Getting Ready to Sail South June 11th, 2024

When Scott and I contemplated retirement in 2019 we both had a romantic vision of what we wanted to do in our spare time, cruising!! We bought a boat and spent the last few years getting to know her and customizing her for longer term cruising. Scott had a good idea of what needed to be done, but I struggled with “why does everything takes so long”. It turns out comfort and safety on board is more than 50 % preparation.

Shakedown

Our shakedown cruise to Nova Scotia Canada in 2023 with Steve and Lisa Wolf identified several issues that needed to be addressed before leaving this year. We were not transmitting an AIS signal (problematic in fog), our depth finder and wind indicator did not work (very challenging), the auto helm disengaged if we used the starboard side electric winch (a real PITA), no read out on the water level indicator (while minor, annoying). We also identified the need for a stay sail which would provide more options while under sail, especially in heavy weather (a major project). 

Adding a Stay Sail

The stay sail project started with a connection Scott made through a Hanse Forum. He was able to communicate with a sailor in New Zealand that had rigged his Hanse 458 with a stay sail. The contact was kind enough to e-mail his drawing and Scott was able to hire a local fabricator to make a chain plate to reinforce the deck where the stay sail would attach. With a few adjustments Scott and I were able to install the deck hardware. Less than 30% project complete.

Another fortunate turn of events was making a connection with Brian Duff, Managing Director of Virgin Island Yacht Sails, who was here visiting from Tortola. Brian was working on a temporary basis at Hawthorn Cove Marina, Safe Harbor Salem, MA. With years of expertise rigging sailing vessels, Brian ordered the parts, pulled the mast and installed the components after consultation with Seldan. While it was scary watching Brian drill into a 0.25-inch extruded Aluminum Mast, we learned that the construction of the roller furling mast is robust. Doyle made custom measurements for the stay sail and had it partially fabricated in Barbados then shipped to Salem MA where the hanks were attached. The sail arrived yesterday. 

The other issues took weeks of trouble shooting through April and May and ultimately a visit from a technician that knows B&G electronics. Four hours later, we learned that we have 2 compasses on the boat and that the central instrument board, compass, along with the wind indicator had been damaged in a lightning strike 2 years earlier. I am giving you the cliff notes of these projects because there is a lot more that could be said, and I don’t want to bore you to tears with the tedium of boat repairs. The biggest take away is that there is much to know about keeping a boat functional and it’s not for the faint of heart. As Scott says “its 2 steps forward and one step back” when it comes to maintenance. Boat owners need to know a little about everything to keep themselves, their passengers safe and the vessel fully functional. In short Scott is much more familiar with what’s under the hood and I have a new appreciation for “why everything takes so long.”

Fun with Friends and Family

In between all this we were able to have some very nice sails and time with family and friends on the boat. A highlight of the Spring was our shakedown sail with Julie and Laura during their visit from the UK on May 24^th. We had a very sporty sail with gusts to 30 knots out of Salem Sound, past Marblehead Harbor, around Baker Island and upwind back to Salem. We were traveling above 9 knots (1 reef) at times during the downwind leg. Laura, a puppeteer, has a voice that projects that came is very handy in the high wind when alerting the skipper to lobster pot buoys. Julie’s sail skills on the English Channel were handy on the winches. A memory we will cherish. 

We also had a fun night with the staff at Hawthorn Cover. Brian, Ally, Holden and Emmy did a check out cruise to celebrate all their hard work commissioning Kailoa for the season. We even passed a few boats in the Wednesday BYC race during the afternoon cruise around the Sound. As we approached the mooring I said to “Ally what a nice time we were having” when the morning line was inadvertently sucked into the bow thruster. Luckily Brian (aka Crocodile Dundee) saved the day by diving in frigid water under the boat with his knife in his mouth to cut the line free. Unfortunately, he needed a bigger knife, so we pulled out our 30 year old Ginsu that did the trick……crisis averted. A memorable sail was shared last Friday with Natalie and her work colleagues Sean, and Carrie. We had a day of light wind with Leslie, Rob and Chloe. Our daughter’s dog Kilo had his fist experience on the boat and did very well. The only downer was checking the bilge and finding 3 gallons of water. Alas more repairers needed to water lines to remove leaks. This week we are in the home stretch of packing and provisioning the boat with an expected departure date of this Saturday June 15^th. All for now..