Shaya Moya

I am aware that most of my family and friends who will be reading this blog won’t know the first thing about Shaya Moya and aside from the pictures you will have seen on the blog, will not really know what we are experiencing on board. The only exception to this is my son James who had the privilege of sailing on this lovely yacht from Ipswich to Falmouth in October this year on what was in essence the start of Don’s great adventure.

So for the rest of you let me introduce Shaya Moya an Oyster 56 of 2004 vintage.

Oyster yachts are the “Rolls Royce and Bentleys” of the sailing boat world. They are semi custom built and finished to a very high standard. It is very unusual to find two Oysters very much alike and although cosmetically owners can truly make their mark, the fundamentals of the design cannot be compromised. The ethos of the Oyster Company is to build very safe, sea kindly vessels for the blue water cruising market with as many home comforts as possible. They are easily sailed short handed, (designed for a husband and wife team to sail yachts up to 70 feet length without crew) and above all are very strong safe yachts. Oyster has been very successful in this market for many years and has built an enviable reputation as yacht builders and a very loyal following of owners and their families.

So let me describe Shaya Moya, SM for the purpose of the rest of this blog. The use of the letter S and M, I am aware are often used to describe some rather dubious and unsavoury activity and the irony of this is not entirely wasted on me. When you consider most folks method of getting to St Lucia involves sitting in one of Mr Branson’s flying arm chairs for twelve hours, whilst some honey serves you fancy nuts and champagne. Our chosen method of transport could reasonably be described by some as, perverse!

Anyway back to SM, the name Shaya Moya is Zulu for “beating the wind” which eloquently defines her purpose. She is 56 feet overall with a beam (width at the fattest part) of 17 feet. She has a cutter rig which means she carries two headsails and one mainsail. She also has an asymmetric spinnaker which is flown in place of the headsails when sailing at angles off the wind of 90 degrees and greater. You will have seen pictures of the spinnaker on the blog, she’s the spectacular orange sail with the Zulu war mask in the middle. It’s no coincidence that we haven’t been approached by either pirates or illegal immigrants, or many of the other yachts come to that.

The primary sail controls (sail furling and sheet winches) are all hydraulically powered, so there is very little winch grinding involved, so sadly we wont be finishing with arms like Arnold Schwarzernegger. (although Jane may be rather pleased about this). All the sail control sheets, lead back to the cockpit so that all adjustments to the sails can be made without leaving the safety of the cockpit. This is particularly important at night, when you should only leave the cockpit in extreme circumstances.

On that note, all crew members wear “Man overboard” alerts at all times and life jackets at night. The MOB alerts are worn on our belts along with a knife should you need to cut yourself free from a lifeline in the event of falling overboard and being dragged under the water by the lifelines that would be attached to the yacht “hopefully”.

SM has a central cockpit (steering and seating area) unlike many yachts where the cockpit is at the rear of the yacht. The central cockpit is favoured by ocean going cruising yachts as it offers more protection to the crew, the down side is that it offers less of a view of the rig, essential to the racing boys who don’t mind or are prepared to have waves breaking over them all the time. More S & M than SM. The main feature of the cockpit except of course the drinks fridge, is the binnacle. This is the structure to which the wheel is mounted and houses the primary instruments, autopilot, steering compass and a tri-data screen that reads, wind speed/direction, boat speed/direction and depth (knowing the depth is rather academic out here). On the bulk head above the companionway (hatch to get below) is the most important instrument which shows the wind direction and speed relative to the direction of the yacht. Its position ensures it’s easily viewed from the helm position.

To the aft of the cockpit is a large flat deck area ideal for landing fish on, sunbathing and standing on to maximise your core strength exercises. It’s also the area that houses the rope lockers and a large lazzarette (cupboard). It’s forbidden to tap dance in this area as it’s also the roof of the skippers cabin, this rule is only strictly enforced during the skippers off watch times. He has himself been observed line dancing to Johnny Cash on this very spot.

The forward area of the cockpit is covered with a spray hood which is a very cosy place to sit especially during night watch, affording shelter and a good position to watch the radar for other vessels and squalls which need to be avoided, of which there are many.

As we go below through the companion way steps, we enter the saloon area which is the heart of the yacht, although on a trip like this most time is spent in the cockpit.

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Skipper Don in quiet contemplation, rare opportunity.

The saloon has a large dining table large enough to seat 10 people on sofa style seating. Also in this area is the navigation station, this where all the primary navigation and communication equipment is housed. She has satellite telephone and data systems. GPS navigation feeding a chart plotter (similar to a car sat nav but more sophisticated and with a 20 inch screen). There is also a PC in this area which is linked to the satellite comms to enable email to and from the yacht.

Just aft of the nav station is a utility room/workshop. This houses a washer dryer, tool cupboards and temporarily a bread maker (see Tony’s previous blog). The entrance to the engine room is from here and this is where all the daily engine checks are made. Just beside the engine room access is the water maker. This ingenious device converts sea water to fresh water at a rate of 100 litres per hour. This fantastic device allows daily showers which will not be enjoyed by many other ARC participants. The quality of the water is very pure and hence that is what we are drinking. I have a sneaking suspicion that although it obviously removes all the salt, it leaves some of the substance in that makes you go a little crazy!!!

All the power for propulsion when not sailing comes from a 115 HP turbo charged Perkins diesel engine. This is a 4 litre 4 cylinder engine that is running at very low revs and therefore under very little stress and therefore economical. The engine burns approx 10 litres per hour. The fuel tank has a capacity of 1050 litres. We have 350-400 litres left and the generator also shares this fuel. We are half way, I’ll let you do the math!!!

The generator is a 10 KVA system which can be used to power the water maker and recharge the batteries whilst under sail. It is also possible to run the air conditioning whilst this process is taking place. Yes you did read correctly, “air conditioning”. Back to the saloon, turn the aft on the port side and you’ll enter the galley (kitchen).

Reece working magic in the galley.                                                Dave wondering where the trades are at the nav station.

Here we have a four burner hob and gas oven mounted on a gimbal which allows it to stay level as

the yacht heals. Double sink, fridge, freezer and ice maker. Passing through the galley you enter the master cabin, a double berth with en suite heads (toilet) with shower, toilet and sink. The other sleeping accommodation is back through the saloon to the sharp end. There is another double cabin in the bows and a twin “pulman” (bunk beds) cabin slightly aft on the port side. To the starboard side of this cabin is a shared heads for these two cabins.

Altogether we are very fortunate to be crossing the Atlantic is such a comfortable and safe vessel. She is beautifully appointed and meticulously maintained and a credit to Don and his family who are justly proud of her.

As I complete this blog which I hope hasn’t bored you too much, we are broad reaching along at 8.5 – 9.5 kts in the right direction at last. Shaya Moya is doing what she does best, looking after us and “Beating the Wind”.

Dave – First Mate