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On
January 2, I started stripping down the boat. I actually worked (on it)
all those hours I was not either at work or seeing the kids from the time
she was put in the water. After a while, I stopped counting both hours and
money spent.
An advice (I'm following myself the next time I'm buying a boat, is): Buy
a boat that you believe is big enough for the cruise you're planning. And
preferably one that has already been there before. Then there's a good
chance that all the equipment you need is already there. All the time and
money it takes to restore to full working order easily exceeds all your
initial plans and drawn up budgets. (Let others spent their time and money
on their boat, and purchase it when they're done sailing it.)
I made a bowsprit, so I could carry two foresails, and I bought booms. And
the few times I have yet had the luck to get just the right wind - does
that I warmly recommend it. Great sail. I replaced all wires and ropes,
mounted the mast steps and replaced all windows with bullet-proof glass.
Not that I plan on getting shot at, but because they should be able to
cope with even the biggest waves. Up until now, the biggest waves I have
seen have been about 10-12 metres high. I made it through and I'm not
hoping for any bigger ones. The old rubber moulding windows, however, were
easy to remove. Just a light press and they popped in!
I made an anchor compartment and an additional sail compartment in the
stem - both in fiberglass. This means that I have two water-proof
bulkheads, should I run into a container (ship, edit) where containers
shouldn't be. I also made a bulkhead in the stern so water won't get in,
if I should experience any rudder damage. All attachments to the boat were
removed and reinforced. New hand grips were put everywhere, drilled
through and bolted, with similar grips on the inside. Two GPS's, one
mounted by the chart table, connected to the other inside the cockpit,
wind generator and wind steering and a thousand things more.
On board Trojka,
June 14, 2000, six days before departure
Out practicing -
Notice the heeling. Fanĝ (island located just off Esbjerg, edit) in
the background
There are people who believe that you can't go sailing
without a sextant. (I have no idea how to use it. Or how to use an abacus
for that matter). That you can't fully trust your GPS. When something like
that comes to my ears, it makes me wonder if there also was opposition to
using calculators. If there were people who insisted on keeping use of the
abacus? I think it's because they're so happy to master this
old-fashioned, complex navigation instrument. By switching to GPS they
would no longer be any better than new and inexperienced sailors. (Wonder
if they have brought sundial and abacus with them for calculation, or if
they use electronics for that?). I would gladly race anybody with a
sextant. And no, I don't think that the signals will be turned off. It
would be hazardous even on land, if they did. Space shuttles, planes and
satellites would come tumbling down.
During this journey, however long or short it may be, I might get in a
position where I need to find a job. I think the travel down through
Europe will probably be the most expensive, since I probably have to stay
at marinas, which is a costly affair.
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