March 18th update.....With pictures

The mast has been removed and all rigging checked, no further damage was found. The mast goose neck was removed for re-bushing and new correct length bolts. The bolts were found to be too short with the threaded portion inside the castings; this is what had caused the castings to wear out. The mast was re-wired, new TV and VHF antenna installed and the lightning rod extended by 200mm so it is now taller than the VHF antenna!!!  The mast is now back on the boat awaiting final rigging tension. As we will need lifting again for the transducers and earthing plate to be replaced, the rigging was not fully tensioned  as we will need to remove the head sail furling gear in order for us to fit in the lift rig.

All the damaged electronics are out and at this time all the old multi strand B & G / Raymarine wiring is being removed to make room for the new Raymarine single wire “Back Bone” . We will have all the latest Raymarine equipment complete with touch screen chart plotter, wireless auto pilot control and colour instruments as well as new Icom VHF & HF radios.

The boat is now mostly 240Volt. It was found to be easier to do this than try to get new 115Volt stuff out of the USA. Even the onboard generator has been converted to deliver 240V. The Air conditioners will still run on 115Volt as I bought a converter from the US before departure for this very reason, much cheaper and easier than converting them to run on 240V!!

So if you think it is hard living in a house when the builders are there doing your additions, try living on a yacht when all the electrical and electronics are being repaired/modified/added to !!!

Mike J

Damage report....

Fully Involved was lifted out on the 11^th to make sure there was no damage below the water line, there wasn’t any.  On the electronics side, so far we need to replace...... Chart plotter and card, Nav pod to accommodate a wide screen E120 Plotter, 48 Mile Radar, wind, depth speed, autopilot, AIS, both VHF radios, HF radio, both hand held VHF radios, Iridium phone and docking station, 4 Amp solar panel, solar controller, Nav station repeater  display, all nav lights, all associated antenna, hull lightning discharge plate, speed and depth transducers.  On the 115 Volt side, only the inverter is damaged so that will be replaced.

 At the same time as all this work is going on, we will have her converted to 240V ( via the isolation transformer we previously bought in the USA) change the Microwave oven and water heater to 240Volt. In a Marina we can plug in 240Volt use all our 240Volt equipment as well as the US 115Volt stuff.  Away from shore power we will have added a large 240V pure sign wave inverter so all the 240 Volt equipment works and have the Generator and battery bank, via the new 115V inverter, to run the Air Conditioners and battery charger.  

It has been recommended that the mast will come out not only for a thorough rigging inspection but also to make it easier to replace all the electrical wiring in the mast as it runs up rather like a U trap bend under a house sink.

So there it is, unfortunately we won’t be going anywhere for a while except maybe up the Swan River to the City once the mast is removed!!

Mike.

An Enlightening experience

Moored up after a small cruise-lette to Rockingham over New Years, Fully Involved was unfortunately struck by lightning early morning of January 4th!
At this stage we appear to have lost all instruments and have suffered damage to internal wiring. Rigging and sails to be assessed later today, and a haul out on Tuesday to try to find an exit hole.
Ironic, hey?
We came all that way only to get zapped less than 30 miles from home.
Thank goodness we are insured.

Lift out

On Dec 7^th we lifted “Fully Involved” onto the hard stand for a well earned clean and antifouling. We were amazed at the lack of growth on her bottom after the 12,300 mile trip; needless to say the zinc anodes were all eaten away to nothing!!!

After she was pressure washed we noticed that the antifouling was still in very good shape all things considered, it was a 50/50 decision to repaint but in the end we decided to give her a coat of blue over the black put on in Mexico as she would probably be in the pen for more time than out sailing. The prop speed was still OK for another 12 Months so that was left as was. The bow thruster blades were replaced for the new improved 5 bladed “Q prop” giving us 15% more thrust and 10% less noise, this extra performance was very noticeable once back in the water.  Jan spent many a hard day on her knees scraping, sanding then re applying the varnish to the toe rail and coach top cheat line, she now looks magnificent again. The name on the Starboard side, damaged when we deployed the sea anchor mid Pacific was replaced. The yard guys had the job of replacing the blocked rear head outlet pipe, something they achieved with remarkable speed!!!!

So now she is back in her pen at HYC waiting for the next adventure, but in the mean time we are doing some small jobs on her that have been put off .

Mike.

Geraldton, Mindarie and finally HYC.

Sorry for the delay in posting but as you can well imagine it has been a very hectic 2 weeks since our return home, so here goes for the final rap of the trip.

Departing Geraldton on in the morning of the 9^th November via the shipping channel, we aimed to be at Mindarie by the 11^th to meet our family and special friends as well as celebrate Jan’s Birthday. A good sail down was enjoyed in 10-15 Kt South Westerly, the 211 NM leg was done over two nights giving us both time to reflect on the journey we had just done and ready ourselves for the welcome back.

As we neared Mindarie we were met by 2 yachts of fellow club members who took pictures of our return. The following day more members sailed up to Mindarie to see us and a very pleasant day was spent chatting, drinking and eating.

On the morning of the 13^thwe put up on the port burgee lines all the countries flags we had visited, on the starboard went all the yacht club Burgees we had collected and on a Spinnaker halyard we raised the “Boxing Kangaroo” and Pacific Puddle Jump flags!!! Departing Mindarie at about 14.30 we  sailed down to Hillarys Yacht club with our Daughter and a couple of good friends, a fantastic run South was had doing 6.5 SOG in 10 Kts of wind shame it was only a  9 NM leg!! As expected, going thru the entrance to Hillarys was a very emotional experience for us but that was far overshadowed by the sight of 150+ club members coming out of the club house to greet us as we came up the fairway to dock on the VIP jetty in front of the club house.

And a so dear reader that concludes our Blog of the trip, what happens now is still undecided. We have both had a remarkable time and learnt a lot about sailing and ourselves. It is time to take stock, reflect and catch up with friends.

Thanks to you all for reading and being part of this adventure.....

Mike.

Home....

We arrived back at Hillarys Yacht Club on the 13th November 2011 after a trip of 12,333 NM.....A full rap up and pictures will follow shortly so stay tuned!!
Mike.

Clippers

The round the world clipper fleet left here yesterday, bound for New Zealand.
I have such mixed feelings, I want to go home and see all those I love, but part of me would have jumped onto one of those clippers in a heartbeat if I could have!
What on earth am I going to do after we get back?
Suggestions please, on the back of a self addressed stamped envelope....LOL
Jx