Voyage of the Bahati: SailBlogs

Afloat again!!

Capt B, smoldering! — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 02:03:16 -0600

Good news from Phuket! As of 1500 hrs on January 22, 2010, BAHATI was back in her element again! The final days of polishing and painting went very smoothly. Mike and his able crew had everything ready and under control for the arrival of the travel lift gang (10 guys!) @ a little past 1400 and we were in floating and then putt-putting to slip F9 within the hour. We're berthed right next to our buddies on EMPIRE and the smart Swiss boat who was in the yard next to us and has just completed an 11 month refit under Mike's careful guidance. It was looking at the work on the Swiss boat that convinced me that Mike and Moo were the right guys for the job...beautifully and carefully realized...and if something isn't just right everyone understands it must be done over, no questions asked! We are most grateful to Pro-Carpentering for their efficient and expert work and we have added them to our links in case anyone is in the area and needs good wood, fibreglass, and/or painting done. You will not be disappointed! See the photo gallery for a few good shots of the finished work and of the launch day festivities. At the end of the day we got the whole crew together for a photo-op and shared some Leo brews with them...a happy ending to a fast 3 weeks indeed! We are now getting things sorted above and below decks and hope to be sailing again by the weekend. We'll head out to some of the tempting islands and bays around Phuket before making our way west and south toward the Andaman Islands, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives around mid-March! We have just heard from old friend, Neil Thomas, who we first met 30 years ago in Maine, now living in Ashville, NC, that he is planning to meet us somewhere en route and stay aboard for a couple of months to help see BAHATI across the Indian Ocean. Neil spent time aboard Phin and Johanna Sprague's MARIAH in French Polynesia in the 70's! It'll be good to welcome him aboard as BAHATI's newest mate! Betsy still plans to jump off in the Maldives and fly home...unless we can convince her to stay aboard and help us find out way to So Africa....wishful thinking!! (Continued...)

Repairs progressing well!

Capt B...hot and sunny! — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:09:19 -0600

Just a quick update as we work away here "on the hard" getting many jobs accomplished, including the most serious, BAHATI's new nose job! You can look in the latest photo gallery to actually see how things are progressing...but suffice it to say, we are very happy with what Mike Hjort, Moo, Kwan and team are doing at Phuket Pro-Carpentering. They came in with the best quote and they have worked very fast as you will see! The stainless steel team from Phuket Town will come today to do final measurements for the new and re-fit bits and we hope to be afloat again by sometime next week...."God Willing and All Things Remaining Equal"!, to quote Great Aunt CooCoo! We have also sent the yankee genny out for repairs to Khim @ Local Sails and she did a great job with it....should get us around the Cape of Good Hope and home now...and the trusty Caribe inflatable came back from the dinghy-docs yesterday looking and feeling like an almost new boat!! Hans and his good team at Cholamark in Ao Chalang did a great job at a good price. We've also cleaned and overhauled the watermaker and we're in the process of removing, inspecting, and greasing all sea cocks. The bottom has been cleaned and sanded and the first of a couple of coats of paint are going on today. Also, the prop and shaft have been etched and anti-fouled. Betsy is working on some new sunbrella covers for the cockpit cushions...in red!! And the riggers will come in the next couple of days to inspect the wires and see what needs to happen with the jib Pro-Furl system....tho it looks like the damage was minimal there, thank God! The fridge has been repaired and is running well again and we are busy organizing, weeding, and doing a much-needed annual New Year's cleaning! Our good friends on EMPIRE, Heidi, Eivind, Eirik, and now his older brother, Peder, visiting from Norway for a week, are nearby, also "on the hard" so we've been having a great time sharing the good Thai food and just hanging-out by the cool pool at the end of our hot work days. We took a day off and did some elephant riding yesterday...loads of fun...pictures to come! Sadly, we have to say good-bye to Peder again on Tues...it's been too short a visit...last time we saw him was in New Zealand a couple of years ago. He is growing up! His playful sense of humor has not changed and it's great to see him with his new brother, Eirik! (Continued...)

A shocking Xmas morning arrival in Thailand!

Captain Biscuits, hot! — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:00:58 -0600

Dear Family, Friends, and all Virtual BAHATI crew members! (Continued...)