As a few people have requested some more photos, here is a link to the first small collection. More will appear as and when we are not quite so busy!
http://picasaweb.google.com/115175406968458943880/YouAskedForIt?authkey=Gv1sRgCLixlpn5sfPWJg&feat=directlink
Thank you all for your patience and support. Hope you like the photos!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
And now Mikes bit...
Wow what a boat. They build IP’s very well, everything is solid, all sole opening panels have catches so nothing moves when you walk, the sinks have normal full size drain plugs, the Nav seat is retractable by a hydraulic ram powered from its own electric motor & pump!! The details go on and on. Some might consider it a bit anal, but every screw head slot is aligned to the next be it a slotted or Philips head, now that’s attention to detail. All the electrical wires are either Yellow (Neutral) Red (positive) or Green (earth) easy, and each is numbered at its ends corresponding to the sheet in the A4 size manual that comes with the yacht. Storage is everywhere, pull back a seat cushion and there is a storage area behind with a lift up floor panel that reveals another equally big storage area below that, for example, under the Port seat are 3 storage bins, I have put the Spinnaker in one and the 2 storm sails in another, they could have gone in one but why cramp things! We have 2 reverse cycle air conditioning units with an outlet in the rear heads! Lazerets have lights inside with gas struts to hold them open, the forward cabin bed also lifts up on gas struts to for access to the storage below. But I guess the neatest thing on her is the dining table. Island Packet design it to fold up on the forward bulkhead when not in use thus giving a ‘dance floor’ size area in the main saloon, lowering it reveals the drinks cabinet with storage for wine & glasses, now that’s neat!
I even have my own “shed” to keep all the tool & parts in, its designed for the fenders but it’s massive as you can see. Jan says she will lock me in there if I am naughty!! Forward of my right elbow is the twin anchor lockers holding the 150 Metres of chain for each of the two bow anchors.
So what don’t I like about her? To be 100% honest, so far nothing.
What has been fixed? Vacuum flush toilet decided to stop producing a vacuum on day 5, Hmmmm...4 new Joker valves (They are called Duck bills here) and new pump piston cured that, all parts incidentally were on the boat when we got her together with a vast assortment of other new parts. The odd light globe needed replacing, but apart from that nothing else. I am replacing the fridge and freezer door seals as they look to be original and are quite hard in places.
Additions...I am intending to add a 130 Watt solar panel to the already installed 60 Watt panel and together with the 400W wind generator they should keep our 9 x 100Amp Hr AGM house batteries in good charge. I will also get a Hydrovane steering system fitted and the A.I. S installed and that’s about all.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sailing on our own
Well, we finally had a sail all on our own!
Long Beach harbour has one of the longest breakwaters in the Northern hemisphere, so it takes a couple of nautical miles to get outside it. No problem there, a bit of container ship traffic, couple of other yachts but generally easier than crossing the shipping lanes in Freo!
Then we were out in the Pacific Ocean proper, wow what a feeling. No significant waves, just a moderate swell, very comfortable. In an average of 8 knots of breeze, we sailed along nicely at about 3.5-4 knots with full main, stay and head sails. After awhile of having a play around with all the systems, the wind got up to about 15 knots gusting 18 so we reduced sail and started back for the slip as this was only a brief exercise in self confidence for us. Mike did a splendid job getting back into the pen, whilst I leaped on shore to secure the lines (we are on a floating jetty and the rule is here to take all your lines with you, hence the need for someone to jump ashore to secure), and we both agreed a bow thruster is a wonderful thing to have.
We have been very busy making Fully Involved ours, little personal touches and furnishings etc.
We have found everyone to be so very friendly and helpful here, not a bit as the tv shows back in Oz would have it. Oh and by the way, ever watched CSI Miami? It's filmed right here where we are in Shoreline Village, Long Beach! Our good friends Lloyd and Ruth bought us a pair of folding bicycles and we have been cycling everywhere we can (as we do not have a car)....those of you who know us will think nothing of Mike cycling but probably have a hard time believing that I do to...! But it's true and I am enjoying it.
Meanwhile, we have become addicted to shopping - there is just so much 'stuff' here to choose from, simple things like for example chicken stock.....not only are there 25 different brands to choose from, you have a choice of salt free gluten free freeze dried sun dried liquid cubes powdered shaved granules kosher half a pint half a gallon aaaaaaggggghhhhh it takes forever to decide and thats just one item, we always end up with loads of stuff at checkout that we didn't even realise we needed....I love it! God Bless America, and Happy Thanksgiving for tomorrow.
Long Beach harbour has one of the longest breakwaters in the Northern hemisphere, so it takes a couple of nautical miles to get outside it. No problem there, a bit of container ship traffic, couple of other yachts but generally easier than crossing the shipping lanes in Freo!
Then we were out in the Pacific Ocean proper, wow what a feeling. No significant waves, just a moderate swell, very comfortable. In an average of 8 knots of breeze, we sailed along nicely at about 3.5-4 knots with full main, stay and head sails. After awhile of having a play around with all the systems, the wind got up to about 15 knots gusting 18 so we reduced sail and started back for the slip as this was only a brief exercise in self confidence for us. Mike did a splendid job getting back into the pen, whilst I leaped on shore to secure the lines (we are on a floating jetty and the rule is here to take all your lines with you, hence the need for someone to jump ashore to secure), and we both agreed a bow thruster is a wonderful thing to have.
We have been very busy making Fully Involved ours, little personal touches and furnishings etc.
We have found everyone to be so very friendly and helpful here, not a bit as the tv shows back in Oz would have it. Oh and by the way, ever watched CSI Miami? It's filmed right here where we are in Shoreline Village, Long Beach! Our good friends Lloyd and Ruth bought us a pair of folding bicycles and we have been cycling everywhere we can (as we do not have a car)....those of you who know us will think nothing of Mike cycling but probably have a hard time believing that I do to...! But it's true and I am enjoying it.
Meanwhile, we have become addicted to shopping - there is just so much 'stuff' here to choose from, simple things like for example chicken stock.....not only are there 25 different brands to choose from, you have a choice of salt free gluten free freeze dried sun dried liquid cubes powdered shaved granules kosher half a pint half a gallon aaaaaaggggghhhhh it takes forever to decide and thats just one item, we always end up with loads of stuff at checkout that we didn't even realise we needed....I love it! God Bless America, and Happy Thanksgiving for tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Photos
An oil rig disguised as a palm fringed island...
Lifted out during survey
Strange method of lifting!
She passed a very stringent and exacting survey with flying colours. They build these yachts to such a high standard and she has been very well looked after. We close on the deal at 9am tomorrow morning (Friday 12th November). I think we have been most fortunate to have found such a great boat and such a great broker who has gone well and truly beyond the call of duty to assist us in every way - a certain broker in the Hillarys vacinity could learn many a lesson, trust me! More photos when we take over ownership :) What a birthday present!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
LaLaLand
We are staying in a penthouse condo in the Long Beach area with amazing views over downtown and to the Hollywood hills in the distance. It's a ten minute walk down to the ocean and pen FF49 where our beautiful girl resides (for now). I am pleased to say that she is all we thought she would be, in pristine condition and has obviously been cared for very lovingly by her previous owners. We completed sea trials yesterday, in what the broker and the owner both described as "highly unusual conditions".....about a one meter swell and 15-20 knots of wind...(hehehehe, how would they cope with Perths' sea breezes?) and Fully Involved was romping along at about 8 knots over the ground under full sail....the water here is absolutely filthy by the way, and we saw a dead cat floating in the pen area yesterday....
After the sail, we had the rigging surveyed, good for another 5 years the surveyor reported. Lift out is tomorrow, will blog next time with photos, so cheerio from the Land of the Free for now :)
After the sail, we had the rigging surveyed, good for another 5 years the surveyor reported. Lift out is tomorrow, will blog next time with photos, so cheerio from the Land of the Free for now :)
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