Moved house - finally. After a week of living in boxes, we're more or less done. Spent most of the week taking furniture apart and reassembling and, of course, a lot of shuttling to and fro - can't afford to pay movers at the moment. And then there's all the stuff that comes with it: utility providers, insurance, tax, phone & internet, etc... Not fun.
Tomorrow's the first day in a new job. I'll be commuting to Brussels on a weekly basis for the next year or so. Bit of a leap in the dark really - until last Thursday I didn't even know where exactly I had to be on Monday. Not the finest example of military planning/communication.
Not much has been happening on the boat front. Far too hectic to think about Guapa really. Not heard from the insurance company yet and the yard foreman's been away on holiday (back Monday). Will start chasing people once I'm settled in Brussels - hopefully by the end of the week. Very keen to get things moving; don't think I'd survive another year without much sailing.
Next boat related activity - provided the free tickets turn up - is a visit to Southampton Boat Show. Will be looking at new inboard engines. Though I've pretty much narrowed down the field to two, I want to look over the competition and see what other deals could be done.
It never stops.
| 2009 |
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Stuck in central France, a couple of hundred miles from the sea, does not mean we didn't manage to get some sailing in. Went dinghy sailing on nearby Trémouille lake.
After all these years, I was reminded how much fun it could be. The perfect weather for it: glorious sunshine and light to moderate winds. One of the kids always came along and one day we even hired two dinghies and had a boys against girls race. Boys won - and that's despite the girls cheating.
Guapa: got a quote from Fox's for the work I want doing. Some parts of the quote are very competitive, some are of the 'taking the piss' variety. To be discussed with the workshop manager when he returns in a week or so. Also got a quote for the engine/hull/rudder repairs - forwarded it to the insurance company. Waiting to hear from them.
Now focussing on moving house and starting a new job the week after next.
| 2009 |
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Not even remotely boat related - we lost a family member today. Our 14 and a half year old Brittany Spaniel passed away last night.
Fleur had not been doing to well lately - at that age it is to be expected - so, she didn't join us on our escape to the sun. I felt the heat and 12 hour car journey would be too much for her.
Usual dog-sitter was available, so I thought it best to leave her in a familiar environment.
A couple of days ago we got a call that she hadn't eaten in 4 days. She does sometimes go on hunger strike when she's angry or thinks we've abandoned her. So I didn't think much of it. Then, last night, another call - she still refused to eat and her tongue had started to turn blue - an indication of heart trouble. Vet appointment arranged for first thing in the morning.
Alas, Fleur did not make it through the night. Passed away in her sleep, curled up in her sofa. Big blow to family morale.
Afterthoughts and regrets: 'we should have brought her along' being the principal one.
She never took to the boat - too old and too set in her ways by the time we got a boat big enough to take her along. Whilst not a Guapa crew member she was an integral part of our family.
Still get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes when I see her bowl, sofa, blanket, .... And it's not just me.
We may well get another dog in due time and I'll be taking her along on the boat as a pup.
| 2009 |
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Pissing down with rain outside - even our 'escape to the sun' isn't working out as planned.
Left with not much more than memories of sailing Guapa. It isn't much, but it's all I've got at the moment.
Putting a brave face on things is getting increasingly hard; but in the words of Fletcher (Porridge): Don't let the bastards grind you down.
| 2009 |
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Guapa's been lifted out - all's becoming clear now. Not good news, but an explanation for the 'bump' we felt in Knock Deep and why the engine is the way it is.
We've 'caught something' - don't know what as only a bit of strop remained. There's also some minor damage to the keel and gel-coat consistent with dragging something along.
And some damage to the rudder that may be the result of our up close encounter with Long Sands Head whilst we were awaiting rescue (anchoring in the Sunk TSS had never been a viable option).
In view of this I have informed our insurers and everything is now on hold till we hear from them.
In the mean time life goes on. It's like we've not got anything else to deal with. Moving house in a week and a half, new job at the end of the month.
And I don't handle 'change' very well. Next year looks like it's going to be another one to put on 'fast forward'.
| 2009 |
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What should have been the start of our Summer holiday may very well have been our last sail of 2009.
In search of the very best price available I have now decided to ask Fox's for an 'all-in and no surprises' quote. For them to be able to give quote as accurately as possible we would need to get Guapa up there and if necessary hauled out.
Saturday's forecast was quite helpful in that respect - SSW 3-4. A nice upriver sail on a rising tide. How hard could it be?
As it turned out - not very and quite fun too.
Sailing off our mooring was a buttock clenching moment. Been way too long since I had done that, and wind and tide weren't exactly cooperating. Adrenaline rush, but no more than that.
Once under way Guapa proved a delight to handle. (Broad) reaching under full sail boat speed went up to 9kts at one time. That's what I do it for. Still my girl.
Pin Mill and Woolverstone came and went all too soon. Orwell Bridge and the wind dropped to a zephyr. We were adrift with sails up. Time to call the cavalry. Fox's work boat to the rescue. Towed in the marina and tied up all snug in no time. And that was all there was to it.
Not exactly what you would call 'going out with a bang' - a whisper more like.
Awaiting lift out.
| 2009 |
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Not been going anywhere. And with weather like this, we've not missed much. My other half is still hard at work for another couple of days before we take a break from it all in - hopefully - sunny France.
On the boat front it's all been 'behind the scenes' action. I've been mailing and phoning around for quotes.
I've had it with this rolling, 5 year plan of upgrades and repairs. When Guapa next disappears into a shed/yard she's coming out all finished. This may take a while, I don't care - at least it'll be the end of it.
I've got quotes for most of the bits that still need doing: hull/gel-coat, standing rigging and furling gear, engine. And some of the bits left unfinished in May.
Then I started thinking - always dangerous - why not ask a yard that can do everything for an 'all-in' quote? Might very well be worth my while. So that's the next step.
Finances: how to pay for all of this? And as with anything boat related - odds on it won't be cheap. I've ruled out quantitative easing - even if I started printing my own money, who would have it?
Two viable options:
1. Thanks to Mr Bush and Mr Blair there's no shortage of wars/armed conflicts these days. Afghanistan's got that certain 'je ne sais quoi' about it and nearer to home there's always exotic Kossovo. About 6 months in either should raise enough.
2. The second, and much preferred, option: the sale of the ancestral home. Since dad died mum's keen to move to a smaller and easier to maintain place. 'My' bit should also raise more than enough. Of course, the house might sell tomorrow or it might sell next year.
If I want to go sailing next year, I think I'll have to go to war. Ho-hum.
How about getting Guapa to that all singing, all dancing boatyard? Fox's - just up the river - is the obvious candidate. Only snag - no engine. Can we get there? With the right wind it should not really be a problem. Forecast for Saturday doesn't look too bad (apart from the rain).
Out of necessity, we might at least get one proper family sail in this summer.
| 2009 |
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News from the engine front - and it's not good. Another understatement. It's curtains... for the engine and the 2009 sailing season.
Finally got a mechanic sorted to come and have a look at the engine. All over in a matter of minutes. And looking back, I'm kicking myself - how the fuck did I miss that?
It seems we were wide off the mark: no water in the pistons, no electrical fault, no water in the diesel... The engine had sheered off it's mounts! God only knew what was holding it in place. That had bent the prop shaft which explained the stern gland water ingress, etc... Gearbox looked 'dodgy' too, drive-plate...
Looking at best case and worst case scenarios. Best case: 2.5K engineering work + lift and storage. Worst case: 3.5K engineering work + new gearbox + new prop shaft and the possibility that engine crank shaft's terminal... (manually trying to crank the engine got us nowhere). Serious money: 6K plus.
As worst case seems to be the way of things, I'm going to go with that one. Engine's 25 years old and has already been rebuilt twice. Good money after bad. New engine seems to be and is the only sensible option.
The news did not really come as a shock; mentally I had already written off 2009. Of course, this costs money - which we don't have. Options? Guapa also needs other work: cracks in the gel coat, steering gear needs to be re-aligned, standing rigging still needs doing, furling gear, the list goes on.
There's some money coming our way - in the hopefully - near future (house for sale); in the mean time I'll be looking for quotes and getting Guapa on the hard sharpish. Plug that financial hole.
Strange as it may sound, as a family we have other priorities right now: moving house and changing jobs, all by the end of August. We might even squeeze a weeks holiday in there.
And if the weather gods should take pity upon us and provide that one perfect day - say a SW 4 - we might even get a sail in. But to sail off and on a mooring I'd like the wind to be consistent - thank you very much.
Not at all what I had hoped for, but at least now we know where we are and the way ahead. Another year of pinching the pennies and making do, but it will be worth it in the end. I know it will.
Quitters never win and winners never quit.
| 2009 |
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Not a lot to report. Still sitting on our mooring and still going nowhere fast.
Engine: lots of things could be wrong with it, no way (for me at least) to tell what it is exactly. If indeed water has gotten into the engine through the sump, there should be evidence of water in the oil. If that was the case I was advised to carry out a complete oil change and give it a go.
Trip up to Ipswich, stop by the chandlery - bloody hell! Oil's not cheap (even after discount). Dinghy trip to the boat. Outboard engine behaved suspect (splutter - cough), but got us there (only just).
As I had skipped breakfast I was famished. Lunch, and be smart about it. My other half did not disappoint - delicious sandwiches in no time. Eat on deck, and watch the world sail by. Bastards! Jealousy rearing its ugly head.
I checked the oil dipstick. Nice, clean and black. Not a trace of water. What good would an oil-change do? Not much as far as I could workout - mindful of just how expensive that oil had turned out to be. The more I think about it and fiddle with it, the less I'm convinced it's water in the cylinders. My best guess is an electrical fault. Or maybe not.
So, we left Guapa as we found her. I had just tightened the stern gland nuts a bit - 10ltr of water, not exactly the swimming pool we found in Ramsgate, but still ....
Over to the experts. I had asked around if anyone knew of a good diesel engineer in the neighbourhood. Two names were suggested; one was very busy and about to go on holiday, the other one's available and has promised to have a look at our engine this week. Fingers, and everything else, crossed.
Trip back to shore proved a 'challenge'. Two minutes out the outboard died on us. Paddled back to the boat. I'm getting used to stuff breaking down, so I carry spares for just about anything. Including a spare outboard. One off, second one on. Hadn't been used in nine months but fired up second go. No problem.
On the way home I reflected on how far we had come as a family/crew: not so long ago the dinghy breaking down in mid river would have been cause for some minor panic; now it didn't even warrant a raised voice. All done and dusted in less than half an hour.
A few weeks ago I confided to Brigitte about the way I felt after the eventful and disaster-prone trip from Antwerp to Ostend and she had little time for me: 'This family does not do breakdowns'. That was me told. Just what I needed, a good mental kick up the backside.
There we are then, hopefully some good news by the end of the week.
Plans for the rest of the season? Even if the engine comes alive again, I'm never really going to trust it again. An extended summer cruise would give us ample opportunity to break down in far away and expensive places. Not something I'm looking forward to. Holidays are supposed to be free from worry, not give you something different to worry about.
I think we'll stick to some pottering about locally (the kids and I mostly) for a week or two and then have 10 days or so visiting the outlaws in deepest France.
There's always next year. And the next, and the next...
| 2009 |
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Short and to the point: the world's poorest Oyster owner (Mr Roger Winter of Jolie Brise) came alongside Guapa at 10H00. We played around with bits of string and were soon under way with the minimum amount of fuss.
Apart from some inconsiderate nerks not slowing down when they passed us (it was blindingly obvious we were under tow) there's not much to report. Parked on our mooring in no time. A great sense of relief was felt by all.
Meanwhile Brigitte had once again taken the car round and was duly collected by Yanni in the dinghy. Time for lunch - of the liquid variety - with some crisps thrown in.
Fog lifted and glorious sunshine was our part. I was almost enjoying myself. Hanging around on a boat, drinking beer, talking bollocks - my idea of heaven.
What about the engine? That's still to be investigated. What's wrong? The possibilities are legion: ranging from water in the diesel over water in the cylinder heads to a stuck exhaust valve. Some more serious and expensive than the other.
If the engine is fixable for a relatively modest sum we might still be able to salvage the rest of the season. If it's curtains for the engine or if the repairs should prove too costly I will stick Guapa on the hard somewhere till our economic/financial situation improves.
Quietly I'm still hoping for the best, but mentally I've already written off 2009. Such is life.
| 2009 |
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The home stretch was to be a father & son affair. Eldest offspring seems to have developed a social life outside of sailing. Weird kid - what ever next? Mum to drop us off in Ramsgate and collect us in Levington. So far, the plan.
Tidal calculations done, ready to sail by 13H30. ETA Levington: not later than 21H00. There are worse ways to spend a Saturday.
Final preparations - and then horror of horrors: once again the engine afloat in about 70cm of water. Our stern gland always used to weep a bit, now it seems it has started to cry me a river.
Anyway, engine well pumped out and the engine fired up - for about 2 minutes. Adrift in the middle of Ramsgate outer marina pontoons... with the help of some onlookers (it is a blood sport, isn't it?) we were soon back alongside.
Some fiddling with the damn thing and half an hour later we left our berth again. This time the engine stayed with us till just outside the outer breakwaters. Then some chugging sounds, then nothing. The thing had now seized up completely.
Genoa unfurled with some haste. At least we were making way. I handed the helm to Yanni and the little man steered us just fine off the wind. Close enough for me to hoist the main. Speed over the ground - a respectable but unimpressive 5kts. A steady 10kts of wind from the SE. We were going to get there, we just weren't going to get there very fast.
Autopilot on and sit and sail and chat and sleep. The 'world' (North Foreland) dropped out of sight and we were on our own.
When the tide turned it took about a knot and a half off our speed. Revised ETA now well past 01H00. Out of mobile phone range there was no way to inform our taxi. She was in for a long wait.
Just after 22H00 the VHF came alive: Thames Coastguard enquiring about our whereabouts. We had been reported overdue. I assured them we were OK and they promised to relay the message, including our revised ETA.
Then, just when you think things can't get any worse, they do. The wind dropped completely. Less than a knot of relative wind and all over the place. And about 2kts of tide had started to carry us across the Sunk TSS straight on to Long Sands Head. Spent the next half hour praying for wind. When none materialised I got Thames Coastguard on the VHF and advised them of our predicament.
They dispatched the Haven pilotvessel Happy in our direction. Tow secured and we were once again making progress in the right direction at a steady 7kts. Meanwhile... a real pea soup had materialised out of thin air. Harwich completely dropped from view, we could barely make out Happy towing us.
The Coastguard had arranged for the Harwich RNLI lifeboat to take over the tow from our pilotboat (rapidly becoming our new best friend). Off Rough Towers they spent the best part of half an hour looking for each other - the fog was that dense (and AIS on the blink).
Dropped Happy's tow, picked up the lifeboat tow. And the RNLI chaps seemed to be in a hurry. A steady 10kts over the ground. Yanni had gotten quite exited. Since we were taken in tow his relief was obvious.
Plans to put us on our swinging mooring in Levington were soon abandoned - the visibility was just too bad. Nil. We were to spend the night alongside the Harwich Lifeboat pier.
Meanwhile Brigitte had made her way from Levington to Harwich by car. Four miles as the crow flies, forty miles by car. And still she rustled up a hot meal. All ready for bed by 03H00. What a day.
First thing tomorrow: organise a tow to Levington (engine not willing to budge one inch).
I seem to remember owning a boat to be much more fun than this - but that now seems an eternity ago.
Onwards and upwards.
| 2009 |
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Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Wind F4-5 from the NW - exactly the direction we're heading. The trip's 80NM as the crow flies and normally takes us 12 to 14 hours. I wasn't about to add (lots of) hours to that by tacking our way home. Brigitte an I were expected at work and both the children had school.
Ramsgate - close to the wind but sail-able.
And that's exactly what we did - for the first couple of hours. Then the wind backed W and eventually died. Motor sailed for a bit and ended up just motoring.
An altogether very uneventful crossing. Even the engine behaved.
North Foreland and eventually Ramsgate came into view. The old 'follow the ferry trick' still worked. From just inside the outer breakwater I spotted the perfect berth. I pointed it out to the kids... approach... jump with the lines... parked... sorted. We've still got it. No flies on this crew.
We were even in time to see Brigitte arrive on the ferry. Trip to the marina office - £160 for the week! If there's a recession on, Ramsgate Marina hasn't heard about it. The fact that the place was half empty should have been a clue.
We secured everything and left the old girl behind. Trip home by car. Another week and we're home - back where we belong. I'm looking forward to regular/weekly sails again and a long summer holiday.
| 2009 |
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... break down where no-one has broken down before. Well, we have broken down here before, but never in such a big way.
Engine given a minor service. Not much left to be done for her. I was advised to use her very sparingly - for leaving and entering the harbour, but not much else.
Other things came to light too - the domestic water tank leaks (port side). Over 300ltrs of fresh water in the bilges. Bilge pump inoperative. Sump pump still works - or more precisely struggles. Both were replaced. It's only money.
Family duly collected. Lifted my spirits more than just a bit. Guapa is now truly liveable down below. How do they do that?
Forecast for tomorrow crap: F5 on the nose. Sunday looking slightly better. Wind forecast to decrease, but if the direction remained the same (NW) I plan to divert to Ramsgate. At least then we've gotten the boat on the proper side of the Channel.
Wait and see.
| 2009 |
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I left Guapa last night feeling confident that everything would be done when I arrived today at 16H00. I had even left a little list of 8 items to be completed. Was everything done? Of course not - can't say I was even surprised. Angry? Yes. But surprised? No.
Of my list of 8 points 2 had been done, but it seems they frittered away 4 precious hours on minor cosmetic details, seemingly oblivious to the fact that this was the final day, that we were sailing - no matter what. Good craftsman, but couldn't manage a piss-up in a brewery.
Now what? We sail at 23H00 - you've got till then.
With Alain as crew we left our berth at 22H30 to bunker. Still some jobs left undone, but I was past caring. The boat could sail and I just wanted to get out of the place.
The moment we left the dock I felt like a weight had been lifted of my shoulders. She was mine again. Motoring down the Scheldt river with the tide. Quiet and almost relaxing.
The peace and quiet wasn't going to last long. Just short of Zandvliet the engine spluttered and then died. There was some wind from the right so I quickly hoisted the sails. Speed had taken a knock, but at least we were still moving.
Then the wind - of course - veered. Bang on the nose. Tacking downriver across one of the busiest fairways in the world. Centrale Zandvliet on our case: 'What do you think you are doing?' - or words to that effect. I explained our predicament and they were most understanding and promised to 'keep an eye on us'.
And so it continued - not everyone was so understanding (Centrale Hansweert and Flushing in particular). One even sent the police after us. Had to promise to keep out of the fairway 'as much as possible'. We tried.
The tide had turned against us, so I started fiddling with the engine. Cleared the cooling circuit and changed the impeller. Job done. All OK for about 15 minutes... then the stern gland started smoking. Another check - added extra grease. Next: splashing sound from down below. Engine more or less afloat. Stern gland had been crying it's eyes out. Pumped out and stern gland nuts tightened.
We skipped the scheduled stop in Breskens, it would have been a shame to waste the favourable tide. We finally secured in Ostend at 18H00. Ninety-six miles in nineteen hours. Not bad under the circumstances.
I need sleep - lots of it. Our mechanic will have his work cut out for him in the morning. It never rains but it pours.
At least the family would be over for the final stretch home.
| 2009 |
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It did not rain today - though we had a couple of close shaves in the morning. Looking good. All done, bar the shouting.
Yesterdays forecast saddled me with another sleepless night. Rain today would have scuppered all my plans this close to the finish (and with no room to manoeuvre). Three hours of sleep (tops) two days before a night sail - far from ideal.
I planned to stay on board tonight to sort the last bits and work through the morning before I picked up delivery crew in Ostend. A plan I abandoned with some reluctance but for all the right reasons.
- We're as good as done - my being there would not get Guapa completed earlier. It's out of my hands now.
- I need sleep (lots of).
Only thing left for me to do tomorrow afternoon: get ready for sea and make Guapa liveable down below.
Under way in less than 24hrs from now... first sail of 2009 (long overdue) is finally upon us and I don't feel anything. It's like it's all happening to someone else. A sailing out-of-body experience.
And I miss the family lots - had really wanted them to be here to share the moment. Not long now.
Nigh-night.
| 2009 |
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