PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND REPAIRS>

Here are some pictures of the broken mast and the repair process. We hope to have the mast back on Monday.

AND SO WE BEGIN AGAIN!

Following our disasterous exit from East London and our subsequent return, all in the early hours of Saturday morning, we have thought and rethought our options and have decided to go for a repair of the broken mast. This mast did break before, when Arthur pushed it to its limits in a strong wind with full sail up and we have discovered now, on investigation, that he conducted the repair himself. Not to put any slight on his abilities, he was not a fibreglass expert, and his repair was just not strong or robust enough. The mast broke in exactly the same place as before, and was clearly due to an inadequate repair. We have taken advice from Keith Fenn, who manufactures kayaks for export and who is an expert in working with fibreglass and he has kindly assisted us with advise and his expertise. We have removed the two pieces of the mast off Boundless and Stewart has ground down the broken edges and begun with the repair. Our sail was also slightly torn, when it was pulled onto the boat and it has also gone in for repairs.

As well as having mast problems, we had an overheating issue with our motor, due to a blown head gasket. It never rains but it pours!. We have arranged for a new gasket set to be couriered from Cape Town.

Work has begun again and we are back to mess on the boat, but hopefully this will be the last of our problems and we will be able to get sailing soon!!

ALMOST THE END OF THE DREAM!

I can't believe that it is the 21st July already. We have been so busy with final preparations to leave and there just didn't seem to be enough hours in each day to get everything done.

We decided that yesterday was D-day to leave. There was a good weather window for two and a half days, which would have allowed us to get to Durban before the westerly turned to another easterly. Keith spent the whole day fitting a new heat exchanger, which had been couriered overnight to replace the damaged original, to the Perkins engine, whilst the electricians worked on last minute installations and Stewart finished off the last of the trim on the galley cupboards. I spent the day stocking up on provisions and stowing them on board and Graham was fretting and trying to get everything finished. We were all falling over one another and tempers were frayed. We had promised Sue that we would take her and her family out in the afternoon to Scatter Arthur's ashes, before we left.

We had to postpone going out for an hour, but at last at 4.00 p.m, with Sue and family on board we finally
left the harbour in a light westerly breeze. It was a gorgeous afternoon and we were all happy. We put up the mainsail and all was well with the world. Sue, Gary and Illa scattered Arthur's ashes overboard and spent some quiet time in contemplation. We had a super sail and came back into harbour as the sun set. It was a very peaceful experience and Sue, Gary and Illa really enjoyed the time aboard. We tied up and had a few drinks and snacks before saying our farewells to everyone and getting down to a last minute tidy-up and final preparations. At midnight, we went to bed and set the alarm for 2.00 a.m, to get a good early start.

We left the harbour at 3.00, full of anticipation, and in my case a bit of trepidation. We were finally on our way. This was the start of our adventure. There was a light westerly blowing but there was a fair swell and the sea was very choppy. We were really rocking and rolling and decided to get the mainsail up as soon as possible. When we hoisted the sail, the topping lift got snagged up and the sail did not go up smoothly. We did a couple of circles to try and free the topping lift, which we eventually managed to do, and we managed to get the sail right up. We were off Gonubie at this point. We took a minute to catch our breaths and gather ourselves together before putting up the foresail.We looked back at East London with a full moon rising and it was a beautiful sight.

Then we heard a crack and Graham looked up and said." I don't believe it. Our mast has snapped". The mast had sheared off, two thirds of the way up. We realized that this was the end of our trip, and that there was nothing that we could do but get the sail down and head back to the harbour. This proved to be a near impossible task. The parells which attach the sail to the mast, had got hooked up on the torn end of the mast and wouldn't slide down. So what is usually a very simple exercise of lowering the sail, became extraordinarily difficult. Boundless was bucking and rolling and the broken end of the mast was slapping and banging on the base of the mast, threatening to do more damage. We had to immobilise it without getting injured or knocked off the boat. We tied everything up as well as we could with whichever sheets were available.

Poor Rosie was absolutely terrified. She kept trying to back off the boat. We had brought her into the cockpit and tied her by her harness and lead to a cleat. She had been frightened by the rocking and rolling and things falling about below and always feels more secure when she is with us. Finally after turning the boat around in circles several times, we managed to dislodge the parell and drop the sail. Thankfully we switched on the motor and motored back to the harbour. By the time we tied up again on the police jetty, it was 6.00 a.m and it was beginning to get light.

We were shattered. We had set out earlier with such excitement and anticipation, and here we were with a broken boat. Was this the end of our dream? We were both exhausted, but could not go to sleep and leave the hanging mast which was held only by the cables running up the centre of the mast, for the nav lights and instruments. If this cable snapped, the mast would fall down, causing more damage to the doghouse, solar panels, deck or anything else with which it connected. We began the painstaking task of taking all the
sheets off the sails and mast and Graham climbed up and laced the broken end of the mast to the good lower section, preventing it from swinging or falling down. I packed away life jackets and safety harnesses and everything which had fallen about. Eventually at about midday, we lay down and went to sleep, exhausted, desolate and very, very sad!

We woke up at about 5.00 p.m and Graham decided to go over to the yacht club to see if anyone had any helpful ideas or advice. I couldn't face anyone and just sat staring into space and drinking tea. When Graham got back, I made supper and we went to bed.

I can't believe it but I slept for about 12 hours. I think that the emotional devastation had really taken it's toll on me and my body was just totally depleted. We both woke up feeling much more positive and have spent the day cleaning, tidying and discussing the options of repairing or replacing the mast. We have heard of someone who does wonders with fibreglass and we will contact him tomorrow. Boundless has been subdued, but not defeated. The adventure will go on!

AFLOAT, BUT NOT YET BOUNDLESS!!

Well, we have been living aboard for nearly two weeks now, and we just seem to have re-located the mess from Gately Street to the harbour. Every morning, we wake up full of resolve to get on top of the mess and finish everything off and by the end of the day we are ground down and fall exhausted into any available space to grab a bite to eat, and relax for a bit, before tumbling onto any bunk which is not full of electrician's boxes, cabling and equipment, boat fittings or the carpenter's aluminium sheets, drills, saws and the like. I must say that by evening this can lead to a serious sense of humour failure! We are rafted onto another boat outside the police diving unit in the harbour, so every time we want to get on or off or take anything on or off, we have to climb over the other boat and scramble up from the floating jetty on to the solid jetty, which can be up to a metre apart, depending on the tide, and back down again. Fun, fun, fun!! For all those friends and colleagues who believe that we are having a wonderful relaxing time - we are not! the holiday definitely hasn't started yet!

On the brighter side, we now have all of  our mattresses, saloon seat covers and curtains, which look very nice when not covered in junk. They also look much better when not covered in a thick layer of dust!

Rosie has settled down well, despite the fact that she spends most of her day on our bunk out of the way or in the car. The car is her safe spot and she is always ready to get in. She has learned to jump from boat and onto the floating jetty and has definitely got her sea legs. We are also now fully acclimatized with all the rocking and rolling at night on the mooring. Hopefully none of us will get sea sick when we finally get out.
We are planning to do our first sea trials this weekend, if the safety inspector arrives tomorrow to check our safety equipment, after making and not arriving for three appointments. He has to issue us with a safety certificate, without which we cannot go to sea.

It seems to be all doom and gloom but we really are making progress. Every day is we are a little closer to being finished  and being able to sail away. I don't want to appear negative. It  has just been a really long day!

ON THE WATER AT LAST!!

Well Sunday was the big day When we moved Boundless and all the endless bits and pieces on to the water. Fortunately the day turned out to be fine and clear, contrary to predictions of a high wind, which would have been interesting to say the least.

The truck and crane arrived at 8.00 as arranged, but the police escort didn't. Apparently the police were on a go slow for some reason, so they went slow and arrived at 9.30. I parked my car facing into the oncoming traffic with my flashers on trying to persuade people to tun and take another route, but off course everyone tried to squeeze past, which caused a bit of chaos, but no major hiccups.

The crane and truck drivers were fantastic and the boat was lifted about 12 metres into the air,with it's cradle, over the garden wall and electric fence, over a tree, swivelled around, and placed on the flatbed trailer. It was then driven down Oxford St, the main street of the East London CBD, and to the dry dock on the Buffalo River, where it was again, lifted, swivelled and placed into the water. It was an amazing , if terrifying exercise and hats off to all involved. It was handled superbly. I have to say though it was very stressful watching our investment dangling 12 metres above the ground!!!

We finished the day with a braai for all the people who have worked on the boat, and finally flopped into bed, dirty and exhausted, but very happy that Boundless had come through the day unscathed.

Sizing up the task ahead

Watching in fear and trepidation!

Up, Up and away!

Safely up, over the wall and tree!

Ready to go!

Rosie, ready for her new life at sea!

Down Oxford Street we go with a police escort!

It was an emotional day for Sue and Garry

Lowering her into the water

A quiet moment with Dad!

Touchdown!!

PROGRESS,PROGRESS,PROGRESS!

Work is progressing on the boat - far too slowly for us as we just want to get her onto the water, but there has been a lot to do. Each day we see new things fitted, painted, varnished, installed and finished. This Sunday, 16th June is D-Day. The crane is coming to lift Boundless and her cradle over the garden wall and take her down to the harbour. It is a major operation. The roads have to be closed, allowing the boat to travel unhindered. We just have to be ready!

The boat needs to be complete, to all intents and purposes, when we move her. We can only do minor tweeks and fittings on the water. We can however, only put our freestanding masts and rig up in the harbour and it is going to be an interesting excercise, geting the unfamiliar rig up for the first time.

Here are some pictures of the progress on the boat. She looks like a different girl to the one which we first saw in January.

CHERYL

SUE, GARY AND ILLA

We have been so fortunate to meet Sue Middleton, her partner Gary and her lovely daughter Illa. It was Boundless who brought us together, but it seemed destined that we should meet these wonderful people. They have so graciously taken us into their home and have made us feel so welcome. They invited us to stay with them until 16th June when Boundless will be lifted over the garden wall at 41 Gately Street and transported down to the yacht club. I am sure that they will be so pleased to see the back of all the dust, noise and constant buzz of the workers not to mention two extra people and a dog in their home, although I am also sure that it will be strange for them to have no Boundless in the back garden after seven years.

Don't worry Sue! We will take good care of her. I am sure that Arthur will be sailing along with us on our journeys!

AND SO THE WORK BEGAN..!

Having taken the plunge, and being 550 km away, with a business to run, we had to find contractors to help us with the repairs and rebuild. we asked around and were given the names of Keith Wilcox and his good wife Yvette, who were prepared to tackle the task, together with Stewart , a very able carpenter and Keith's brother Jeff, to sort out the plumbing issues.

Keith assembled a workforce of casual labourers and the wheels were set in motion. The first job was to strip the hull to check it's condition and then to patch, where necessary and refinish it. This proved to be a big task and took several weeks of scraping down, cleaning, resurfacing, scraping down and resurfacing again. And then there was the rest of the boat.........

A lot of work has been done by everyone over the past few months and when we arrived in East London on
21st May, she was a different boat. She was taking shape, albeit much too slowly. We were really keen to get her in the water, and tackle the unfamiliar rig and conduct our sea trials, but everything seemed to be thwarting our best efforts.

We arrived with a completely laden car, with no room for an extra chocolate bar. We had loaded the car the night before in Plett, emptying our daughter Casey's bedroom of all the "Boundless" paraphenalia which had filled the room over the past few months. Had we arranged everything? Had we packed it all? We were going to be away for three months, after all! The morning that we left, the dogs were all very bleak. Rosie, our nine year old Jack Russell,  had been following us around since the night before, terrified to let us out of her sight, lest, we slip away and leave her behind. she didn't know that, for better or worse, she was coming with us. Spud, Rosie's half witted son, was sure that something was about to happen, but had no idea what and Gulliver, my fifteen year old greyhound cross, was very distressed and followed my every move with his eyes.

And of course Polar, our very loud and very independent sixteen year old cat was marching around the house, screaming obscenities.

Having said our tearful goodbyes to the family, we set off. Rosie was so excited to be coming with us and settled down for the long journey to East London on my feet.- the only place available!

CHERYL

SEEING BOUNDLESS FOR THE FIRST TIME

We were very excited to see Boundless for the first time and planned our visit to East London early in January. When we arrived at Sue's house, we could see the yacht partly obscured by the wall, and couldn't wait to climb on board and look over her.

The poor old girl had seen better days and was sadly in need of some TLC. She had been out of the water for a long time.

Despite what she looked like, there was something about her that I really liked. Cheryl and I debated the pros and cons that night, especially the wisdom of taking on such a big project, but in the end we decided that we were up for the challenge and went back to see Sue to negotiate to buy Boundless.

Little did we know what a huge task we had taken on .......

GRAHAM

THE ADVERT ON GUMTREE

Date Listed 09/12/2012 Price R 130,000 Address Southernwood, East London, South Africa View map For Sale By Owner • . 42' (actual size 40' 7, 5") Fiberglass Hull with lloyds certificate - 100 A1. • . Beam 11'4" • . Draught +/- 5'6" Long keel. • . Chinese Schooner Lug sail rig. 840sq feet (sail area) Sails by Doyle 8oz red cruising cloth. • . Two fiberglass masts from a Freedom rig with fiberglass battens (full length) • . Perkins 4108M 49 H.P. Diesel engine +/- 360 litres fuel tanks. Hurth manual gearbox. • 7. 3, 5 Kw Diesel generator. • . Stainless Steel water tanks +/- 440 Litres. • . Aries self steering wind vane. • . Furuno 16 mile radar - model 1721. New - not fitted yet. • . Rutland wind generator - model 910. New - not fitted yet. • . 960 +/- Charts of Med, Indian Ocean, Australia, Pacific Ocean Islands, Caribbean, USA, East and West coast, Red sea, etc. • . Numerous Pilots and other publications. • . Sestrel major steering compass and Sestrel hand bearing compass. • . Sleeps 5 + on Dunlopillow Bluebird Mattresses. • . Hull insulated from W/L down in all living areas with 2" Styrofoam (fire resistant). • . Wood work mostly teak, yellowwood, parmarfin and afromosia. • . Portapotti in head with stainless steel washbasin. • . 3 Bilge pumps (holding tank for waste). • . 6 man Avon life raft. (needs a service) Needs attention.