Aries is limping

Caramor - sailing around the world
Franco Ferrero / Kath Mcnulty
Mon 14 May 2018 06:31

9:57.7S 139:07.1W


Poor Aries, the 5,200 nautical miles crossing from Valdivia nearly did for him, he’s developed a limp. Franco thought it wasn’t too serious but the sail from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, then now to Tahuata, has made it worse.


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Arriving At Tahuata


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Tahuata


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Pantropical spotted dolphins race up to Caramor


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A curious booby checks us out


It’s a concern, it is still a very long way to New Zealand and unless Aries is fighting fit, we would have to steer 24/7, not a thought that I relish.


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Aries in the sick bay


In ‘Medicine for Mountaineering and Other Wilderness Activities’, it says to apply hot / cold to sprains. We adapt the treatment to Aries - hot / oil (WD40). Slowly his hip starts to free up but the socket is worn, a hip replacement will be needed. Luckily (or thanks to forethought) we have a spare set of bushes and spacers.


The hot / oil treatment is continued, with some tapping with a large mallet, and eventually his leg comes off. We fit the new hip and put him back together again. He was very brave, he didn’t cry once.


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Aries’s ‘leg’


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Franco with a renewed Aries, hopefully ready for action for another 20 years


A couple of days later, a guard rail stanchion came down with a wobble, the bolts holding it to the toe rail had sheared off. It took Franco the best part of another day to get them out and replace with new. As a precaution, we will change them all when we get to New Zealand, the list of jobs is getting longer.