Ready for the off

Duncan and I came across the three at Agadir Marina as they were making the last preparations before they set off. I asked them if they had ever done done anything like this before “oh, I’ved cycled the length of South America” replied David “it took about a year”.  It seems that these two really have been bitten by the challenge of adventure bug, with vast amounts of help from Bournemouth University with performance coaching, nutrition advise and access to Olympic rowing coaches the boys seem to be very well prepared physically. As for the psychological side of the challenge ” we’ll find out when we get out there” they laughed.

The reason for all of this is to raise funds for the RNLI. In fact the target is £24,000, why such a small amount I asked?  “this is the annual cost to train all the volunteers at one lifeboat station” is was told.  So, we ask all who read this to follow the link and donate, on their website you are also able to send a FREE text message to the boys and keep track of them via the live GPS tracking software,  please take the time and clink on the link  http://www.atlanticcrossing.com

We wish the boys and Stormy every success in their monumental efforts and we will be checking in on their progress as they row across the Atlantic.

Crane Sling

YS Checks the Placing of the Sling

Duncan goes up the mast to check the positioning of the sling and to ensure nothing  will get trapped during the lift.

Steady as she goes

Slowly does it, the tricky part is trying to ensure no damage is done to Wet Dreams carbon roller, this is kept well away from the mast during whole process.

Wooden cradles made ready to support the mast and carbon roller

Nearly there, all going well.

Mast safley down and resting on custom made cradles

Mast off, done!  The detailed inspection shows the masthead has taken most of the impact the photo below shows some of the damage sustained.

Detail of masthead damage

Sparcraft tell us the lead time for a new mast 4-6 weeks, this timescale fits in fine as the schedule is to empty the yacht and then take the keel off to inspect for any possible damage there. The container has already arrived to hold the contents of the yacht, we will be using local workers to fit the container out with shelving.

So, how are we doing to do this?

After a lot of head scratching and long conversations with the local crane driver a plan was devised to right S/Y Wet Dreams. With straps in place and crane ready it was time to try to lift her without causing even more damage. Duncan again checks the placing of the straps during the first stages of the lift, with much creaking and complaining she slowly starts to rise.

Duncan Remembering Sailing Yachts at This Angle

Time to clime aboard Wet Dreams to finish the final checks before the lifting starts. Duncan remembers the last time he was aboard a yacht at this angle, “it was during a cross channel JOG race aboard S/Y Rapscallion and we managed to lie her down in the water just like this”

Gently does it

Very slowly up she comes, Duncan is very nervous at this point, with Wet Dreams complaining all the way, making very loud strange noises all are hoping no further damage is being done to the structure of the yacht. Having finally got her lifted and chocks in place further inspections of the structure took place and all seems to be well. With lots of congratulations and thank you’s to the crane driver a very successful day was had by all.

 The next job, take the mast off, scheduled to take place within the next few days. 

A freak sand storm with 60 knots winds with recorded gusts of 70 knots caused havoc in Monastir Port de Pech, Monday 2nd May. Three yachts were wrenched  from their cradles by the force of the wind causing huge amounts of damage. 

I think we need a third reef...

The owner of S/Y Wet Dreams Mr. Patrick Berthelon and guest were inside the yacht when the winds hit and workers preparing the hull for anti fouling only had seconds to escape before she fell.  Fortunately everyone escaped with only minor bruising and very much in shock.

This is the first time in 30 years of such an event in the port, Port Authorities have started a thorough  investigation into the incident the draft report is expected with a few weeks.

Insurance assessors were at the site within two days paying meticulous attention to the possible internal damage caused to both keel and mast.

We are looking at major surgery here

The first job once the assessor has finished is to get the yacht standing upright again and back into her cradle without causing any more damage.  This will be a very difficult and slow process YS Tunisia have been tasked with the supervision of the lift while trying to control enthusiastic yard workers.

YS Tunisia looks forward to the challenge of project managing the reparation of S/Y Wet Dreams together with the teams from Jeanneau Yachts, Sparcraft (mast), Navtec (rigging) and Medi Classic (woodworking, interiors and deck).

Its Only a Flesh Wound Duncan!

“The altered itineraries will now allow the company to effectively plan and execute its complex technical and maritime operations for the entire season.”  In February, the Costa cruise line canceled its calls in Tunisia and Egypt after violence broke out in the region, although left open the possibility of proceeding with it’s visits to the countries this year if authorities confirmed the rehabilitation of stability and safety.”  Costa also has continued its calls in Israel until just recently.

The changes affects numerous Costa cruise ships sailing in the Mediterranean this year, namely Costa Serena, Costa Concordia and Costa Magica.  According to the cruise line, all seven-day Mediterranean excursions that originally had a one-day call at Tunis, Tunisia, will be replaced with a one-day call at Malta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, or Cagliari, Italy.  All cruise itineraries with planned cruise calls for Alexandria, Egypt, and Haifa and Ashdod, Israel, will now be replaced with calls at Limassol, Cyprus; Rhodes, Greece; Marmaris, Turkey, or the newly added ports of Alanya and Antalya, Turkey.

In addition, the Costa cruise line will continue to operate cruise excursions to the Red Sea out of Sharm-El-Sheik, Egypt on the Costa Allegra. The company also recently announced the Allegra would continue its scheduled itinerary out of Sharm-El-Sheik, which includes a multi-day call in Safaga, Egypt, gateway to the ruins of Luxor.  The cruise line has posted details of the changes at its website, costacruises.com.

Tunisian Libya Border 1st March

With a total to date of more than 80,00 people having crossed the border so far, our 1 staff have been successful in helping total of 1,800 people as of this morning into Tunisia.  The video shows the conditions at the border and trying to find anyone in the thousands of people that have been waiting up to 4 days, sleeping on the ground in freezing temperatures, with no sanitation, no food and no water.

The border crossing has been closed tonight by the Libyans. We understand that there upto 1,500 Thai workers on the other side waiting to come across. All we can do is wait to see if the Libyans will open thier side of the crossing and allow the people through.

After 12 hours at border crossing of Ras Ajdir in Tunisian, YS staff are very happy to report 250 Thai citizens have now successfully crossed the border and a now waiting for a plane to take them home. We are getting horrendous  reports of the Libyan police demanding money, taking electronic goods and people being forced to carry all their baggage and walk for 2.5km to get to the crossing. Whilst being extremely tired, all the Thai citizens were in good health and very happy to be in Tunisia. There are thousands of Thai nationals still in Libya, we are working hard to ensure their successful transfers into Tunisia.

When they finally got to the crossing they were met by thousands of Egyptians also trying to leave the country. Due to numbers of people trying to flee, the country Tunisian boarder officials have closed the border to Egyptians. This  caused very ugly scenes on the Libyan side as hundreds of Thai workers are being led through the crossing by YS staff.  

Unlike the Egyptians, the Thai citizens have Thai government representation at the Tunisian side of the border who have arranged transport and hotels for them to unsure a smooth repatriation.

When the refugees do arrive on the Tunisian side they are presented with a tent city full of all kinds of services ranging from immediate medical care, hot food which is supplied 24 hours a day for up to 5,000 people and emergency accommodation. All of which is being supplied by the military, local charities and even private citizens. While this is very impressive for such a small country they do need more help from the international community as the numbers now coming through have increased and the systems here simply cannot cope.