Aargghhh!

Last Friday, we had the idea that since the mast has been restepped, the rigging tensioned, rudder and tiller replaced, that we would soon be on our way to our mooring in Chichester Harbour: -yes, that one, the one we've been paying for since April 1st.

There was a certain lightness of spirit as we collected up the boat cushions, fenders, inflatable dinghy and galley stuff and set off to reinstall the boat as a sailing home. She was on a trailer in the boat yard waiting for the first tide on Monday afternoon to be launched. We had done some preliminary passage planning and were looking forward to leaving Newhaven the following weekend.

On the trailer, but which way is she going?

I opened the door to the heads, and found that the door stuck against the ceiling headlining. On closer examination, we realised that the mast foot had depressed the coach roof by about 5mm. This obviously weakens the structure and has to be rectified. So  that's the end of plans to sail away this week.

Boat Surveyor, Rupert Smith who we have found to be unfailingly friendly, helpful, and willing to offer advice (which is why I have included a link to his website) came along first thing on Monday morning to have a look.
His suggestions gave a little bit of hope, that we didn't need to be back in the yard and dismasted: the repair could be done by John while the mast is up, but with loosened rigging and in the water.

Peter Leonard Senior gave me hug seeing my disappointment, and tried to be encouraging but I think they are all pleased that we will undertake this last bit of work ourselves.

Disappointed, but trying to be grown up about it. The weather is poor for sailing anyway!

Nearing the end of the beginning



I've had a little bit of resistance to ticking off the list all the work we are undertaking in case it jinxes the process.

Anyway, with my fingers crossed, here goes;

• New engine installed; it is a Yanmar 15,







 

engine installed



•  New drive shaft

• The fuel tank has been cleaned

• The gas locker has been changed to comply with safety regs, we now use calour instead of propane.

• We also chucked out the old gas heater, and as a result have more locker space.

• Gas hob cleaned

• Windows (forward port and main stbd) have been removed and rebedded, frames revarnished.



varnishing the window frames



window replacement



• Sprayhood repaired

• Waterpump replaced

• Sails cleaned and repaired, new battens where needed, sailcover cleaned and repaired

• Wooden fittings for the outboard and the horseshoe have been sanded and oiled

• Anchor chain inspected and chain counters inserted

• The Coppercoat has been applied.

Climactic conditions were strict;- temps above 8 degrees C, day and night , no rain or moisture for 48 hours, minimum of 5 days before launching.  Last weekend  appeared to be the first weather opportunity, so we set up and went for it. 4and a half coats applied, then a plastic protective skirt because a light shower had been forecast for the night.

Next morning there were about 7 runs down the hull where the rain had channelled through, so another 1/2 litre of stuff was ordered and applied as a top up.

The hull looks a bit streaky still, but the copper is well applied everywhere, and if we have done it correctly will give at least 10 years antifoul protection and is marine friendly to boot!

• The mast has been unstepped and examined, cleaned and now has new running rigging and the windex is the right way round

  
  

Phew!!

still to do:

Put on the new propellor and treat it with lanolin as protection and antifoul

restep the mast and put back the boom, self furling genoa, and sails

replace the fairleads, and reseal the anchor locker

Then we can get back in the water and check the engine and the alignments



Warsash for Lunch and update on maintenance

Yesterday we went all the way to Warsash in Hampshire to meet up with other Tommies (members of the Tomahawk Owners Association)
As well as being a social get together in a rather distinguished venue, we used the opportunity to get advice and tips on the big issues of maintenance we are facing.



Lunch with some members of the TOA



 We are very nearly ready to order the work to begin on replacing the old engine with a new Yanmar 15.
This has been a subject of discussion for several weeks, and it would be boring to go over it again. However, our feeling is that we have done all the work of researching and investigating while the Peters at Peter Leonard Marine have been less than helpful.

Meanwhile, the Blakes stopcocks have been removed, looked at and passed by Peter and Ian (of TOA) and polished.



Before



After polishing

Other jobs ticked off the list are:

sails removed to sailmaker for advice/repair

sailcover washed and repaired

window battens removed and sanded ready for revarnishing and window reseating

most of all John has done a fantastic job on sanding off the bottom of the hull ready to epoxy coat and antifoul

Tomahawk Owner's Association. The Commodore's Pennant

The Boat Show was the location for TOA AGM, and we had a special reason for being there.

The South Coast Rally to Cowes in May enjoyed some fine weather culminating in a rendezvous at the Folly Inn of Three Tomahawks. Top marks went to Imogen and John sailing “Mahaskah” for 12 hours from Newhaven to Bembridge then taking a Taxi to the Folly Inn to meet up with the Tomahawks rafted up on the pontoon to enjoy a meal to share experiences.

I would like to reward this determination with the Commodores Pennant for 2012 and would encourage members to follow Imogens fascinating blog: http://www.mahaska.blogspot.co.uk/

We are proud and honoured to receive this.

The Boat Show, Excel Centre, London

The Boat Show was quite disappointing: too many motorboats, few innovations and new ideas, no freebies. The "wow factor" was lacking.

But we loved the location.

This picture illustrates a little of the landscape that we found so awesome.

The Emirates Airline Cable Car rides above it all, the buildings beyond and below represent the industrial power of London during the19th and 20th centuries. The support poles of The O2 Arena point into the sky, and two figures in the foreground, instead of being fishermen, dockers, lightermen, stevedores, or  bargemen, are city workers at play.

Disaster at Cuckmere Haven

I can't let the new year's blog get any further without getting our worst disaster off my chest.
Following on from a quiet gentle evening in Cuckmere Haven with Summer, Kia and children:

we invited Nick and Trish along for a meal on board.

It was to be the beginning of a romantic weekend for them, taking their VW camper for a wedding anniversary trip.

We were anchored in the usual spot, and were ready to collect them from the beach in the inflatable.

Unfortunately they couldn’t get there till early evening, but when we heard their shouts, John jumped into the inflatable dinghy, using the outboard engine this time, and puttered off.

Nick lost his phone almost immediately he arrived on the boat- he had set his jacket down on the spray hood, and when I picked it up to suggest it wasn’t the best place to leave it, the phone slithered out of the pocket and into the sea before anyone could catch it.

Never mind, he was due an upgrade.

Food was consumed and wine was drunk, and Trish began to go quieter than usual, she was getting a bit cold, and I lent her my oilies.

By this time it was dark, and a bit of a swell had commenced, and Nick wasn’t feeling too good either. 

John offered to take them back to shore, which they happily accepted.

It wasn’t easy for them to climb down into the dinghy in a swell, (Trish still wearing the oilies) and Nick sat in the bow. John aimed to drop them on the western bit of the shore, but in the dark couldn’t identify where the river split the beach until too close, when he tried to change course, the waves hit the dinghy broadside and it went over.

Trish was out of depth and weighed down by the water inside the oversized oilies, The bag containing shoes was lost, and the dinghy was upside down. Nick and John righted it and as we always take the oars John was soon rowing back to the boat.

Our nearly drowned friends stumbled barefoot back to their van,  John got back on board terribly cold and shocked.

It wasn’t until much later the next day that we heard how they were; we had spent an anxiety-filled day not knowing, but thank goodness the van keys were in a pocket and not lost and they were able to get warm and continued with their unforgettable Anniversary Road Trip.

(We have since wined and dined them properly on land, and we are still friends!)

New Year, with resolutions

We've left Newhaven Marina, in a way, sad, because it's a nice spot and so convenient. We like the industrial scrap metal heap on the East side of the harbour, and the fishermen, and the ol' geezers.

Tiffany fishing for crabs, and catching a smelt from the boat will be an abiding memory.

 

Well, it's lift out, bottom scrub and maintenance time at Peter Leonard Marine on Denton island. It was fun motoring up river with the bridge open.

 

There's a long list of things to be reviewed and assessed: the engine is the biggest. There is still a leak of diesel on the lifting pump in spite of Peter Leonard's mechanic having a look at it. This is the original Bukh engine, and is over 40 years old. It's only 10 Horse Power, which is barely sufficient. We are considering  a brand new Yanmar 20.

The thought of 20 horses pulling against the tide or speeding up an uncomfortable journey is very appealing!

Resolutions:

Back to Chichester Harbour (swinging mooring at Sparkes Marina ). This is at the Harbour mouth, so we can either revisit the lovely locations within, or, be more adventurous and use it as a base for explorations of the Solent and Isle of Wight.

We have untill 1st April to tick off jobs on the maintenance list.