11th January 2008 - Slipping in English Harbour and farewell until April
Posted at 12:57 PM, Saturday, January 12, 2008
Awoke early this last night on the water - until April that is - and decided to add some info to the blog - as well as say farewell for now.
I'm hoping those others considering storing at Slipways in English Harbour might like this overview of how they practically slip a boat, but not using the more conventional travel-lifter.
There's actually a few places on Antigua one can put the boat ashore.
We'd been told Slipways, the historic facility in English Harbour and just across from Nelsons Dockyard, was the most expensive - and that Jolly Harbour was the cheapest.
There is also facility in Falmouth Harbour - but we never got around to checking that one out.
But - that advice about relative costs twix Slipways and Jolly Harbour from a so called yachtmaster expert - was 100% wrong.
English Harbour is only 70% of the cost of slipping in Jolly Harbour - and it's thatlower price along with the obvious professionalism of Slipways Manager Dion, coupled with us not having to remove our backstay (always a tricky task on a 461), that made our choice easy.
With most modern yachts being hoisted by a travel lift it normally requires the boats backstay to come off so thw wire does not foul the cross gantry on the lifter. Removing and reconnecting our backstay - which is kept under a lot of tension - is a job best avoided if possible.
Slipways does not use a lifter, having a more old fashioned rail / patform / trolly system. Just like they used 200 years back - but with some refinements.
We've been used to using this kind of system before - it was what we used for many years each time we lifted at our old Perth Club, The Flying Squadron, in Australia.
What happens at Slipways is they slide a big hydraulically managed trolly down a concrete slipway into the water whilst you hold the boat in position. You then slowly drive the boat over the submerged trolly, and they then get to work.
With a line holding the boat from the bow to the trolly, a diver then goes down and ensures the keel is sitting over the correct supporting spot, and they then activate hydraulic arms which come up the side and others come up under the yacht - to provide support.
Once firmly supported, they then then slowly inch the trolly by towing it with a big tractor engine (like the ones that move planes at an airport), and after a few minutes adjustment and checking etc, the trolly complete with yacht is drawn up the slipway.
In our case, the tractor found itself postioned over a greasy spot on the slipway - so we smiled as the manager had to add his 4x4 to the towing line. ONly in the Caribbean. But out she then came.
Once up the slipway, the tow wires was disconnected, the tractor reconnected direct to the trolly, and this two manouvered around the yard to the the chosen storage location, where the yacht is chocked under the keel and gently lowered to the ground by the trolly. The pricipal weight is then resting through the keel, but they then add steel support stands fore and aft, and again on each side, so the yacht is fully supported at six other points, before the reolly arms are finally dropped and it leaves the boat standing alone.
Today (12th) I'me meeting with Dion to discuss the work we want done, then we've to collect laundry from a Mrs Doubtfire double (but tanned) and store whats not going to be needed in the UK, then guess we're chillin on the boat or beach before an early meal and off to the airport for our 21.00 flight.
We should arrive in the UK early hours tomorrow - and with luck will be tucking into a Sunday roast lunch by the time most of you read this!
We've covered around 8,000 miles on Swagman since we left Turkey in May, met hundreds of really nice people and spent time (never enough) in loads of really nice places on our way westward. The boat has stood up magically to all we've put her through - and with the refinements we're now aiming to add - should give us the ultimate 2 person fast cruiser to use for years to come.
I doubt if I'll be adding much to the blog until we resume sailing here in April - but want to thank all our friends, family, pals we've made and even the strangers who've taken the trouble to keep in touch with our progress via the comments.
It's been great communicating with you all and we both look forward to picking up again in April and giving you a report on Classic and Sailing Week in Antigu. PLus of course our dash down to Trinidad in May for hurrican season storage until November.
Thanks again to you all.
Love and kisses
John and Sue.
JOHN
{ add comment }