£7M Super Yacht sinks in East Cowes

That was the headline and I saw it all.  On the opposite side of the river and slightly downstream of me a huge fire took hold of a motor cruiser.  Not one of the new Sunseeker types, but a more old fashioned with tall fly bridge.  Up to 30 firemen were present, trying to keep it under control, until it eventually sank on its mooring.  Now lots of barges and cranes have appeared around the location where it sat, to lift it up and take it away.  Rumour is its an insurance job, it was for sale, but that's for the experts to judge.

Barges preparing for lifting operations

There have been a spate of burglaries too, with eight boats having electronic gear removed, more retro-fit gear than built in, but still not pleasant.

So on Sunday my skipper came on board with another bag of bits and was obviously pleased to see that the cleaning of my top sides and hull were not necessary as the wind during the fire was blowing away.  With engine & gas on to top up the batteries and make tea.  He set to, first replacing one of the anchor rollers he had had made, the old one had seized and in doing so the chain had worn it away.

One of the ceiling supports that had come away was replaced, but unfortunately had left the other behind, I assume this is in order that the ceiling panel can be put back and then the lights on the other side can be done.  He removed the small ceiling panel in the portside rear cabin and exposed one of the three nuts that holds the pushpit on.  Although it is bound within the fibre-glass resin, so almost impossible to remove and I could see him working out a way to remove it, which was cause for a cup of tea of course.  Following a brief rest bite in the cockpit he then proceeded to cut at the pushpit with the junior hack saw.  Slow progress, but I can see what his thinking is, cut the top and twist the remaining rail to partially unscrew the 'fixed' nut, then drive it from above to remove it.  The saw went away, a larger one is called for. One of the stern guard rails was removed assume this is to have a new one made up along with the two that were also damaged at the side.  I must be close to having all the damaged parts replaced and the wind generator re-installed.

With that the companionway came up, exposing the engine, not that he did anything to that, but fixed a small panel to seal a gap between the floor and the woodwork at the base of the stairs. The intention is to providing an element of noise insulation to the saloon.  A small improvement to the wire rack support in the large galley cupboard, means that during choppy conditions the rack doesn't slip and wedge itself.

A new rubberised tape was carefully stretched around the mast, to prevent the ingress of water, so am sure the weather will soon put that to the test.  Not the easiest of jobs to do to hold it in place, then stretch it as it goes round without it slipping.  It took several attempts and looked like stringy chewing gum at one stage. Finally covered with duck tape to provide a more aesthetic look.  Hopefully this is the retro-fit answer and the issue of the leaking mast gaiter can be put bed, not sure if it was his confidence but he took with him a small panel to use it as a template to make a new one. It fits over the hole where the mast comes through the deck, the old one that had suffered from water damage, snapped during storage.

Once happy he'd completed those tasks he'd set himself, he left also taking the life-raft with him, this is to ungo a service by Ocean Safety, who'll set it off, check the seals and repack, including the first aid kit and any food & water pouches that may be contained inside.  Not that in times when this last hope life saving method is used, they'll be worried that the food pouch or water is beyond its sell by date !  This is the first service it will have had since it was purchased at the time of my commissioning.