Irene IV On The Hard

For the last ten days this intrepid blogger has been sleeping around! Three nights in the Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort (luxurious - gallons of gratitude to my gracious hostess, Donna); two nights in a spacious apartment in Airlie Beach (excellent); one night in the Travelers’ Oasis in Cairns (funky fun); back on Irene IV for two nights when she arrived in Cairns Marlin Marina (my floating home); and now two nights in a youth hostel sharing with George and Freddie (barely adequate accommodation). I have moved from the proverbial sublime to the ridiculous!

Back onboard the testosterone riddled boat, they have had a splendid time! They visited Magnetic, Orpheus and Kent Islands, arriving in Cairns on Sunday, 21^st August. George and Freddie have written eloquently about their exploits. (See previous blog)

Since setting sail in Kinsale, way back in October 2021, the plan has been to take Irene IV out of the water in Cairns. Cairns is a large humming city of 150,000 people. It boasts many marinas and a large shipyard. Being the main gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, all things ocean are paramount. The Oyster support team recommend having a full rig look over among other key maintenance checks. Irene IV has ferried us smoothly across two oceans and many seas, she has worked hard and kept us safe and comfortable, she deserves her day at the spa.

In preparation all fridges and freezers were emptied, and the contents stored in the Oyster support teams’ various hotel bedroom fridges/freezers. Engine checks were completed. (We may have found our problem. Fingers crossed. Stay tuned Enda!) Holding tanks opened. And other sundry items that make for an easy transition for Irene IV from sea to land.

Early on Tuesday, 23^rd August, we were asked to sail the short distance from Cairns Marlin Marina to the Norship shipyard, where Irene IV would be hoisted out of the water and placed on the hard for a few days for her maintenance make over. She will get several fresh coats of anti-fouling on her hull to help deter barnacles and other friendly sea life hitching a ride. She will have all 23 sea cocks serviced, all anodes replaced, the cutlass bearing replaced, the 3 blade, 32 inch feathering propeller serviced and anything else that crops up, (things always crop up!)

Louis, Rob, Luke from Makara, and I arrived at the shipyard at 06:30, excited for this adventure. George and Freddie were “on loan” to Adalia II, who came out the water just ahead of us. The procedure needs a few hands onboard to manage lines, fenders, and cardboard protective sheets.

We watched Adalia II transition with ease as we waited for our turn. Many photos and videos were taken. It is quite a sight to watch a sea going 50-ton yacht get lifted aloft. The vessels are sailed into a narrow concrete canal, large straps are sunk under her belly, like the straps on a horse’s saddle. These are attached to a humungous combine harvester-like piece of machinery, which straddles the canal. The driver of the huge machine sits in a little cubicle high on one side, like a small flying insect in the far away distance. His is a delicate, full focus needed job – too much speed or a swerve and expensive disaster can ensue! As the yacht slowly flies high, swaying in the wind, the machine driver inches forward towards the concrete shipyard, where the yacht is placed on stilts, allowing room for her underwater equipment - keel, rudder, and propeller – to be inspected - not dissimilar from a car on a rack in an auto workshop.

As previously mentioned, Adalia II’s lift was timely and painless. Sadly, our experience was flawed at every turn! The 400-ton travel lift stopped working for a time and the Norship team ashore took a while to figure out a work around. The straps under Irene IV’s belly were too long, they had to be removed, shortened, and refitted, which took ages. The Norship team had a long, almost 1.5 hours breakfast break, we were left hanging, literally, uninformed, and unable to get off the boat. George and Freddie were stuck ashore in the now increasing sunshine, getting up to no good! We were all becoming more and more “hangry”. A job that should have taken an hour took 6 agonizing hours.

Eventually, at 12:15, we were in the Norship office calling a taxi. Back at the marina we all gobbled a much-needed lunch, like drooping houseplants, getting a long overdue drink of water, we gradually perked up and came back to life! What a day!

Many thanks to Diana and Richard Stevens, Rob’s parents, for offering to send supplies to schools in Fiji and Vanuatu. Any other volunteers let us know at: irene4 {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com.