1st Month Back

I have 9 days to get the boat out of moth balls and launched. Before mike and Mark arrive There is still snow on the ground and no one back at work in Lewisporte to launch the boat. it could be a tall order. It’s a big year this year with the plan for Newfoundland Greenland and Iceland and hopefully back to the UK so Im very conscious that the boat needs to be in good shape for such a demanding mileage. The jobs list looks like this

Service. heater, hot water heater, engine, generator, electric toilet, water maker, folding propeller. 7 winches. Cooker/hob, outboard engine.

Re run all lines into the mast and around the boat . Put on the sails , put on the spray hood and sail bag on

Flush all antifreeze out of plumbing and drainage and sterilise the water tanks. Check all se cocks

Test, EPIRB, star-link, VHFs, AIS and Garmin in reach, 12v Battery bank

Repack grab bags, install life raft, inflate dinghy and fit out

Update all navigation software

I have 3 days in an Air B&B before I’m back living on the boat so I guess getting the heating and hot water sorted is first job. But first I have to remove the coverings I made last autumn to protect the boat from the snow and Ice, of the very tough winter they had here. With 1 month of minus 20 and 1 month of 170cm of snow with wind in the 50 knot bracket.
The coverings was made using the upturned dinghy and tarpaulins and an old fishing net I stitched together. All lashed down with lines. And the truth is, it has worked perfectly and looks like the day I left it. So I have high hopes of no damage although the very cold temperatures may have found any mistakes I have made with the anti freeze application.
So day one is cover off and heating and hot water up and running. The solar has kept a charge in the batteries and Im relieved the systems fire up as normal ready for a service and no leaks on the hot water. Day 2 is dry so i decide to be outside and re run all the ropes which pretty much takes the whole day with include end to ending some halyards to move small areas off Chaff some where leases critical. But it’s a big job ticked off. Day 3 is service all 7 winches including the windlass and re making all the anchor connections again a very long day in less than perfect conditions.
Day 4 service the engine and remove the water maker ready for its new membrane and consumable pressure pump.
Day 5 service generator new membrane to water maker and find that the manufacturers have sent the wrong pump for water maker not sure how to sort this at the moment but will come back to it.
Day 5, Toilets the electric toilet is seized so a total strip down is required and it turns out the motor is locked solid. Best order a new one. Yet again not an easy problem out this far. While I wait for the new motor to arrive with Claire I decide to use brute force and lubrication to see if I can get the motor moving after 3 hours of muscle vinegar and frustration I have a working toilet but who knows how long for, I have everything crossed.
Day 6 pump out the antifreeze and pressure test the plumping and heating. Fill the water tanks and sterilise them overnight. Heat the water with the heater. Check all seacocks operation.
Day 9 start the engine and generator. Test all bilge pumps Then put boat back together and clean
Day 8 Mark turns up a day earlier that I had remembered which is great as he is a very handy bloke and we prep for launch the next day. Truth is I’m tired and the pressure of having people show up the moment the boat is launched is tough.
Day 9 Yard guys are back at work and they lift us in right on schedule and we are the first boat launched this year and probably the last this month. Mark and I make a hash of putting the sails on but both of us patiently get it right.

Mark and I take a sigh of relief and find meal and some beers for the evening. Tomorrow we will load up with food and do a test sail to Exploits Island 20 miles away.
We decide to make it a 2 night test sail with second night on Sievers Island. It’s freezing cold and we see 2 decent size bergs just outside the island. But it reminds me how much I like these isolated places. And why we make such a big effort to experience it. The test sail goes well and we arrive back in time to borrow Sheena the Yard managers gar and collect Mike and go shopping before heading off on the 200 mile trip south to St John’s. Mike is barely off the plane and we are motoring out towards Exploit’s again for the beginning of the big trip. We even see a Minky whale on the way. First legs is a great success as we begin to learn how to work together and work out how many layers of cloths are required for this type of early season sailing, it’s a lot.
Our next hop is about 35 miles in daylight to Twillingate, home of Iceberg watching in Newfee. Surprisingly we see no serious bergs just bergy bits wedged on the land but the air temperature is tough. All is going to plan but the old dilapidated dock I was intending to tie up to has 10 lobster pots and strings hanging from it so is a no go. I decide to follow the channel into the main fishing harbour to see if there are options there. There weren’t . The wind and the sleet started as we we spinning round to get out. A bit stressful and a bit shallow. A new plan is needed. We decide to put the anchor down near the delapodated dock. Take the dinghy and tie all of the loose lobster ropes out of the way and then up anchor and use the dock anyway. The plan is good and after some faff. We are in a warm bar in a tourist town based on iceberg and whale watching. The next hop is to Fogo Island another fishing community about 40 miles away so next day we head out, there’s a bit of blue sky on the way and we intercept a decent berg on route for some photos. There is a 3 metre swell running and the entrance to fogo is narrow and rocky and as we line up the entrance it’s obvious some concentration and a get out plan will be required. If things look marginal. Head sail down and we motor sail into the rocky gap pretty big booming waves hitting the rocks on either side. There is a bouy to turn 90 degrees around just inside the entrance where we have to drop the main efficiently then motor along a 600 metre narrow channel Leiden with lobster bouys before the water opens ups in a much safer area. All goes well but I’m pretty sure the boys will remember it for a while. We find a spot on the dock near the fishing plant. And take a stroll. It’s not long before the normal newfee hospitality kicks in and we are in a car having a tour. We have to stay 2 nights here as the weather is bad and the exit is tricky in a big swell. We explored the local walks one of which has the original Marconi sight that sent the message across the Atlantic and also received the distress signal from the Titanic.
The wind is just acceptable for a prompt start the following morning. The exit through the rocky gap needs some concentration and we decide to have the 2 reefs in the main and the in jib for enough power to get through the swell. The first part of the day is going to be upwind. And we go past the famous fogo hotel in Jo Batts arm. An un believable bit of architecture in this isolated place. I cant explain just how cold and damp the day is probably the coldest sailing day I have had for a very long time. We barely away toward Lumsden. And the rain and wind is now entering the cockpit from behind and the conditions are miserable, mike comes up with a plan to take to take turns on being inside and getting warm again on 20 minute rotations. We have been passing lots of small medium bergs with growler fields on there lee side. So the one person on watch has to be concentrating and with there head out in the cold most of the time. Mike describes this as type 2 fun. The kinda fun you appreciate when it’s over. I think this is the day Mark decide adventure sailing might not be his cuppa tea. The day is long and the there is no let up in the concentration or the cold or the wind which reaches about 30knts for a time which at these temperatures is bitter. We arrive in Lumsden which is a tight little fisherman’s harbour with Crab boats everywhere, luckily there’s a little spot for us. Fisherman look pretty surprised to see us. But as always they start bringing some gifts of crab and lobster. The VHF arial has fallen off on the last leg and is hanging by a wire. I think I’ll wait until tommorow to get up the mast and fix it. 2 days in Lumsden waiting for the weather to calm down and now we are heading to Bonavista with our crab and lobster ready for a feast. A nice little 45 mile plus day with great weather and easy sailing. All is good in the world again and the lobsters are boiled with 10 miles to go. Bonavista has the promises of a bar and a meal out excitement is building. The Harbour mast remembers me from last year tells us we are the first sailing boat of the year, Im not really surprised. We take advantage of the showers and laundry and we are good to go again. The next stop is Bay verde another busy but small fishing harbour which is just into conception bay, which is this trips final destination. The forcast is blue sky and down wind for this 50 ish day. Everyone is happy and the sailing isn’t taxing. As we approach Bacceleua Tickle we see some humpbacks breaching we decide to take a long slow drift on the outside side of the island to see the Puffin, Gannett, Guillemot, Razorbill, colonies and is well worth the minor detour. We end up with a more upwind battle into the harbour than planned in 25 knots plus some of the time. All tied up for a short stop and an early start he following morning for the final leg to Long pond and the oval Newfoundland Yacht club. Sounds way too posh for us. The day starts early, about 6 ish and we have 2 reefs and the small head sail, the forecast is for 25 to 30 knots almost but not quite upwind. The wind is off the land so the water is flat and we eat up the 38 miles and are in for lunch. It’s been a top trip, feels like a bit of a delivery schedule but we have plenty of different weather and wildlife . Mike and mark have toughed out the bad weather. Now it’s time to tidy the boat and have a nice meal and some beers . As always Mark super good easy company and always on the jobs list, Mike Storing his kit ready for his return in July for the Greenland trip. All in all a great time although mostly Type 2 fun. Ill add photos when I can access my cameraRead more