Pix 04-Sep-17 to Sep7 1530hrs 42:25.934N 18:41.558E

Westralia
Steve Coughlan
Mon 4 Sep 2017 14:30

4 Sep 0845hrs: Alex and I motored off wall at Cavtat and then tied up stern to at the Customs jetty, cleared customs and passport control, departed Cavtat.

 

1530hrs: Berthed at Porto Montenegro, after 2hrs at the Customs jetty due to Harbourmaster being late back from lunch!

 

John Eustace met us at the berth. We made a plan of work to do to prepare the boat.

 

Sep 4 to Sep 7: We commenced with the decommissioning for winter and to oversee the required repairs resulting from the incident in Tivat earlier in the tour (all cosmetic), replaced failed mast outhaul block etc. Bimini covers off, sails off, ropes moused and washed, remove all blocks for fresh water wash and inspection, mark up any spots requiring gelcoat repair and so on. Alex will continue on with John until he leaves Sat Sep 9.  John will leave sometime next week after the boat is on the hard and he has conducted a below the water line inspection. We also conducted some minor upgrades and fitting of replacement components, e.g. replace the transom shower system with a user friendly version, reconfigure some of the storage setup in the lazerette lockers.

 

We also removed the helm bimini frame from the boat.  This compromised the vang movement as the boom would foul the frame when the vang retracted so a spacer block was put on the vang cylinder rod to stop that. In addition getting a clear view of the sails was not possible from the helm. So I will have the frame placed in storage and trial next year without it. It always looked like an afterthought aesthetically.

 

I departed in the afternoon back to Australia and left Alex and John to it. Very much appreciated Alex’ assistance. John’s professional input is highly valued and he looks after Westralia like his own.

 

This season we traversed some 1,540nm on Westralia. She again proved to be very reliable and secure European “home”, despite my efforts on a few occasions to cause her grief! The sail setup this year has proved faultless. Thank you to all friends and family for committing and assisting on this year’s tour.

 

 

Porto Montenegro

 

 

 

Alex removing Genoa track to access damaged teak rail

 

 

 

Damaged pushpit stainless removed.

 

 

Local deli/pastry shop. I got chatted by a bruiser female satff member advising me I was not to take photographs. I politely asked why not and was she still living in the communist regime!

 

 

Local fishing boat marina around from Porto Montenegro

 

 

Damaged teak rail removed.