurred, and a loose fitting on the Eberspacher fuel pick up caused a small leak.  A strong smell greeted us on our return from the walk.  All the floorboards were upturned. An amount of diesel had swished around during our journey.  Much paper towel and detergent was required to clean up.  I retired to the showers.

There was a small shop but the pub was NOT open!! 

8^th August - Sailed to Carrick Fergus – Northern Ireland.  A pleasant shortish trip on an intermittently sunny day.  Cloud, Sun, Cloud, Sun.

Carrick Fergus is impressive when approached from the sea as it has a large Castle in the bay.  The marina is easy to enter and well identified from the sea.  Visitors moor up on the right on a long pontoon.  You may wish to be moved to a birth but we stayed on the Pontoon.  The marina offers 3 nights for the price of 2.  The facilities are modern and there is a free coffee machine in the foyer.  Excellent folders are supplied providing good local information.  These lead us to our next few days site seeing.  Sainsbury’s located opposite the marina.

9^th August - Andrew Jacksons House.  http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Andrew-Jackson-Cottage-and-US-Rangers-Centre-Carrickfergus-P2801.  He was the 7^th President of the USA.  The house is well sign posted and is located at the end of the sea front to the North and on the seaside surrounded by a same estate of houses.  It is a small single storey thatched building with out-houses.  There is also a display of information regarding the US Rangers.  The hosts were very friendly and knowledgeable and we were given a free drink of our choice.    Check the website for opening times.

Gas Works Tour – Carrick Fergus Gas Works http://www.flamegasworks.co.uk/concrete/. Irelands only preserved Victorian Gas Works.  I thought this was a boy thing but found a very interesting gentleman who was passionate about his subject and made the visit very memorable. The Gas Works provided ‘Town Gas’ for Carrickfergus.  The process was fascinating and definitely worth a visit.  Check the website for opening times.

10^th Carrickfergus Castle – Our First Wedding Anniversary

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Carrickfergus-Castle-Carrickfergus-P2814

Trip around Carrickfergus Castle to start our Anniversary day.  Worth a visit, lots of different areas to explore.  The staff were very good with visiting children, trying on armour etc.

Lovely meal at the ‘Wind Rose’ restaurant on the Marina. 

Note to self:  Despite it being our Wedding Anniversary we should observe the weather and sail on the best day rather than pamper ourselves with a nice Anniversary meal.  Read on….