Cruising on Alexia
An informal update of our travels for Family and Friends
17 December 2011 | Green Turtle Cay, Abacos
16 December 2011
16 December 2011
15 December 2011
14 December 2011
10 December 2011
07 December 2011
02 December 2011
27 November 2011
24 November 2011
23 November 2011
22 November 2011
21 November 2011
20 November 2011
19 November 2011
17 November 2011 | Pic is Vero Beach
16 November 2011
15 November 2011
14 November 2011
13 November 2011 | Florida
A short trip home
05 September 2013
Mid July – mid September
With Alexia now out of the water until early September I took the opportunity to hurtle home for a few weeks in the UK.
My arrival coincided with my brother Jim's garden party at his lovely house near Braintree, Essex. Always great fun - lively, lots of food and an opportunity to catch up on the family headlines of the last year but this was a challenge - with three sisters and a brother, 11 nephews and nieces, and 21 great nephews and nieces the information overload was more than I could handle.
It was also my sister Jan's 70th birthday at the end of August - amazing how the passing years have no effect whatsoever on the giggling and silly jokes that emerge when we all get together.
In between time was taken up with downsizing our storage container, disposing of William's wine cellar, dentist, optician, medical overhaul and clothes shopping - charity shops only, as all my sisters are avid purveyors of the 'pre-loved' clothes market!
The time passed so quickly and before long I was booking my return flight to the USA. Apologies to all the friends I did not see when I was home
William remained in the USA to see through the work and upgrades that were taking place. Having made many friends with cruisers in the marina his social life took off - big time!
He had planned to book into the local motel whilst Alexia was on the hard but a wonderful couple Richard & Carol, whose yacht 'Key Lime' had been a short distance from Alexia before she was taken ashore, offered him the keys to their boat insisting that he used it has his 'pad' whilst they were away for a few months on business and family events.
'Key Lime' is a beautiful 31ft H T Gozzard and even though she was eleven feet shorter than Alexia - she was surprisingly roomy down below and the perfect bachelor pad!
My arrival coincided with my brother Jim's garden party at his lovely house near Braintree, Essex. Always great fun - lively, lots of food and an opportunity to catch up on the family headlines of the last year but this was a challenge - with three sisters and a brother, 11 nephews and nieces, and 21 great nephews and nieces the information overload was more than I could handle.
It was also my sister Jan's 70th birthday at the end of August - amazing how the passing years have no effect whatsoever on the giggling and silly jokes that emerge when we all get together.
In between time was taken up with downsizing our storage container, disposing of William's wine cellar, dentist, optician, medical overhaul and clothes shopping - charity shops only, as all my sisters are avid purveyors of the 'pre-loved' clothes market!
The time passed so quickly and before long I was booking my return flight to the USA. Apologies to all the friends I did not see when I was home
William remained in the USA to see through the work and upgrades that were taking place. Having made many friends with cruisers in the marina his social life took off - big time!
He had planned to book into the local motel whilst Alexia was on the hard but a wonderful couple Richard & Carol, whose yacht 'Key Lime' had been a short distance from Alexia before she was taken ashore, offered him the keys to their boat insisting that he used it has his 'pad' whilst they were away for a few months on business and family events.
'Key Lime' is a beautiful 31ft H T Gozzard and even though she was eleven feet shorter than Alexia - she was surprisingly roomy down below and the perfect bachelor pad!
At rest in the boatyard
28 June 2013
The work continues
A successful haul out and Alexia is set to rest in the boat yard where she will remain until we set sail at the beginning of next season - probably around mid-September.
There's still a lot of work to do aboard - cleaning our fridge and freezer, draining water and diesel tanks as well as the regular maintenance work. The hull will need to be lightly sanded and anti-fouled.
There's still a lot of work to do aboard - cleaning our fridge and freezer, draining water and diesel tanks as well as the regular maintenance work. The hull will need to be lightly sanded and anti-fouled.
Don't Drop Me Now!
27 June 2013
She's out
This is the crucial point - when you begin to look closely at the thin wires and canvas bands and wonder how on earth they can support Alexia's 12.5 tons.
Nearly there
27 June 2013
Just holding her still
A final tweak here and there and she's ready to hoist
Hauling out
27 June 2013
The boys in the team ease Alexia into position
It's a great day for our haul out. A little overcast, not too warm and just right for mooching around the travelift for about an hour as the crew pull Alexia into the well and get her in the right position for lifting.
Deck Work
20 June 2013 | William wears kneepads to protect from the heat of the deck
Getting the caulking finished is a major triumph
At the end of our first week in Herrington Harbour we have worked hard to clear some of the jobs on the list before Alexia is hauled out of the water - which now looks to be Thursday next week.
Deck caulking has occupied us for four days - overall there is more than 25 feet of caulking to complete - all bits and pieces, 2ft here, 4" there etc.. Wet decks in the morning have to dry and by mid afternoon it is almost too hot to work - the caulk loves it but we fade quickly in the heat.
William marks up the areas to be done using hurricane tape - which is super-adhesive and gives a firm edging to prevent seepage onto the deck. I follow on with the caulking gun and by the time we're finishing it looks not too bad.
Next step will be cleaning the decks to remove splodges and uneven marks which have accumulated over the last season before an application of reviving teak dressing.
Deck caulking has occupied us for four days - overall there is more than 25 feet of caulking to complete - all bits and pieces, 2ft here, 4" there etc.. Wet decks in the morning have to dry and by mid afternoon it is almost too hot to work - the caulk loves it but we fade quickly in the heat.
William marks up the areas to be done using hurricane tape - which is super-adhesive and gives a firm edging to prevent seepage onto the deck. I follow on with the caulking gun and by the time we're finishing it looks not too bad.
Next step will be cleaning the decks to remove splodges and uneven marks which have accumulated over the last season before an application of reviving teak dressing.
| Vessel Name: | Alexia |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Hallberg Rassy 42 built in 1998. She's extremely comfortable aboard with two ensuite cabins. Endless useful equipment like microwave, bilge pump counter, bowthrusters, Mastervolt generator, air conditioning, 12v freezer, |
| Hailing Port: | London, United Kingdom |
| Crew: | William Spouse and Frances Rogers |
| About: | William has been a competitive sailor most of his life and introduced Frances to the boating life 29 years ago. In that time they have chartered many sailboats in Europe and the Caribbean finally purchasing Alexia in 2007. |
Gallery not available
The Crew
Who: William Spouse and Frances Rogers
Port: London, United Kingdom