Salcombe/Dartmouth
22/08/05 11:00 Filed in: UK
Departed Salcombe at 08:10. Fabulous sail back with winds SW3-4 and fair tide. All fast Dartmouth 12:15. Very pleased with this performance. She really moves along when the wind gets above 10kn.
Will definitely need a big lightweight genoa for light air sailing.
Will definitely need a big lightweight genoa for light air sailing.
Dartmouth/Salcombe
21/08/05 16:00 Filed in: UK
Again flushed bilge with fresh water and liberally doused all acid affected areas with Bicarbonate of Soda. Acid has caused some deterioration of aft cabin sole.
Staysail sheets replaced. Battery electrolytes checked. All OK.
First real sail. Left Dartmouth at 14:00. Variable winds and needed to motor half way. All fast Salcombe visitor buoy at 19:00. Pretty slow trip.
Staysail sheets replaced. Battery electrolytes checked. All OK.
First real sail. Left Dartmouth at 14:00. Variable winds and needed to motor half way. All fast Salcombe visitor buoy at 19:00. Pretty slow trip.
Dartmouth
14/08/05 14:00 Filed in: UK
Quiet afternoon on board checking things over. Running backstays and topping lift removed for cleaning.
Climbed mast to check wind unit. Impeller appears stiff and rubber vane is torn. Will need to be serviced or replaced. No apparent cause of deck shower fault. Chart light bulb costs £13 but replacement not necessary as fault traced to loose connection. Rear switch panel starting to corrode so sprayed with Duck Oil.
Still traces of sulphuric acid in bilge. Flush again with freshwater.
Also noted that coolant reservoir on engine was empty. No apparent source of leak. Topped up with fresh water. Also tightened generator belt which had slackened considerably during delivery trip.
Staysail sheet needs replacing so will replace both.
Climbed mast to check wind unit. Impeller appears stiff and rubber vane is torn. Will need to be serviced or replaced. No apparent cause of deck shower fault. Chart light bulb costs £13 but replacement not necessary as fault traced to loose connection. Rear switch panel starting to corrode so sprayed with Duck Oil.
Still traces of sulphuric acid in bilge. Flush again with freshwater.
Also noted that coolant reservoir on engine was empty. No apparent source of leak. Topped up with fresh water. Also tightened generator belt which had slackened considerably during delivery trip.
Staysail sheet needs replacing so will replace both.
Delivery Trip 2
09/08/05 23:00 Filed in: UK
At sunset I christened the vessel with a bottle of chilled Chenin Blanc.
Lovely evening in Lyme bay.
Later wind develops from SW which is pretty much the direction we are going. All nav lights working OK and arrive without incident at Dartmouth 02:30. First time entering Dartmouth in complete darkness.
Lovely evening in Lyme bay.
Later wind develops from SW which is pretty much the direction we are going. All nav lights working OK and arrive without incident at Dartmouth 02:30. First time entering Dartmouth in complete darkness.
Delivery Trip
09/08/05 14:00 Filed in: UK
Depart Itchenor at 05:40. Strong ebb tide but very little wind. Total distance to Dartmouth 112 miles.
Apart from a brief period of wind to the east of the Isle of Wight day passes without any sailing.
East of the Isle of Wight
Motored continuously, average speed 5.38 knots. ST50 wind instrument reading erratically and noted that deck shower does not work. All other equipment tested appears OK.
Apart from a brief period of wind to the east of the Isle of Wight day passes without any sailing.
East of the Isle of Wight
Motored continuously, average speed 5.38 knots. ST50 wind instrument reading erratically and noted that deck shower does not work. All other equipment tested appears OK.
Formal Handover and Launch
08/08/05 05:30 Filed in: UK
Up early and on the boat to continue preparations.
Have arranged for an engineer to inspect the Yanmar 2GM20F prior to launch. He has a good look at the engine, replaces the missing gearbox dipstick "O" ring and after running it for a while declares the engine OK. Notes that one of the spare drive belts carried is the wrong size and swaps it over. Also supplies a few bits and pieces he considers necessary. Nice man and very pleasant to deal with.
A frenzy of yard activity breaks out around "Kiriwina". Launch is scheduled for around 14:00. The pulpit is refitted and is now straight. Two large scratches on the starboard side are quickly repaired. I really must learn to do this. It is very expensive to have done and can't be that hard.
An adjustment has been made to the cooker gas line following the surveyors recommendation and the mast deck light bulb is replaced.
Right on time the straddle truck picks her up and heads for the water. One of the yard hands is muttering about yet another owner courting bad luck by changing the boats name.
She is successfully launched and moored on Northshore's dock prior to departure tomorrow.
The formal purchase documentation is handed over but I am puzzled to note that the price is shown as "£1 plus other consideration". Clearly this is not satisfactory and the broker subsequently produces documentation showing the actual price paid.
There is more than sufficient fuel on board for the return trip to Dartmouth. Freshwater is taken. I was warned to keep a close eye on the tanks when filling but it was not close enough. Water pressure broke one of the spreader boards and popped some screws on the aft cabin sole board. Must pay closer attention next time.
While sorting this out it comes apparent that there is quite a bit of Battery Acid under the aft sole board. Goodness knows how it got there as the batteries are virtually brand new. Apparently the previous owner had connected some battery leads the wrong way round, destroying his batteries in the process. Can only assume that the acid has something to do with this incident. Flush the acid away with copious amounts of fresh water.
All seems in order and after a long walk shore to get some milk and food for the trip I sleep on board ready for and early start tomorrow.
Have arranged for an engineer to inspect the Yanmar 2GM20F prior to launch. He has a good look at the engine, replaces the missing gearbox dipstick "O" ring and after running it for a while declares the engine OK. Notes that one of the spare drive belts carried is the wrong size and swaps it over. Also supplies a few bits and pieces he considers necessary. Nice man and very pleasant to deal with.
A frenzy of yard activity breaks out around "Kiriwina". Launch is scheduled for around 14:00. The pulpit is refitted and is now straight. Two large scratches on the starboard side are quickly repaired. I really must learn to do this. It is very expensive to have done and can't be that hard.
An adjustment has been made to the cooker gas line following the surveyors recommendation and the mast deck light bulb is replaced.
Right on time the straddle truck picks her up and heads for the water. One of the yard hands is muttering about yet another owner courting bad luck by changing the boats name.
She is successfully launched and moored on Northshore's dock prior to departure tomorrow.
The formal purchase documentation is handed over but I am puzzled to note that the price is shown as "£1 plus other consideration". Clearly this is not satisfactory and the broker subsequently produces documentation showing the actual price paid.
There is more than sufficient fuel on board for the return trip to Dartmouth. Freshwater is taken. I was warned to keep a close eye on the tanks when filling but it was not close enough. Water pressure broke one of the spreader boards and popped some screws on the aft cabin sole board. Must pay closer attention next time.
While sorting this out it comes apparent that there is quite a bit of Battery Acid under the aft sole board. Goodness knows how it got there as the batteries are virtually brand new. Apparently the previous owner had connected some battery leads the wrong way round, destroying his batteries in the process. Can only assume that the acid has something to do with this incident. Flush the acid away with copious amounts of fresh water.
All seems in order and after a long walk shore to get some milk and food for the trip I sleep on board ready for and early start tomorrow.
Preparation for Delivery
07/08/05 05:30 Filed in: UK
Catch a train to Chichester then taxi to Itchenor stopping at a chandlers on the way to get a kettle and one or two other items.
Spend the afternoon rigging the sails and making sure everything is ready for sea. Still no sign of the pulpit. They really are going down to the wire.
Remove "Tumbleweed" name from stern and add new "Kiriwina" lettering. Gust of wind catches lettering at the wrong time resulting in an imperfect application. Will need to get another set made.
Spend the evening at the pub next door which has excellent food and some B&B rooms upstairs.
Spend the afternoon rigging the sails and making sure everything is ready for sea. Still no sign of the pulpit. They really are going down to the wire.
Remove "Tumbleweed" name from stern and add new "Kiriwina" lettering. Gust of wind catches lettering at the wrong time resulting in an imperfect application. Will need to get another set made.
Spend the evening at the pub next door which has excellent food and some B&B rooms upstairs.