Yacht Aditi
Aditi

Month: July 2013

Paul and Claire

Biscay Beckons

Cruising

We had a lovely last evening in Camaret. Having spent the day cleaning the ship below decks, donuting and shopping for provisions we then sat in our dog house in the centre of an almighty thunderstorm which Camaret anchorage appeared to be its epicentre! This was just before we had to pick up Jean-Charles, Sepherine (I apologise if the spelling is incorrect) and Eleanor from the dockside of course. Paul had to bail the dingy and get a bit soggy when he played taxi driver. We met Jean-Charles in Yarmouth 3 years ago when we and another boat with Derek

Paul and Claire

Biscay or that way

Cruising

Left Camaret for the 400nm journey to Camarinas via the Pointe du Raz (& lighthouse) channel taking us through at 12 knots SOG. Initial wind direction indicated a landing at Santander but after making 7.5 knots for an hour the wind veered then dropped to 5 knots. Now back to motoring through the night and just passed a half mile tow. 300nm left to run and returned to a course west of Finisterre.

Paul and Claire

Rock ‘n’ River

Cruising

Following a down Channel sail past Guernsey rather than face an overnight sail at 2.5 knots with a falling wind against a foul tide which would have sent us backwards we decided to put in behind a rock called Ile Tome near Perros Guirec. Just us and a load of lobster pots; we must have been at the end of a string where there was a small gap before the next. All evening was thunderous as July 14th fireworks echoed down the coast. Eventually our local town to the south of us let fly and a very impressive display went

Paul and Claire

Snakes and Ladders

Cruising

Like every other day the day of departure was just as hectic. We managed to pack away almost everything and the last thing to be stowed was our 5m ladder. This doubles as a gangway as well as onshore access and also as a paint platform for the waterline. Should it go on the rail. the bathing platform or in the sail locker? Eventually we squeezed it into the sail locker so if a tin of carrots is required it is too bad as it is behind two jibs, a 5m ladder and a 3.8m tender! We took on just

Paul and Claire

Eve of departure

Preparation

Having hidden all the contents that we can’t stash anywhere sensible we have stacked them behind lee cloths in our unused bunks and we think we may be ready to go…..somewhere? It has never happened before; the weather forecast is for no wind for at least the next 6 days and the UK will be hotter than many places far to the south. Some wind available across Biscay and more around Cap Finisterre. Looks like the ideal time to head straight for Spain once through the Channel. We will know more when we get underway. Expected to be leaving at

Paul and Claire

Afloat At Last

Preparation

Packing up shore life was like traversing the last 400m of Everest with so many months of effort behind us but with the air thinning and the bitter cold setting, with legs of lead  and every day being the same it was a case of no way can we leave by our chosen date, to perhaps tomorrow, then again tomorrow, then maybe today surely, just a bit to do we will be out in an hour….four hours later and no end in sight. That’s behind us now and although sleep walking we have reached the end of the beginning. We

Paul and Claire

Hair Care

Preparation

We are experimenting with the protection of our stern gear by covering it in 100% Lanolin although in our case there was a little perfum added as it was intended for hair care. It adds a shine to the prop. At least we are not cooking with it but there is plenty left over and a long way to go.

Paul and Claire

The Mastic Treaty

Preparation

Or Anode-r Half Day as it takes a long half-day to fit all of the 16 hull anodes. These are fixed with some mastic sealant to stop them vibrating as they erode and are locked off with medium strength Loctite.                     We have been advised that where the disc anodes become too worn the bolt heads become acive and the anode drops off. Eventually the remaining studs have to be drilled out and then helicoiled to fit anodes again. This information immediately lead us to swap out a couple of older

Paul and Claire

Terrible Twins

Preparation

Look we’ve had twins! Are they identical? Hang on we’ll check. Er no the blades oppose each other. Which one is called Port and which Starboard? Mother!!   Inspirational flash – we photograph everything…do we have an ID photo of the twins before removing them? Yes thank goodness let’s put them back. Of course the very last under the waterline job and the M6 button head hex bolt sheared like butter….are we going back in as planned? Run up the tree house and retrieve left spiral drills, mole grips and extraction set not looking forward to a late night; but

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