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Webster - Log 1 - Preparation



Its started! Having delivered the boat to Las Palmas late August with my eldest daughter Jenny and her partner Mark from Madeira it has been time to go home and catch up on a few work related matters and spend a bit of time at home and in the office. "But you are supposed to have retired'?, says Alison my former long suffering secretary, "Go away". Oh well, nice to be made welcome......so back to the boat on 4th November to get most of the prep work for the ARC done before the crew arrive on 16th. Trouble is I had very recently discovered I had developed a hernia and had it operated on almost immediately to allow me at most four weeks before the start of ARC 2013, not long enough really.

All was going perfectly well until Wednesday morning, provisions on board, safety check done and passed (save for a whistle), but rules is rules. Just had the rigging check to pass, an engine oil change and fill up with fuel and we were good to go. Oh dear, never presume anything with a boat.... failed the rig check!! The main spreaders had cracks in the clevis pin holes port and starboard. The spreaders were going to have to be replaced and pdq as the crew coming out on Saturday and could bring out if able. The consequences of not getting hold of them were too much to contemplate! I must say Adrian, of Eurospars, came up with the goods and sourced the materials, fabricated and shipped them to home for Friday despite a busy schedule. A man who does not like to say "No". So, off with the mainsail and boom - enough to give you a hernia (or bust your stitches). Hopefully the riggers can fit on Monday but I am not holding my breath as they are overwhelmed at present. With luck, that will put us back on track but the boat looks a mess with the boom off and mainsail folded on the starboard deck. So much for being almost ready - famous last words.....

Had dinner last night with Rod Roy of Charlotta and Gary Clements of Arcarius. Gary mentioned he had a cockroach problem as did John and Joyce on Starblazer - gave me nightmares and up at 5am cleaning cans and labeling, getting rid of anything cardboard, too late of course so lets just hope. Had an early re-hab run today with Rod (he had all but broken his leg a few weeks back), got back on board and had a shower. I noticed a water pump going with no tap on. Not good news! Traced it to the sink link fitting and stopped the water pumping then put the link joint back together, all to no avail as it went again a few hours later. Note to self: never leave the boat with the water power switched on, it could have flooded the boat. That's all I needed another job and back to the chandler's in which I must have shares by now!

Big week ahead. The atmosphere here is tensing up. Watched the start of the ARC+ last weekend and there were only 40 boats in that and the air was electric; there are 225 or so in this one, its going to be manic!

There are a lot of big boats here, 50' plus. Ours looks like a tender to some of them! Had a look at the entry list and reckon our 43 footer is in the lower quartile in terms of size. they say size isn't everything but .....

Looking forward to the crew arriving Saturday and getting going Sunday week.

Charlie


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