PY's (Phil's) new yacht

[Larks]

Phil has sent me through a pic of his new yacht to post here, and I've gotta say - I'm rather envious mate!!!

I'm sure he'll be in with a few more details but here's what we know so far:

"The boat is 52' strip planked Arthur Robb design. Twin keels and twin rudders. Built in Tassie in 1974. Celery Top pine over spotted gum ribs, Huon cabin sides etc. Interior is quite open and airy, with a series of wopping great steel ring frames speced every 8-10 feet."

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/Baliayacht.jpg

[BrianW]

I'm not familiar with a twin keel, twin rudder set up. How's that work?

[Larks]

I'm not familiar with a twin keel, twin rudder set up. How's that work?

If you have the time to read this it might cover your question:

http://www.andycunninghammarine.co.uk/documents/ObservationsandthoughtsonTwinKeels.pdf

[py]

Thanks Greg. I can't even see the photo on account of the internet censors at work:( Anyway, its a new boat to me. I reckon I bought her just in time as my work is doing the redundancy thing to me. If the timing had been just a bit different I'd not have taken the plunge. I finish up here end of next week, then up to Brissie to collect her and sail home to Adelaide. Or there's a chance we might not turn right at Bass Straight and go on down to Tassie instead, as she has a mizzen mast and the rig to go with that in storage down there. I've only really had a pretty brief look at her, but she appears to be in excellent condition. New (6 hrs) Yanmar turbo diesel. Rigging is 18 months or so old. Most of the electronic stuff is new. Interior is airy and roomy and pretty well unmolested from new. Built by Ray Kemp Hobart. Fibreglass sheathed from new. Planks are edge nailed with copper nails. She has steamed laminated ribs every 9 or 10 inches, some big fat longditudinal stringers and some heavy galv framing in the area of the keels-with no rust. Plus the massive steel ring frames. Deck is teak over ply. That worries me somewhat, they never last forever. The deckhouse is a bit 70's for my liking but I'm sure it will grow on me. She has twin (as opposed to bilge) keels. Apparently there's a difference. And twin rudders which is somewhat unusual for the era. She's not overdone with complex electronic gadgets, which suits me just fine, although she does have a 240v genset, hot water, chartplotter, autopilot and 12v refrigeration. Certainly sufficient for a reasonable level of comfort and safety. Getting kind of excited as the day (to take possesion) approaches.
Phil

[Larks]

It would't take much to redo the pilot house, even just changing the shape of those front windows would make a difference.

[py]

The twin rudder thing is interesting. She has wheel steering in the centre cockpit. That drops down to a chain drive on a horizontal shaft coming out of the back of the cockpit/into the aft cabin. The chain goes around a pair of turning blocks down low to get it on a horizontal plane, and from those to a central quadrant, and then splits out to a quadrant each side-one on each rudderhead. The prop is centrally located, so it spins in nice clear water, and also doesn't require a great big hole in the rudder as you have in the usual single rudder arrangement. Speaking of props, she has a Hundested variable pitch prop, which I understand is a fairly nifty piece of kit. The current/previous owner tells me the twin keels make her very steady-to the point that in nasty rolly anchorages she just sits rock steady. Truth or sales talk? I guess I'll know soon enough.
Phil

[GaryK]

Very nice boat there Phil. I'm envious.

[Larks]

The current/previous owner tells me the twin keels make her very steady-to the point that in nasty rolly anchorages she just sits rock steady. Truth or sales talk? I guess I'll know soon enough.
Phil

It will be interesting to hear. I was anchored off of Lombok quite a few years ago in a pretty rolly anchorage behind the reef (but I had scammed a suite in the Sheraton - another story) and when sitting on the beach with a few other yacht crews we all commented on how violently our masts were swaying in comparison to one yacht that hardly seemed to be moving. That was a Brit's yacht, don't know the design, but he put it down to his twin keels - the (somewhat drunken) catchphrase became "ah look, no rolling at all at all".

[RFNK]

I'm envious too - looks great! Rick

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Was it built by Athol Walter, or the Wilsons?

[The Bigfella]

Fabulous Phil.

[sailboy3]

Nice one.

[Duncan Gibbs]

Great stuff Phil!

[JimConlin]

Reminiscent of the Bill Tripp's Mercer 44

http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/7/0/1/1/1701118_1.jpg?1177088223000

[JimD]

I like the wheelhouse although I think the forward windows should be squared up a bit.

[TR]

She appears to be a cutter rigged sister to the 1962 steel ketch rigged Bluebird of Thorne.

Bluebird was recently rebuilt by Steve Brouwer on Lopez Island.
http://www.hunterbaywoodworking.com/gallery_bluebird.php

[py]

She is indeed very similar to Bluebird of Thorne, and both designed by Arthur Robb. I'm thinking with another 12 years there are probably some further design refinements built in. She was orignally Yawl rigged. The mast and its rigging is down in Tassie and I'll need to get down there to pick it up and refit it at some stage. Paul I understand she was built by Ray Kemp. I think I'll leave the cabin as is-the boat overall is very original and in some ways something of a historic vessel with its design pedigree. So although I'd have drawn a different cabin, I won't be messing with that any sooner than I'd mess with the twin keels and rudders. Although the hard top bimini is obviously a later addition.
Phil

[maxwaterline]

Phil, looks good, like others, envious. Hope the trip down goes well. Where will you be located in Adelaide? I'm at PASC.

Regards Adrian

[PeterSibley]

Phil ,a serious boat ...I wish you fair winds and many miles under your keel(s ).

Peter

[Lew Barrett]

Nice. Any interior images? Have to see what lies below!

[py]

Adrian, not sure yet, maybe RSAYS. Does PASC have berths available? Maybe PM me?
Phil

[Bark]

It would't take much to redo the pilot house, even just changing the shape of those front windows would make a difference.


I like the wheelhouse although I think the forward windows should be squared up a bit.

Call me crazy, but I think the forward windows are really cool ...

[frank pedersen]

The book, "Sailing Yacht Design," 3rd ed.(1976), by Douglas Phillips-Burt, has the lines drawings for Bluebird of Thorne as well as extensive discussion of the twin- keel design concept.

[shamus]

Looks very nice Phil.
Bluebird also gets a chapter in "The Proper Yacht", with Robb's comments.
What's her name?

[py]

Her name is Balia.

[WX]

Congratulations py. Is there any reason why we couldn't just have the EBS onboard? Assuming of course that you wouldn't mind.

[paladin]

I'll bring some nice Guatamalen rum.......

Nice boat. Congrats.

[py]

WX that's what I was thinking. Chuck if you can get here in time you'll be more than welcome.:)

[Larks]

WX that's what I was thinking. Chuck if you can get here in time you'll be more than welcome.:)

I wasn't game to ask Phil, I know what it's like trying to get everything ready for a passage:o.

[WX]

Well you know the expression...more front than Myers:D
Only if it's no problem PY...we could always help carry some stuff to the boat.

[py]

I think on board Balia is the way to go, easiest for me:). Looks like I pick up this camper on Thursday, and I have to swing by Sydney to pick up a liferaft on the wayup. So should get to BNE saturday or sunday, just in time. I then have till 5 feb when the crew arrive to get the boat ready, so no trouble having a few mates around on sunday arvo I reckon.
Phil

[Larks]

A couple of photos of "Balia" for you.

I went up to see Phil and "Balia" this arvo. Unfortunately he's suffering from a bit of a lurgi (of the stay close to the dunny kind) and hasn't been able to get much done over the last two days while also looking after his two young boys who drove up with him, so I didn't hang around and bother him too long, just long enough to have a good perve over his lovely yacht (she appears to be in great condition) and get a few snaps:

A lovely tumblehome, so although the deck "appears" narrow, she is absolutely cavernous inside:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030034.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030035.jpg

Phil on deck:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030030.jpg

That cabin and those windows really do look quite terrific and appropriate for the age of the yacht, reminding me of a WWII patrol boat - very durable and sturdy looking:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030031.jpg

So much to do before leaving for the trip home, so little time:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030029.jpg

[Larks]

A few more:

Stepping down into the cabin via the "foyer", which is what is below the cabin top, a sort of landing wth stairs going forward down into the cabin and also to starboard, above the galley, down into a nav' office and bunk:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030028.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030027.jpg

Looking forward from port side at bottom of stairs:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030023.jpg

Looking aft from same position into aft cabin:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030024.jpg

Aft cabin with large lazarette storage space aft of that:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030022.jpg

Stepping around through the aft cabin to look forward down the starboard side through the nav station, this goes back through to the stairs up to the "foyer" and the galley is behind the panel straight ahead:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030021.jpg

[Larks]

Last couple:

the main saloon area and galley, one of Phils boys, the other (Henry I think) is on the floor to the right, both sound like they are looking forward to the trip south:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030025.jpg

Looking aft. Behind me (that is behind the camera) is another very large forward space with head, work bench area (from memory?) and loads of sail and sheet/line storage space (you may be able to see Phil in there in one of the above photos looking forward:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030026.jpg

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
Lovely boat, Phil (a bit bigger than the one I photographed at Goolwa a few years back.)

Congratulations on acquiring her, and many happy years sailing in her.

Mike

[shamus]

Looks very nice, thanks for the photos.
Sorry to hear about the 'Balia belly' Phil.

Groans.

[PeterSibley]

Very impressive ! She's a beauty !
Has anyone given her beam and LOA or have I just missed it ?

[PeterSibley]

Rereading , 52 foot OA but no beam ? I'd like to be able to get an idea of the interior dimensions .

[Larks]

I'll ask him when I go up tomorrow Peter, I'm going to see if I can help him catch up on the jobs he hasn't managed to do while he's been crook so that he has her reasonably ready when his crew arrive Friday evening.

[George Ray]

Congrats, awesome boat ...

[John B]

Fascinating boat... it goes on forever inside it!

[PeterSibley]

I'll ask him when I go up tomorrow Peter, I'm going to see if I can help him catch up on the jobs he hasn't managed to do while he's been crook so that he has her reasonably ready when his crew arrive Friday evening.

Much appreciated Greg ....and I'm very sure he'd appreciate a hand too.Going over a new boat prior to a long offshore voyage is a bit daunting ...she looks good but he needs to know ever bit of gear is OK .

[Larks]

I'll not be heading up again today, Phil's still not feeling too good so is hoping to take it easy for a day or so and will probably now have to postpone the delivery back to Adelaide rather than have to rush to leave on the weekend when his crew arrive.

However, he recalls the beam being @ 14' and the draft is @6' (with the twin keels), headroom inside must be a bit over 6', assuming that Phil is about the same height as me (about 5' 9"ish).

[PeterSibley]

Thanks Greg ...I reckon he'd be well advised to take it easy til he's quite well .A new boat on her maiden voyage needs all attention and maybe all his energy .

Peter

[Larks]

Well Phil has come good since yesterday and is back on schedule to leave Brisbane tomorrow, with the rest of his crew due to arrive tonight some time.

I went up today and helped him with a few bits and pieces and we went out for his "maiden" sail this arvo to check a few things over and make sure that the sails went up and down and so on, so here are a couple of pics of a very pleasant afternoon on Moreton Bay:

Phil's wife Felicity and their two terrific boys Henry (in front) and Nicholas "come on dad, we want bigger waves and more leaning!!":

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2050042.jpg

Happy Phil and Felicity:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2050046.jpg

Not all that much breeze really but she still moved along quite nicely:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2050047.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2050048.jpg


Happy Phil again - he has good reason to be happy, she is a lovely yacht and everything seems to be in very good shape for the trip south:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2050050.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2050051.jpg

The roller furling boom needs a bit of explaining though. The original rig for this yacht included a mizzen mast, which is currently sitting in Tasmania somewhere along with its rigging and sail and a few nice reaching sails (that would have been very useful on this trip south).

The previous owner at some stage opted to remove the mizzen and extend the boom with the intent of having a larger main sail made up for it. Unfortunately he didn't get that far prior to selling the yacht to Phil.

She does seem to sail reasonably well balanced at the moment with the small main and no mizzen, although the furling jib is quite small and high cut and we didn't get the staysail up today. So Phil now has the option of either replacing the mizzen or having a new main made up, I don't think he is yet decided on what to do but he seems keen on having the mizzen back to play with.

[Larks]

When I left Phil this evening, he was considering a late departure tomorrow and just cruising down to Southport marina ready for an early start on Sunday morning from there for a run straight down to Sydney. That being the case I'd guess he may be there some time Tuesday - weather permitting, although with a brand new 100hp Yanmar on board he may well do a bit of motor sailing to keep some pace up.

I think the plan is to go into the CYC for the night and Felicity, Nick and Henry will fly back to Adelaide from there. Ian I'll PM you Phils mobile.

[PeterSibley]

Good news !
My ,she's an impressive boat !

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
This is all good to hear. Thanks Greg.

Best wishes for the voyage Phil, and please update us as soon as you can.

Mike

[shamus]

Beautiful, thanks for the photos, have a good trip Phil.

[The Bigfella]

Excellent.

I'd love to buy Phil a beer when he gets to Sydney

[Larks]

I meant to post last night that Phil and crew got away at 1300 yesterday - Saturday. They took the outside option, ie went about 20nm north to go out and around North Stradbroke island, (I assume because he'd have needed a rising tide to travel down the inside route and high tide was about 1300).

I woke up at about 1.00am thinking about them and although I'm sure that Phil would be blessing the retro cabin top so that he could mostly stay out of the rain, I really wonder how they have faired. Visibility wouldn't have been too good and first night out on a new boat, it certainly wouldn't have been much fun!!

[PeterSibley]

That cabin top was a little bit of an aesthetic surprise but in this weather , I can really see the point !

[John B]

Did we ever find out what beam she is?

[TR]

The original Bluebird of Thorne has a beam variously reported as 12' or 12'2". Judging by the photo's of Phil in his cockpit I'd guess that's accurate. The 1965 writeup in Yachting World mentions she was described as a "high performance cruising machine" . Her owner, Lord Riverdale was Commodore of the Royal Cruising Club at the time.

[John B]

Thanks for that Tad.

http://www.runningtideyachts.com/assets/BlueBird.gif

Interesting discussion here too

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/boat-review-purchase-forum/56336-twin-keel-sailboat-2.html

mentions a boat in Au which may now be Phils.

[Larks]

Did we ever find out what beam she is?

John, beam is @14', draft @6' with the twin keels and LOA 52'

[John B]

Seriously? She looks narrower than Riada to me in the Photos.. except for down below.. looks damn cavernous.:).
we're 12 '6" x 45

[Larks]

Yes, the deck is quite narrow but the tumblehome is also quite pronounced

[John B]

Ahhhh I see said the blind man... 12'2 at the deck!
If Phil is like me , he's going to learn a giant distaste for bring his boat alongside pretty much anything. Tumblehome is the absolute pits for that.

[Larks]

But isn't that why you have young boys who can jump a long way???

Sorry, edited to add that I should include there young girls, but I was thinking specifically of Phil's boys Henry and Nicholas and his older son (Sean I think) who was also joining him for the trip.

[PeterSibley]

Sooooo ..what is such an extreme tumble home for ?? Aesthetics or some benefit I don't know about ?

[Larks]

Something to do with reducing wetted surface when heeled, reducung drag, but I don't know the complete theory behind it.

[PeterSibley]

:confused::confused:
Interesting ! I really can't visualise how that who work but that's me I guess .:o I thought it would just make for a wet boat .

[Larks]

I'll have to read up on it now, my memory - for yachts anyway, not working boats, is something to do with stability and heel where the yacht can achieve an optimal heel with reduced or minimum wetted surface to reduce drag.

For working boats it is more to do with stability and deck loading - also something rings bells about cost savings in construction on working boats??

[Larks]

Peter, I've found a good discussion on it here:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/sailboat-design-construction/47224-tumblehome-stability-performance.html

[PeterSibley]

I have something in the back of my head about an ancient tax regime ...based on deck dimensions .

[Larks]

Interesting then that one of the comments in the link is "In more modern designs it was often about cheating some racing rule"

[PeterSibley]

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gifhttp://www.sailnet.com/forums/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif

I seem to recall that for a brief time certain rating rules measured beam on deck, and tumblehome was a way to add 'unmeasured/unpenalized' beam.

That said, a nicely drawn tumblehome hull looks pretty good - the Ranger 28 being one good example.
__________________Quoting from your link Greg .

[Larks]

I've always had a bit of a thing for S&S yachts because of their generally pronounced tumblehome, particularly "Mark Twain", one of the early Ragamuffin's. I've been trying to find a picture of her and this is the closest that I seem to be able to find http://www.sail-world.com/photos/std_Mark%20Twain.JPG

[PeterSibley]

I'm not very good on this style of boat but is a Swan a similar hull shape ?

[purri]

^ Mark Twain is still about though she doesn't do SYD_HOB these days. (The CYC insisted on sponsors' logos that "complicated" removal as they took the timber hull finish with them). Not a happy chappie! (plus Von Richkid the ex CYC commodore libelling a skipper in the 98? debacle)

[Larks]

I couldn't really say Peter, they both have a variety of styles I guess but Sparkman and Stephens seemed to have a lot of, I guess IOR raters, that have quite a pronounced tumblehome. When you board them and go below they sort of....envelope you with a cocoon of solid confidence. Which sounds a bit wanky but they are a bit of a Tardus and they just feel solid and reliable and safe and sort of go anywhere in anything and get you home again in one piece.

[Larks]

Purri, what was the other gorgeous ex Rag's S&S of a similar vintage to Mark Twain? I'm having a senior moment and can't remember her.



Got it..............."Margaret Rintoul"!!!!!

http://www.sail-world.com/photos/Alt_Margaret%20Rintoul%2011.jpg

[PeterSibley]

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030025.jpg



http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii11/Larks_01/P2030026.jpg


Almost a definition of envoloped Greg !:D

[The Bigfella]

Got a text back from Phil... just discovered it, a bit late....

Rough first night sick crew boat good Lovely today. Expect to arrive Sydney tomorrow am Hoping to get a berth at cyc....

Next bit was asking me to text him the CYC number, which I've just done.

I'll try and make contact in the morning. (that tomorrow is now today here btw....)

[TR]

Here is Bluebird's bodyplan, showing the tumblehome to good effect. The buttock lines are spaced 12" and the waterlines 5" and 10". So you can see her max beam is just over 12' and deck beam a bit over 10'.

In racing boats there was a time when deck edge measurements played a role in judging how fast the boat might be (rating). In this case rating or racing had nothing to do with the hull form. I have not found any mention so far in the written descriptions, but one assumes the tumblehome was purely a styling statement. This was 1965 and raised topsides this high might have been viewed as somewhat freakish. The shape certainly takes the boxiness out of her.

http://www.tadroberts.ca/pics/bluebirdmidsection.jpg

[The Bigfella]

Phil's in Sydney... tied up at 10:45. Somewhat buggered apparently

[Larks]

Are you going to catch up with him Ian?

[The Bigfella]

I've sent him a PM, but I'm guessing he's asleep. I'll head in for a beer if he emerges

[py]

Hi everyone. We had a varied trip from Brisbane down to Sydney. Nice sail up the bay, a bit scary finding and navigating around the top of Moreton island-breaking waves all over the place. As darkness fell the wind picked up. My wife Felicity sensibly suggested we take in a reef, which we did, and then another. Through the night we had winds of 25-30 knots and quite a number of passing thundersqualls, stronger winds, horizontal ran and lightnening. The crew were all pretty badly overcome by seasickness, except for felicity and me. We pulled an all nighter together while the crew took turns at throwing up. Next day the wind settled a bit, but the crew remained crook. next night Felicity and I took one hour watches turn and turn about through the night. The boat was terrific through all this-handled the wind and seas very comfortably. Autopilot never faltered. We were mostly motor sailing and the motor ran as smooth as you like night and day. Finally the crew recovered and we had a terriffic third day and night out, this time one hour watches, 3 hours off. Arrived Sydney somewhat buggered on day 4. We've since dried out and recovered. Felicity Nick and henry flying home as I type this. Tim still on board. I'm still here, and Peter has come up from Adelaide to join us. We are however having some second thoughts about whether Balia is the right boat for us-and perhaps whether the long term cruising plan is right for us. I've discovered again that when sailing offshore, or planning to do so, my anxiety levels go sky high, and Felicity who has some arthritis has found it somewhat harder to get around on board than we had hoped. So the current plan is probably to moor up in Sydney for a while and consider our options, and probably test the market. Can't fault the boat though, she gave us a really comfortable passage in the conditions and performed faultlessly. I want to thank Greg in particular for his help in brisbane. I had a terrible gutrot and the anxiety thing was causing me some strife-greg's help just with getting a few minor things sorted for sea was just fantastic-thanks greg. Hoping to catch up with Ian in the next day or so-stand by mate I'll give you a buzz. We are about to move to a mooring in balmain-any good watering holes over that way?
Phil on Balia, CYC Sydney, out.

[Larks]

Nice to see you on line Phil but sorry to hear that the trip wasn't much fun for everyone, also sorry to hear that you are having second thoughts about the yacht as far as its suitability for your family. As far as the anxiety thing mate, I don't think you are alone, I always experience some anxiety until things settle down a bit and you had the worst bloody weather when you left here. I woke up in the middle of the night with the rain hammering down and had a pretty good idea of what you must have been going through.

Anyway mate, let us know what your plans are and all the best with whatever decision you make with Balia.

[PeterSibley]

Phil ,I hope the next leg is a gentle delight and you all get to love the cruising life ....you really picked your weather for a first run on a new boat ! :):)

[Chris.]

Phil,
Let thing settle down as others have said. I am not too far from Balmain, if you're up for visitors or need an extra hand for anything on the weekend, let me know. I'll PM you with a phone number.
Cheers,

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
Congratulations on the trip so far, Phil. And sorry about the difficulties. (How I relate to those stories of seasickness.)

But I agree with the others -- wait a bit before deciding what to do. Maybe an idyllic trip to Hobart will be just the thing to make you decide she's yours forever.

(And if you get sick of Sunny Sinny after a few days and want to drive up here to The Nerve Centre where all the action is, just drop me a line....)

[John B]

I was just looking at it on Google earth. Quite a trip for a shakedown cruise... 500 miles . No wonder you're tired.

Had you sailed the boat before you left?

[py]

Hi john-well, greg came out for a quick sail a day or so before-we got the genny and the main up and had a little tootle around the bay for an hour or so, but other than that were were pretty much virgin. Crazy I know.
Phil
ps maybe a little Balmain EBS? Crew have all gone home except for number one son and his friend. They've gone up the coast surfing with Tim Bonython who apparently is the world's coolest surfing filmmaker. I have a little varnishing and some tidying up to do, but otherwise at a bit of a loose end.

[PeterSibley]

Withhold a decision for another 1000 miles spread over 3 months Phil ....she will be a joy .:)

[The Bigfella]

I'll give you a call Phil.

I'm heading over your way tomorrow if you want to have lunch somewhere on the waterfront (or away from it if you prefer). I've got to pick up all the gear to re-wire this damn house on the weekend.

[shamus]

I know just what you mean by anxiety, in a new boat, on a strange coast with some bad weather thrown in: the skipper needs a bit of time to think, navigate and organise, which is a bit hard if he suddenly has to stand watches hour and hour about. I think the advice about giving it some time is sound. I suppose Sydney would be a better place to sell it if you do go that way: but Tassie might be a good quiet place to do a few cruises while you decide...

[py]

Ian, Chris, lunch. Tomorrow (whatever day that is). Anywhere is good if someone can pick me up from Balmain. The main street/village here looks kinda nice-I can walk to there. I like the sound of this. Chris is there a work problem for you?
Phil

[John B]

All kudos to you for doing it Phil. Good job. All new ,unknown boat to you and a trip like that.. there's a lot of trust involved. I hope you give yourselves a chance to settle in to the boat a bit more and become accustomed to her.

[py]

Just had a very pleasant couple of hours sanding down the stbd toe rail. There's a lot of rail on a 50' boat. Port side tommorrow, then some varnish. Maybe sitting in port and fiddling about is really what its all about.
Phil

[The Bigfella]

Lunch it is. I've pm'd my number to Chris... you have it Phil. I've got to go to Enmore first and buy all the new gear to wire up the house.

[The Bigfella]

I just had lunch at a pub in Balmain with Phil.

I mentioned the Classic and Wooden Boat Festival to him and he was thinking about it... however, I see the museum has moved it from March to October.

http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1247

you need to scroll down to find it.

[py]

Twas good to catch up Ian, thanks. Still pondering what to do, tidying up a few things the PO left half done. Spent the weekend ashore with a friend at Kangaroo Valley which was great. Back on board today. Piss poor varnishing weather though, keeps raining:(. Decision would be easier if she was not such a lovely boat.
Cheers
Phil

[PeterSibley]

I'm glad it's a hard decision Phil ...slowly , slowly mate .

[py]

I have to say I love that pic above of Nick on the i pod thingy. Nick (10) and henry (8) were right at home the whole voyage. I'm not sure quite what they ate for the 3 days, they just seemed to look after themselves. Henry came up at one stage, had a quick chuck. 2 minutes later i asked him how he was feeling and he just put 2 thumbs up and gave me a big smile. Its a great place for kids. Got some varnish on this afternoon,now its pissing with rain, I think its dry enough though.
Phil
Phil

[The Bigfella]

Wow... you varnished today? I went down to the river... and the sweat was pouring out of me. One boat had its transom under... which isn't a problem - its foam-filled - and the other had one bilge pump not working - nothing a bit of a fuse sanding couldn't fix. Ahh, the joys of wet weather.

[Larks]

I have to say I love that pic above of Nick on the i pod thingy. Nick (10) and henry (8) were right at home the whole voyage. I'm not sure quite what they ate for the 3 days, they just seemed to look after themselves. Henry came up at one stage, had a quick chuck. 2 minutes later i asked him how he was feeling and he just put 2 thumbs up and gave me a big smile. Its a great place for kids. Got some varnish on this afternoon,now its pissing with rain, I think its dry enough though.
Phil
Phil

They did look right at home Phil and are terrific kids, it was great to meet them! Were they satisfied with the size of the waves and the angle of heel once you got going?

[py]

They certainly stopped asking for more, but didn't seem at all phased by it. We still have your spray jacket on board by the way-PM me your address and I'll post it home for you. Or do you want to keep it on board for the sail from Sydney round to Adelaide.........;)

[Chris.]

Or do you want to keep it on board for the sail from Sydney round to Adelaide........

Now that is sounding positive - you feeling like you may keep on with the boat?

[Larks]

. Or do you want to keep it on board for the sail from Sydney round to Adelaide.........;)

Have you had any thoughts on when that might be? If I'm not back into some work I might yet be able join you if we can pick a decent weather window. (You could always turn left and leave it up in the Whitsundays???;)....or better yet, keep going and leave it in Phuket with my mates boat:eek:, I have, or can easily get, all the right contacts up there for you!!:D:D). I'll PM my address anyway ............pending?

[py]

Well my current thinking probably has 2 threads to it. Or 3. I really like the boat. Maybe ocean passage making isn't for us. But then we have some good friends who have been cruising for several years who absolutely hate passage making. So maybe that's not the end of it. I really enjoyed just being aboard in Sydney, pottering around, doing a few jobs, just living. Its nice. I did some looking up forward, and have worked out that the two top bunks are quite readily removable. Then with some very minor works the fwd stb bunk would become a nice double. And if Felicity doesn't have to crouch over and make her way 15 times a day down the tunnel to the aft cabin, she may find the boat more comfortable.
And maybe making a maiden voyage on a new boat with capable but inexperienced crew was taking on a bit much. All credit to each of them, they were fantastic, but not experienced sailors, so at the end of the day, once they were over the seasickness, they could do what I asked them. But they couldn't really make sensible independent decisions about sailing the boat. If the wind changed, if a ship came into view, if the note of the engine changed-they might not even notice the change, and if they did it still came back to me every time. I guess that stress builds up. Maybe we need to bring her home, spend a couple of years sailing her locally, get to know her. The first time we put in a reef, with unfamiliar roller reefing, was off Moreton island, breaking waves all over the place, sun setting, heading into the open sea, with a rising wind. Fast learning curve, but again, not great in terms of anxiety. A more experienced crew, and a better level of knowledge of the boat, probably would have made it a different trip.
So Greg if you are lucky enough to stay out of work for a while, a hand bring her home would be fantastic.
That said, I'm still thinking I'll dip my toe into the market in Sydney. If someone makes a great offer, I'd have to give it serious thought.
I have a whole lot of gear on the boat I need to get home-or rather my erstwhile crew do. I'll probably aim to get back to Sydney around early March with the plan being to hire a car and drive home with gear. But there's always a chance that plan would change to a sail home, early to mid March departure. Open mind about whether we'd make it a quick trip as originally planned-Eden, Portland Adelaide, or break it up into more of a coastal hop. I find entering strange ports stressful, but maybe shorter legs would be easier in the long run.
Phil

[Larks]

It won't be "good" luck keeping me out of work Phil, but if I'm able to when the time comes I'll certainly see if I can come and give you a hand to get her south, even if I can only be there for part of it if I go onto a two on one off rotation, but especially if I end up working out of Sydney

[The Bigfella]

There's normally a few of us around who can help out Phil. I'm planning on being in Vietnam mid-June on for a month. I'm bidding on a job next week that will tie me up till then if I win it, but if not, I can give a hand any time.

[rufustr]

Worth remembering that the sea states at this time of year in the Brisbane Sydney area can be pretty average.

Give yourself some time.

I hope you get a bit of fun from the boat.