An Autumn check up

Julian and I drove down to check on Robinetta on Saturday. The Yard had taken off the cockpit cover to see what needed doing, but not started any work. They had not put the cover back either, which together with the fact that they has isolated the batteries thereby disabling the automatic bilge pump meant that when I stepped down into the cabin I trod on floating floorboards. Not a good start! Luckily the water had only just reached the level of the floor boards, and the cabin was not nearly as damp as when a similar situation happened at Holyhead.

Initially I thought that the float switch had failed to work and tried to use the automatic pump. When that did not work I went for the manual cockpit bilge pump, but luckily for my arm muscles Julian thought to check the isolation switch and the electric pump was soon working away. The water was well below the level at which it would damage anything, but I am glad we went to see Robinetta when we did.

After a night on board we woke to an amazing morning mist with the sun coming through it.

We tied Worm, the tender, to the car roof, and took her home. We also took the broken gaff with us, to remove the fittings for re-use after Julian builds the new spar.

End of the trip

Our trip to Southwold yesterday was plagued by gear failures. This was meant to be a shakedown cruise, but too much had been shaken for comfort. There was no safe way to carry on without work on the boat, but the Harbour Master had six boats booked in for the next night, with no space left for us unless they cancelled.

Our inability to reef was explained by the reefing drum coming loose from the boom, but that was not the only problem with the spars. The glue joints on the gaff had de-laminated, and a new one would be the simplest solution.

Luckily the boatyard had a spare berth on the Walberswick side of the river, so we moved Robinetta there while the tide was in our favour. When I went to put the sail cover on the staysail I found that even this sail had suffered, with the piston hanks being noticeably abraded. 

We were not going to be going anywhere soon, and the main sail had to come off for the work on the boom and the gaff. It was really depressing to be folding it up, having only bent it on on Tuesday....

However Southwold on a sunny Saturday in September was a pleasant place to be, and the afternoon felt like a holiday as we met up with friends and strolled around the harbour before heading to collect our car ready for the trip back home.

Trying again

We set off next morning with the new main sheet in place, and a plan to sail out of the harbour and see what the sea state was like. After a lovely gentle sail down the River Orwell we headed across the Stour channel, avoiding a small trawler and a large Stena Line ferry, and out past the Harwich Shelf. The wind was easterly, a much better direction than yesterday, and the sea state also said "Go for it!" Julian put in a course towards Lowestoft, and we motor sailed to let us head closer to the wind.

Then we had the first of our gear failures. The starboard jib sheet block, which should have been held down on the cabin roof, came loose. The nominally stainless steel screws holding the attachment plate down had rusted through. Julian went forward and tied the block back into position between the grab rails. Something similar had happened before, and we knew exactly what to do.

By the time we reached Orfordness the sea state, and how often Robinetta was pumping,  made us reconsider our destination. Southwold was closer than Lowestoft and we knew there was a wooden boat competent yard there to reassure us that the pumping was just her taking up. Or not. I phoned the harbour master to make certain we could get a berth, and was told to come onto the pontoon just by the Harbour Master's office.

When we first plotted the Southwold course the chart plotter told us we would be there by 18:00. We knew this was not true as we were about to lose the tidal push. Even with less than a knot in our favour at the time we could be nearly 2 knots slower in three hours time... 

Julian heard something crack, and I noticed a distinctively shaped piece of  wood on the cockpit floor. One of the dead eyes used to tension the starboard stern shroud had broken. Julian went forward and tied the shroud down as tightly as he could. We would have to be careful not to put too much stress on the mast.

The sea state got up once we were out of the protection of the Aldeburgh ridge and the wind also came round until it was more on the bow, so we were having to tack more often. Our arrival time changed to 20:00. Julian checked the pilot book, and we would be okay to get into the river as long as we arrived by 21:30...

Motor sailing extremely close hauled (for a gaffer) made Robinetta roll uncomfortably, and I decided that a reef would be a good idea. It was, but unfortunately the boom just would not roll the sail away. For the first time ever we could not reef. The sail had to come down all the way. Under engine and stay sail, with the tide against us and waves knocking us back we were fighting to make 2.5 knots.

By the time we reached Southwold it was totally dark. Having been into the river before we knew where we were going, and the chart plotter told us exactly where we were, but there was a strange object in the way... this turned out to be a barge working on one arm of the harbour entrance, but it confused us hugely as we approached.

We were on the Harbour Master's pontoon by 21:00, and securely tied up, with the engine off five minutes later, to our great relief. The last three hours of the trip had been very hard work. We wanted to get off the boat, and go for a drink, but the pub looked very dark... However there were lights on in the sailing club, so we headed there.

A small group of members were sitting around with pizza boxes in front of them, socialising after a cruiser race. They made us very welcome, and we were able to get our drinks, and even buy a pizza each as they had just had a delivery of 50 for their freezer. A lovely end to a trying day.

Failure is allowed

 We left Shotley in perfect time to take the first of the ebb up the coast towards Lowestoft. The track out of Harwich past the Felixstowe container port heads due south and we were running - this didn't bode well for trying to get north.

Nevertheless we made good time beating between the Felixstowe shore and the shipping channel and by about 10:30 we were north of Bawdsey and well out to the east.

But the sea-state was pretty nasty and Robinetta was starting to pump every 5-10 minutes. We didn't feel like we were in any danger but neither did we feel we had any safety margin.

Progress was going to be almost non-existent with the waves knocking us back and the wind on the nose.

We decided that carrying on was not the prudent decision.

Alison had noticed that the main-sheet was very worn in places. We didn't want another rope parting in-use so we decided to go to Suffolk Yacht Harbour and visit the Classic Marine chandlery there and buy some of their buff polyester braid - a significant upgrade on the three-strand polypropylene synthetic hemp we had.

FInally heading north

We have been planing to take Robinetta to Scotland since the spring of 2020, and now, at 6pm on the last day of August 2021 we were actually able to leave Tollesbury and head north. We motored down Woodrolfe Creek, keeping a careful eye on the depth gauge. We were within an hour of high water, but it was neaps, and there was very little water at the head of the creek. We raised the staysail as soon as we could, but waited until we were in Mersea Quarters before raising the main and setting the jib. It was 2 years since we last did this, and I wanted plenty of water around. The engine faltered for a moment as we reduced speed, and I wondered if the old fuel in the tank had got contaminated, but it picked up immediately so I relaxed.

It was late in the day to start a voyage north, and there were only Northerlies or North Easterlies in the forecast, but as we sailed out of the Blackwater Julian put in a chart plotter course to take us towards Lowestoft. I already felt tired, and Julian has been having trouble with back pain, but we could hope!

The sailing was lovely. The forecast was for force 4-5, so we had the no 2 jib and a small reef in the main, and Robinetta romped along at over 4 knots. The tide wash helped us through the Wallet, and we only had to put in 2 tacks to avoid the sands. Because we were heading for Lowestoft Julian had taken us out from the coast rather than hugging it, and by midnight we were 6 miles off Walton pier. The wind had got up, the seas were uncomfortable, and we had lost the helpful tide. It was time to change plans and go into Harwich.

I put in the new course and went down to put the kettle on for a cup of tea, when Julian suddenly called me back on deck. I heard him say the gaff had broken, but it was actually "just" hanging down the mast. We furled the jib and Julian got the engine on and held Robinetta head to wind while I lowered the gaff and stowed it along the mast. Then it was a slow slog into Harwich, with Robinetta rolling all over the place with only the staysail to steady her, and a new engine we had been told not to over rev until it had bedded in.

We were safely berthed in Shotley Marina by 04:30, and went straight to bed.

In the morning we could actually see what had happened. The throat halyard had parted about a meter above the deck and needed replacing. That meant my first trip up the mast in a while. The only 3 strand available in the Shotley chandlers was white, so now we have mismatched ropes for the first time, and the lingering fear that we should have replaced other ropes too. At least we already had a new peak halyard...

The engine performed well, and my fears about our 2 year old diesel having been contaminated proved unfounded. If the seas in the Wallet could not stir up sediment or diesel bug in the fuel tanks I doubt anything will.

We will set off north again with the tide on Thursday, having taken a much needed break at Shotley  doing repairs after our shakedown voyage.

Getting the rigging wrong again

Monday, being a bank holiday, did not see any work from the yard, so after checking the navigation instruments Julian took the car to Bishop's Stortford, where a work colleague had offered us a temporary parking space. It is not easy to get to Tollesbury by public transport, so this will make it easier when we pick it up after our sailing. I moped out the bilges, making sure all the limber holes were clear, and did some tying up ready for the mast to go in then had a relaxing day waiting for Julian to get back.

We had hoped to eat out, but Tollesbury does not have a huge range of dining choices, and it was shut....

Tuesday was an insanely busy day. We were up at 06:30 to move Robinetta over to the fuel dock while there was water. The Marina has a sill, so does not dry, but the water level drops enough that moving around is only reliably possible an hour either side of high water at neaps. We then went back to bed for a bit, but as soon as the yard workers arrived they told us we were the wrong way round in the berth for their crane to reach so we had to turn her in a hurry while there was water. Then we had to get the bowsprit out and rigged so there was room on the foredeck for the riggers.

As soon as the water had dropped the riggers were there to fit Robinetta's mast. This went as smoothly as it always does (i.e. not very!). Somehow while we were dressing the mast the directions had got turned around, and we put the mast head antenna and light cables down the opposite side of the mast to normal. Changing that would have taken too long, so Julian had to rerun the electrics for the antenna so we could use the radio.

Also while dressing the mast we had got the jib and staysail halyards mixed up. They are different lengths with different fittings, so how we made that mistake is as mysterious as the running the electrics on the wrong side of the mast. Luckily that is an easy fix as the yard could swing one of their workers out on a bosuns chair on the crane and he switched the rope around straight after lunch.

Then it was all down to us to get the mast chocked and stayed, the boom refitted, the sails bent on... We were also expecting a visit from Mike French, who had fitted the new engine, to do some final running up tests. Once he had adjusted the idle he told us we were good to go.

Finally, at 18:00 there was enough water over the sill for Robinetta to leave the marina, and start her journey north.

Cleaning out the water tanks and painting

First thing this morning I turned the engine on, so I could use the electric water pump to empty out the water tanks. As the water came through all frothy with bleach I realised that was the perfect time to wash down the rest of the cabin. By 9am I had a clean cabin, and had emptied, refilled, emptied and refilled the tanks. The engine had also had an hour of gentle use under load as a generator, so I felt happy about that.

 

A walk up to the local shop for milk for breakfast, then a drive to Maldon to buy provisions for the week took up the rest of the morning.

 

The only obvious change to Robinetta today is the paint work. Julian tidied up the stenciled name which had got over painted slightly last summer, and I got in Worm, and painted over the linseed putty mix that had been put in just before she went in the water last summer. She now looks smarter, but the assistant harbour master has confirmed that the mast can not go in until Tuesday, which leaves us only 4 days to head north before Julian has to be back at work...

 

 

 

Putting her back together

Julian spent most of the day getting the electrics sorted out, (he might post details himself?) which included getting the new running lights to work. Meanwhile I washed down the insides, reinstalled various bits and pieces, and re-caulked the bits, which had been leaking for a while.

The water tanks have been empty ever since the winter of 2019, so I began the process of getting them back in commission by filling them with a solution of Puriclean. Tomorrow I will pump that out, refill the tanks, and pump them out again. The it is time to replace the charcoal filter, and finally fill with drinking water. All that pumping out will drain the batteries if I don't have the engine on to power the pump, so the new engine's first use will not be for propulsion but electricity generation... This will at least help with the running in of the engine "Five hours of gentle use before you start to push it," went the instructions from Mike French!

Back afloat

At long last Robinetta is back in the water! We heard that French Marine would finish installing the new engine on Friday morning, so I phoned Tollesbury Marina with my fingers crossed, and asked if they could launch her on the Friday afternoon high tide. Miracle of miracles they could. They would even be able to put the mast in her on Monday morning. Julian and I drove down from our new home in Scotland with Worm on the car roof on Thursday, and spent Friday morning washing off mud residues then painting on anti foul. I had not expected so much mud to be left on Robinetta since she was power washed when she was lifted out, so I expect they were careful not to use too powerful a jet, which has been known to wash out stopping and caulking from between the planks

Having to wash her did slow the painting down. There was no time to touch up the topsides that still sported their crack filling layers from last summer’s extended drying out on land, and I was doing the final touches below the water line when the tractor arrived, launch trailer in tow, to take Robinetta off the cradle. That did mean that I had a brush all ready when the pads of the cradle were removed, but there was not a lot of time for the anti foul to harden before she was launched. The other unfortunate news was that when the harbour master told us they could get the mast in on Monday he had forgotten that it was a Bank Holiday, and they would probably not do it until Tuesday.

 Rather than trying out the new engine the yard used their work boat to move Robinetta to her new temporary berth. Once she was tied up Julian and I jumped on board. She had only been out of the water for a month, but five weeks of July and August sun had not been kind to her, and quite a few seams were seeping. For the first couple of hours I was pumping her out 24 strokes of the pump every ten minutes. Normally the float switch and electric pump would have taken care of this, but all the old electric system had been disconnected when the new engine went in. 

French Marine had installed new wiring from the batteries, heavier gauge that the old, and it took Julian nearly four hours to get the electric pump hooked up to the power and working. At one point he was sure the pump was broken, and took it out of its housing. He discovered it was totally blocked by wire wool, and after he cleaned it he hooked it up directly to the batteries. This proved it still worked, which was a huge relief. I had not been looking forward to waking up every hour to pump!

Once the pump and float switch were working (but not the rest of the electrics) we went out for dinner, before heading back to Robinetta for our first night afloat since May.

engine compartment cleaned

 

The engine compartment has been painted ready for the new engine. The freshly varnished mast has been dressed ready to be put back once Robinetta is floating again. Now we just need to wait for the engineer to get back from holiday....

Out of the water again

 Robinetta came out of the water today, and has had a winter's worth of weed washed off her hull. She is now in the lower yard in a cradle, waiting for her new engine and the other work to be done by the yard. Hopefully this will not take too long, as having a wooden boat out of the water at the height of the summer heat is not a great idea.

No pictures, as I was not there. Having everything done at a distance of over 300 miles is nerve wracking!

Robinetta is not being ignored!

 It feels like a long time since I did a blog post, but that is because of too many other things going on, not that Robinetta has become unimportant. She is still not sailing, but there are various reasons for that. 

The varnish on the mast had crazed horribly since she was relaunched last October, so we have had it taken out. Once we undressed the mast we realised that we needed new back-stays, as the galvanised iron was now rusty (the other stays and shrouds are stainless steel). We took the old ones to TS Rigging in Maldon, who made us some lovely new stainless ones. We have also bought a new peak halyard, as the old rope was not very good quality and kept twisting when it shouldn't. We need to buy a few new blocks and get the rest varnished; we did not touch them when the mast was out in Bristol so it is not surprising they need some TLC. There is a lot of serving to be done as well. Due to lack of time the yard have stripped and will varnish the mast. but I have managed to get the bowsprit looking smarter

The glass in one of Robinetta's nav lights was broken over the winter of 2019-20, and so far we have failed to get it replaced. Although Julian wants to keep the old lights, for the moment we have modern ones in new fittings which I put in place today.

One of our friends has taken out the old engine (it will be used for spares). We need to get the engine "compartment" cleaned up and painted before the new engine goes in, but with a leaking stern gland (again) this is impossible without taking Robinetta out of the water. I arranged this with the yard today. They were going to be taking her out to clean the hull and antifoul her anyway, but now she will be out for longer to let the engine area dry out enough to paint. At least this will means that if a new drive shaft is needed there will be no delay while she is hauled out. With any luck the engineer will be fitting the new engine in the third week of July. Fingers crossed!

Engine replacement needed

 Julian and I went to Robinetta this weekend with the vague hope that we could get the engine going ourselves. Unfortunately we failed, and the engine would not even turn over on the hand crank. We have come to the conclusion that it would be best to just get a new engine... This has put a damper on our sailing plans for the year as I suspect it will take a while to organise. 

The varnish on the mast has also crazed and is peeling in a way that will probably flake off the first time we try to haul up the main sail, so we need it stripped off and redone. All this combined with the fact that we are in the middle of moving house to Scotland, means I am going to be very busy since we hope to sail Robinetta up the East Coast this summer.

The good news is that Julian got a reading from the new depth gauge transducer in the bow that we had fitted last summer, and that the hull has now taken up completely. The weather was also beautiful, and we got to fly our East Coast year  flag.

No Duck, Hurrah!

 Finding the duck still brooding last week was depressing, but the eggs had to have hatched by today... I headed down the pontoon dreading what I would find. Luckily the only remnants of the duck's presence was a mass of down. No eggs, dead ducklings, or messy remnants of her presence.

I had brought the vacuum cleaner with me, which helped with the tidy up. Julian and I are going to be sleeping aboard at the weekend, so most of my time was spend turning the paint store version of the cabin into something more like a saloon.

Duck still there

 Went to Robinetta today, only to find the duck still there. Drat!

A sitting duck

 It looks as though the scare I gave the duck yesterday has inspired her to sit tight and begin to brood. I don't have the heart to dislodge her, and with a brood time of 28 days Robinetta will be getting a late start to the season.

I will go again and check next week, just in case she abandons the nest....

Mallard eggs

Since we live 35 miles from Tollesbury I have been unable to visit Robinetta during lockdown, even though the Marina stayed open. The marina have been keeping an eye on her, and an OGA friend has been walking past her on a regular basis, so I was not worried, but as soon as we were allowed to travel I headed to see her.

Rain had accumulated on the fore deck cover as usual, and we will need to take her to the scrubbing posts to take off the weed, but otherwise she looks good externally. 

I did not get a chance to look inside though, since as I went to the stern to start taking off the cockpit cover a duck flew out from under it. There, nestled between the pin rail and the main sheet horse, were 4 eggs. The duck did not fly far, and I headed to the marina office to find out if there was a policy on what to do in this situation.

The harbour master said it was up to me what to do, and I had a chat with a local who offered to contact a local wildlife enthusiast who might take the eggs off the boat to hatch them this evening. I will go back in the morning, and if the eggs have gone I will be happy. Apparently a normal clutch for Mallards is about 12 eggs, so this is a partially laid clutch and the duck can start again elsewhere.