CALLISTO: Amersham, Bucks, UK

Monday, August 22, 2016

Amersham, Bucks, UK

I've been very lazy regarding this blog but quite industrious in many other ways. Callisto is in La Rochelle in France and I have just returned to the UK to visit with the Admiral who is still busy with looking after her aged parents.
So let's pick up where I left off in the last post. We had a very nice visit to Bruges, Lots and lots of tourists but a wonderful place for a day trip.
The weather was not wonderful but we thought we might be able to slide down the north coast of Belguim towards Calais and then cross over to Dover. Light headwinds were forecast and we thought we could make it in a day without too much problem. All went well until about noon, when we got into 25 kts. on the nose and the going was very difficult indeed. We did finally make it into Dover late that night and while docking, managed to pick up a line the wrapped itself firmly around the prop.
Fortunately, the marina patrol boat was active and they helped us onto the dock. The next morning we had to get the boat hauled as no diving was permitted in the harbour and removed the line.
We dropped Marie-Luce off to go home and Ian and I carried on toward Guernsey.
It was a nice mild, clear night with a nice breeze and we sailed nicely down the south coast and then turned left toward the Channel Islands. We stopped off in Cherbourg for the night as the tide through the Alderney Race was not favourable. We watched the Bastille Day fireworks from the anchorage and left with the tide the following morning for St. Peter Port. Guernsey in July is a bit of a madhouse but we had to go there to export the boat out of the Eurozone and also avail ourselves of duty free diesel at 54p. a litre.
We left the next day and that takes us to Belle-Ile at the end of the last post.
Belle-Ile is much recommended and we spent a couple of days there before going on to La Rochelle.
The Amel Yard was very welcoming and they got to work immediately. We had some minor gel coat work done, and had all the major systems checked out. Daniel from Amel Yard replaced the motor mounts and serviced the prop shaft brake and generally brought the engine room back to spec. We had the charging system and the alternator bench tested and all the grounding circuits checked and tested.All running rigging has been replaced.
Thorough cleaning and polishing throughout and the boat was really looking very good. All this came to a grinding halt after the riggers report came through. The mast step pad on the main mast has deteriorated quite a bit and the riggers were very concerned about it. Although they did not find anything major wrong with the rig, there were a number of small things and that combined with the fact that Callisto has traveled more than 50,000 nautical miles in the past nine and a half years, they recommended replacing all the standing rigging. I did have the option of fixing all the small things and that would have saved some money but I opted to do the whole job at this time. At least I will know that the job has been done correctly by riggers who know the boat well.
Apart from the considerable expense, the next problem was logistical. All of France disappears for the month of August and it is very difficult to get anything done. We went over to the old port in La Rochelle and the masts were removed and are now in the riggers' shop and all the new running rigging is on order. The mast removal process was very slick and I am very confident that these guys really know what they are doing.
Callisto does look very strange as a motor boat.
All the exterior polishing is now done and I'm taking a break in rainy and cold England until the end of the month.
At that time, I will have the dubious privilege of compounding the masts and doing some sanding and painting and then polishing, prior to the arrival and fitting of the new running rigging.
We estimate that we will get going again in mid September after this major refit. We hope that the Biscay weather will behave itself when the time comes to leave delightful La Rochelle.