Hi guys, Lauren here, have a look at our first Youtube video below. Calypso is back in the water!!
What a week here on the south coast...... after last week's moving out shenanigans, we were all set to finish the boat and get it ready for launch. First up, a pre-launch dinner with the other couple at the yard (that turned into 0200 Palinka shots).
The yard guys then arrived at 07:30 and after Lauren and I hauled ourselves out of bed, it was time to get the boat moving.
The launch went well - Peter and Kinga (sailoverthehorizon.net) lent a hand and we were soon back on the visitor's pontoon.
After that, it was time to get some washing and baking done.
We also caught up with some great friends for dinner and happened upon the church where Conan Doyle is buried. Lauren was of course over the moon about this...
And that's about it. There's still a few minor niggles to fix - the port engine is smoking (looks like a bad injector), the rig needs a tweak and there's endless small jobs to tick off the list. Summer is definitely on the way though and with the weather looking to turn northerly next week, it should give us a perfect run down the south coast to Falmouth.
The yard guys then arrived at 07:30 and after Lauren and I hauled ourselves out of bed, it was time to get the boat moving.
The launch went well - Peter and Kinga (sailoverthehorizon.net) lent a hand and we were soon back on the visitor's pontoon.
After that, it was time to get some washing and baking done.
We also caught up with some great friends for dinner and happened upon the church where Conan Doyle is buried. Lauren was of course over the moon about this...
And that's about it. There's still a few minor niggles to fix - the port engine is smoking (looks like a bad injector), the rig needs a tweak and there's endless small jobs to tick off the list. Summer is definitely on the way though and with the weather looking to turn northerly next week, it should give us a perfect run down the south coast to Falmouth.
Right-o - a bit more of an update than last Friday's. We finished packing up our flat and moved out on the Thursday.
When we started, the countdown was 92 weeks to go....
As much as we're both looking forward to the trip, we'll miss the great area we lived in...
I'll also miss my view of London.... (but not the daily grind)
Anyways, we got down to the boat and got cracking with the last few jobs before re-launch. First up, applying the anti-foul (the black bottom paint)
(Before)
(After)
Lauren also started testing the new thermal cooker and made a cracking chocolate and whiskey cake.
And we met another young couple in the yard who are also finishing off a boat refit and heading west. Check out their Facebook site here: https://www.facebook.com/sailoverthehorizon
After that, it was time for a two day rig re-fitting blast. The weather has been atrocious here (sun and rain, and always blowing a gale) so it's been a bit of a struggle, but we finally got the rig up. Thanks to Lauren, here's a step-by-step on how to re-fit a schooner rig.
Ta-da! The rig's up. It still needs to be adjusted and maybe have one shroud swapped out, but we're now good to launch this Friday (22nd) and get everything tested / ready for our departure 3rd / 4th June.
Howdy y'all,
Yes indeedy, we're back online after a brief time away and on the final countdown. I finished work this past week, the rig is set to go back up and we're ready for re-launch a week today.
Everything is otherwise set and ready to go - last few stores to be stocked and last few jobs to be done, then we're set to go on June 3rd.
Stay tuned....
Yes indeedy, we're back online after a brief time away and on the final countdown. I finished work this past week, the rig is set to go back up and we're ready for re-launch a week today.
Everything is otherwise set and ready to go - last few stores to be stocked and last few jobs to be done, then we're set to go on June 3rd.
Stay tuned....
Well, not quite.
We were all set to go on the 19th but the weather gods have conspired against us and delayed things just a tad. Basically, last week the marina had 60-odd kt gusts which meant the crane was shut down for 2 days. That of course compounded everything and meant there was no chance our rig was going up on Friday. Hey ho, we cracked on and got the jib furler re-fitted, re-fitted / tweaked / tested the steering, and finally finished the painting.
While I had the aft cabin pulled apart, I also shuffled our camping gear and made space for essential stores.
The Southampton boat jumble also came about this past weekend so other than our obligatory purchases of coffee and sugared donuts, we picked up spare halyards and sheets for 25% the normal price, a compass for the aft deck, a Western Europe Atlantic Pilot, and some additional water for mixing with coolant. I also (finally!) managed to find a 12V screen for the aft deck today so we can run our navigation software on the laptop in the wheelhouse, and have it displayed at the helm. Sweet.
Anyways, the marina were very helpful and have not pencilled us in for the masts to be done on the 18th (Monday) and the boat to go back in the water on the 22nd (Friday). We'll miss our tidal window to leave so they've also offered for us to stay at a berth for 1.5 weeks at a MUCH cheaper rate, which also will give us a chance to get the last few jobs done (test the engines, test the steering, check for leaks, etc etc).
So there you have it - a new departure date of 1-3rd June (likely 3rd June). This means even though we've been delayed a year, I'm still leaving on this trip whilst I'm 30 (a big deal for me) and it also gives Grant a chance to get up our way to collect his dinghy and dive compressor.
1 week 'til the masts go up....
We were all set to go on the 19th but the weather gods have conspired against us and delayed things just a tad. Basically, last week the marina had 60-odd kt gusts which meant the crane was shut down for 2 days. That of course compounded everything and meant there was no chance our rig was going up on Friday. Hey ho, we cracked on and got the jib furler re-fitted, re-fitted / tweaked / tested the steering, and finally finished the painting.
While I had the aft cabin pulled apart, I also shuffled our camping gear and made space for essential stores.
The Southampton boat jumble also came about this past weekend so other than our obligatory purchases of coffee and sugared donuts, we picked up spare halyards and sheets for 25% the normal price, a compass for the aft deck, a Western Europe Atlantic Pilot, and some additional water for mixing with coolant. I also (finally!) managed to find a 12V screen for the aft deck today so we can run our navigation software on the laptop in the wheelhouse, and have it displayed at the helm. Sweet.
Anyways, the marina were very helpful and have not pencilled us in for the masts to be done on the 18th (Monday) and the boat to go back in the water on the 22nd (Friday). We'll miss our tidal window to leave so they've also offered for us to stay at a berth for 1.5 weeks at a MUCH cheaper rate, which also will give us a chance to get the last few jobs done (test the engines, test the steering, check for leaks, etc etc).
So there you have it - a new departure date of 1-3rd June (likely 3rd June). This means even though we've been delayed a year, I'm still leaving on this trip whilst I'm 30 (a big deal for me) and it also gives Grant a chance to get up our way to collect his dinghy and dive compressor.
1 week 'til the masts go up....
1.5 weeks to go and it's all happening.
First up, the standing rigging arrived back from the rigger and we set about getting it installed. A day and a half later, it was all done..... To be honest, I'm a bit worried some of the rigging is too long but we won't know until the masts go back up.... never a dull moment!
While getting that done, we also installed two clutches for the halyards to make hoisting the main and mizzen easier.
Last up, the new rudder cover needed sanding back prior to painting (we'll get that done next weekend - the weather's been utterly crap recently).
So that's it..... for now. This coming weekend we're hoping to have the rig re-erected and get all the wiring / booms / etc sorted then re-connect the rudder and test whether the stiffness issue is fixed.
One more week of work left as well then we'll take stock and see whether we're going to re-launch on the 19th or spend another 1.5 weeks finishing things off....
First up, the standing rigging arrived back from the rigger and we set about getting it installed. A day and a half later, it was all done..... To be honest, I'm a bit worried some of the rigging is too long but we won't know until the masts go back up.... never a dull moment!
While getting that done, we also installed two clutches for the halyards to make hoisting the main and mizzen easier.
After that, the new rudder bearing needed fitting. It took a bit of effort to prop up the rudder and pull everything back apart, but it all looks good so far and we'll test this weekend.
While all that was going on, Lauren taped up all the forward railings so I could get the final painting done.
So that's it..... for now. This coming weekend we're hoping to have the rig re-erected and get all the wiring / booms / etc sorted then re-connect the rudder and test whether the stiffness issue is fixed.
One more week of work left as well then we'll take stock and see whether we're going to re-launch on the 19th or spend another 1.5 weeks finishing things off....
