Hoisted again
Irie
Mon 16 Feb 2009 19:08
|
Lance Aux Epines Cottages
Prickly Bay Grenada
Sunday 15th February
BA Speedbird 2156 leapt into the sky just to
the west of Prickly Bay, ground on up right overhead heading east and then
gently turned, powering back and setting course to the northeast and the
low level hop to Antigua. Jane and Jem were on their way.
Back on the boat, Saturday and Sunday evaporated
with some serious swimming - half a kilometer demanding eleven laps of the boat
and tender, and then preparation of the boat for hauling and rudder removal on
Monday. Light relief was provided by John, Sally and daughter Kate (sounds
familiar ..Ed) on Belle Lurette who turned up and dropped anchor smack in
time for a small something or other. We've run into John and Sally several
times over the past couple of years, though this is Kate's first time here. She
runs a make-up and beauty business from a large live-aboard barge moored near
the Mud Dock in Bristol and seems very lively.
By Sunday night, the boat and in particular the new
covers were protected from the ravages of dust and grubby feet, and promptly at
nine on Monday we glided once more into the slip, the bands of the travel-lift
traversed underneath and then noisily hoisted Irie five feet into the air
before trundling to her next resting place. Within an hour of chocking up, the
removal strategy had been agreed with yard manager John, Desmond carefully
loosened the top bearings, Frankie supervised the grinding out of the bottom
shoe, and by early afternoon the offending article was stretched on the ground.
In general there is little corrosion, but the exposed part of the stock between
the top of the rudder and the boat itself is severely pitted to a depth of
several mms - not a risk worth taking. The next task is to cut the stock and the
metal web out of the rudder itself - a long, dusty and hot process with a
grinder as the rudder proves to be built like an especially solid brick
convenience - a job that runs on in to Tuesday pm. At this point, Nick from
Technick steel fabricators joins in, taking possession of the stock, and
checking all the dimensions before briefing the milling of the steel
replacement. We've already sourced drawings and specs from the stunningly
efficient Danish suppliers of the original bearings and seals. These have been
now been ordered, and after some chasing we now have our own Fedex account, so
that early Thursday a package is winging its way towards Grenada, or so we hope.
It all seems in hand, though Grenadian Customs may prove a stumbling block, and
costs would indicate that the package is travelling in a first class sleeper
with champagne, caviar and pole dancing hostesses - hope it's
appreciative.
While we're out, the prop shaft bearing is given a
prod. It's just started to grumble, and since we're here, it makes sense to
tackle it. Contest don't make it easy as nominally the shaft has to be withdrawn
inside the boat, involving lifting the engine etc - serious stuff, so initially
we're trying a few work arounds. Also as we are here, and steel work is
relatively cheap, Nick's making a stern gantry for the solar panels and other
bits and pieces. So there's plenty to do, plus servicing the engine, changing
fan belts and tackling the rest of a seemingly endless list.
This all sounds a bit of a trial, but there is good
news. Lance Aux Epines is excellent. It's a group of eleven self catering
bungalows and apartments right on the beach at the top of Prickly Bay. They're
very spacious, set in lovely gardens, there's great swimming plus a Hobie and
kayaks to play with. The daily routine has settled as: 6.30 alarm, 7.00 half
mile swim, 7.45 breakfast, 8.15 commute to work in the rub-a-dub, boat stuff
till 1.30 / 2.00, and then back to base for some r + r . It's been owned by the
same family for over three decades, andt here are some interesting people
staying here, a number who have been coming with their families for
over 20 years - sort of St Mawes but warmer, so certainly not the worse place in
the world to be stranded with a few boat problems. We've spent
some time with Rob and Jean from Canada - he's Air Canada's senior Triple 7
pilot, and Jean used to teach IT and accounts. They've been visiting for
nineteen years, and haven't found anywhere better. They've also tons of local
knowledge, and Saturday we joined them in their hire car, travelling to the
northern tip of the island, and lunching at 'Almost Paradise'. This is a small
restaurant and six chalets perched on a hill with a stunning view northwards to
Diamond Rock, La Ronde, Cariacou, and today even Union Island. Our hostess is
Canadian, her husband, the chef is German and they've been here for some seven
years. It's a good trip, and the north of the island has spectacular
scenery, warranting more attention in the future. Finally, just to prove
what a small world we live in, Saturday evening we make off to La Source. This
is a rather exclusive resort on the south west where Neville and Eileen, Peter
and Diane and Wedmore friends Geoff and Jenny are holed up. We enjoy a very
pleasant evening with a swim, Margaritas, a glass of bubbles an excellent
dinner and very good company - all in all, an excellent
day.
Jan 'At home'
 View from the window out across Prickly
Bay
 Rudder science (?)
 Rudder persuasion
 'Almost Paradise' - a couple of rums
help
 |