3/11/08  London

I’ve been back in London for a week having spent two weeks in Auckland organizing a fairly major refit.  After long discussions with three sail makers, I have ordered a new set of sails from Doyle using their Stratis system. It is quite an interesting process using fibre-aligned technology. If you’re interested check out: www.doylesails.co.nz

The Dark Blue gel coat on the hull has suffered greatly in the tropical sun and we had three different quotes for painting with AwlGrip.  In the end the Auckland yard near where we are moored was too expensive so it’s going to be done in the New Year 100 miles or so North of Auckland in Whangarei.

 We also commissioned a naval architect to look at the  on-going rudder problem, as I wanted a third party opinion.  Princess Yachts seem to be intrigued by his suggestions but we are awaiting a reaction from Bill Dixon the Marine Architect who designed all the Moodys and who has been consulted for the previous two attempts to solve the problem.

 We bought a 1995 Mazda Familia with 190,000 kilometers on the clock for not very much money.  It runs well and I should be able to recoup most of what I paid for it when we leave.

I am upgrading the electronic navigation system with newer equipment. What is on the boat was ordered in 2003 and of course by the spring of 2004 was obsolete.

 Electricians are testing the gel battery bank to determine how long they will last before needing replacement.  They are also trying to find the source of an earth leak and determine why our automatic battery monitoring system gets moody.

 I have greatly simplified an over complicated entertainment system which used to draw 8 amps in standby and now only draws about 1 ½. 

If was very satisfying to get rid of 12 mains cables powering all the associated bits and pieces.

 The engine had been taken to bits and is having a major service.  The generator exhaust manifolds are being replaced.  Steve managed to remove a particularly awkward one.  We thought we were going to have to cut a new access to the engine room from my cabin but fortunately it now looks like we won’t need to.

The automatic pilot drive motor which died a few days before Auckland has gone to the hospital but I am sure it will need to be replaced, if only for peace of mind.

Someone is coming to check out the heating system, which quit after doing Yeoman’s service in Antarctica.

 Someone else it trying to figure out why the hydraulic sail furling isn’t as fast as it should be.

 We’re trying to find a cost effective way of refurbishing the cabin sole, which has taken quite a beating.

 And so it goes on.  There are many other tweaks happening but I won’t attempt to list them all.

 The boat should be ready mid February.  We also have the builders in here in London so I’m not certain exactly when I’ll be going back.

camera, which I will attach.