Spain – Page 6 – SY Hullu Poro

…driving me nuts…

On November 6, 2022

The ongoing shopping is driving me nuts at the moment. I have decided to do as much as possible with the bike. It will keep me fit, which I consider as an essential part of preparation for an upcoming longer passage.
It started since I arrived back from home leave and peaked yesterday with three trips on a day. I might have to take one trip with a taxi to get the heavier items to the boat but let’t see how its progressing.

We try to get basic supplies for a period of two month – Canary Islands is apparently better than Cape Verde to stock up the pantry. Once onboard, the challenge around storage starts. No complains.

Need to get on the now.

Fari winds…

Boating & Biking 2.0

By Bernd

On November 6, 2022

In Spain

It has become time to open another chapter on our Boating & Biking Adventures. Not that we have already seen everything on the Atlantic Islands, by far not. Many islands we have not even visited but the pros and cons got thrown into the bucket and evaluated. The outcome is a small North Atlantic Circle over the coming month.

Going via Cape Verde towards the Carribean and then heading back via Bermuda(?)/Azores. The prospect itself to spend another summer in the Azores, while approaching them from a different direction, gave plenty of points on the pro side of the evaluation.

Another great plus on the pros is that Susan will be joining part-time to share this adventure together. I am deeply grateful for this.

It will be a lot of sailing and only limited opportunities for biking but let’s see what can be done, especially on the Leeward Islands in the Carribean. Shall be fun.

The lady is in meticulously mint conditions and ready to head out for a bit more serious sailing on the ocean. She deserves it.

Although me DEPARTING, it feels very much the way, that I am ARRIVING at a point, which has twisted my head for ages!

As per the countdown set some weeks back, we will be throwing the lines here in Puerto Calero on Tuesday, 8th November @ 9am UTC, sharp.

Fair winds…

☝️…new crew member…🦌

By Bernd

On November 5, 2022

In Spain

Our new crew member arrived. Her name is “Hullu”, which means in English crazy. At the beginning, she will be in charge of everything but nothing and therefore only keeping an eye on the wind conditions. If that works well, tasks might be extended.

If you wonder, why she has such big antlers as a female, the answer is that reindeers are unique in this aspect. Both, males and females grow antlers and that makes them special.

“Poro” might join us a bit later.

Fair winds…

Puerto Calero Night Impression

By Bernd

On November 4, 2022

In Spain

…bits and pieces…

By Bernd

On November 4, 2022

In B(H)iking, Spain, Technical

The final bits and pieces are falling together but we still have some items on the To-To-List, nothing critical though.
The fridge is running properly again without touching the new one, which arrived from HR Parts today. Conclusion: We now carry a spare fridge compressor on board.
The gas bottle compartment got a clean-up as one of the open exemplary tasks, which was overdue.

Recent progress allowed the opportunity today to jump onto the bike to Arrecife. Main purpose was to get some delrin shims for the gooseneck manufactured. Ulli from SY Christina gave me the right contact, a one man workshop hidden behind a door – no signs at all.

The shims got completed on the spot, which left time for a drink and catch-up with Ulrike & Nelly at Strava Restaurant in Arrecife downtown.
The backwinds then helped me on the ride back to Puerto Calero along the coastline – definitely one of my favourite stretches on the island.

More bits and pieces left for tomorrow.

Fair winds…

Bimini, Fridge, Inventory, etc.

By Bernd

On November 1, 2022

In Spain, Technical

The Bimini made it onto the To-Do-List this morning. Actually its customised tensioning, which settled in after two seasons and I felt it was a bit loose in recent gusting wind conditions. As the dyneema ropes are made to length the only option was to cut a bit off the four adjustable tensioners. The little vice we have onboard is always handy for this kind of jobs. Got it completed before the sun took over and indoor activities kicked in.

Martin from Hallberg-Rassy Parts did put in the extra effort and got a new compressor unit on its way this morning. It shall arrive coming Monday, latest. Cross fingers! Nevertheless we will try to get the current unit running again in which case the new one will be a good spare.

I already feel some pain operating with one fridge only and it is better to carry a spare unit than being with only one fridge for a longer period of time. This issue remains open.

Besides that I finlized the turnbuckles and same time lost one half cap of the screw cover to the sea. Damned, totally unnecessary but happened.
After a food inventory check, I jumped on the bike for Lidl in PDC and stocked up the pantry. I got a list from Susan and it’s long.
Over a glass of wine on SY Christina with Elke and Ulli we will call it a day.

Fair winds…

👍…Watermaker & Fridge…🤔

By Bernd

On October 31, 2022

In Spain, Technical

My day started before sunrise with the software update of our new Iridium satellite phone. One coffee was not enough and a second had to be brewed before successful update got confirmed. Puh, that’s done. Glad it worked. Now planning a test call to MRCC Bremen for final verification.

Second on the list was – after breakfast – to attack the membrane replacement on the water maker. After disassembling the membranes unit from the overall system, I got some help from Ulli, skipper of SY Christina. Two brains with four capable hands & four sharp eyes got the old membranes removed and the new ones installed. Fittings resealed and the unit was ready to get back installed below deck. The procedure to be followed for initial operation of new membranes took a while but the final reading of 173ppm of water quality meets the expectation. Another big one ticked off the list.

Henry and Jean Michelle turned up to check out the fridge. The result was not promising: topping up refrigerator coolant did not bring the expected result. Compressor should be the culprit. Hm , that is not pleasant.

We got two identical units installed, so one still working but we are used to operate both, one as a fridge and one at slightly higher temperatures for fruits, vegetables and wine. HR Parts might be able to help out on this last minute issue before Boating & Biking Adventures 2.0 are supposed to kick off.

The lady keeps me on my toes but there was still enough time for a quick bike ride to PDC to buy some dinner delights. It’s now getting dark early after the clock change!

Fair winds…

Spinnaker Pole Ready

By Bernd

On October 30, 2022

In Spain, Technical

Together with Alice and Ulli we checked each others Spinnaker Pole arrangements this morning. It’s also good practise again not having used it for a while and sametime doing some needed maintenance on the system.

Up to now I did run the sheet straight through the pole ends’ eye itself but we concluded it is better to add a block to eliminate chafing. I have got the right block (from our previous HR34) and will connect it with a soft-shackle to the boom end.

The soft-shackle is a present from sailing mate Rainer, skipper SY Geronimo. This should now be bullet proof to eliminate chafing on the sheet. Together with cleaning the turnbuckles on the standing rigging and other small tasks the To-Do-List got a bit shorter although one item had to be added:
Since I arrived back from Germany, one of the two fridges is not performing very well and I guess some refrigerator coolant needs to be topped up. Trying to organise that but it is a 4-days long weekend holiday in Spain at the moment. Hope to get this fixed next week.

I will now get on the bike heading to the beach for a cool down swim. As there is no wind at the moment the sun is burning and there are two options after lunch: Long Siesta or Beach !

Fair winds…

⚙️…wear & tear – everywhere…🛠

By Bernd

On October 29, 2022

In Spain, Technical, Trans-Ocean e.V.

At 8:30am, just after sunrise, I was on the foredeck taking the old foresail down. My intention was to check the tension of the luff against the halyard position. Clive and myself marked the max up position during the recent mast inspection to prevent any potential chafing at the halyard sheaves’ inlet at the top of the mast. If the eye of the halyard is getting too much dragged against the sheave, chafing will happen. Conclusion: Old sail should be okay but limit the tension to the marked position. I think it should work.

Now I was curious about the luff length of the new foresail. Got the damned heavy sack out on deck and then – what a relief – Ulli from SY Beagle was standing next to me giving me a hand, tow actually. We pulled the new sail up to learn, that its luff length is about 15cm shorter than the old sail. Perfect in terms of chafing. New sail down, folded, rolled, back into the sack and dragged back under deck. Four hands instead of two keep things below grumbling and shouting level. Thanks Ulli!

Two sheaves on the foresail traveller had to be replaced. As you can see on the photo, the sheets have grooved its traces into it and the circularity while turning was not given anymore. Some bolts showed galvanic corrosion. Parts got bedded into a new layer of Tikal Tek-Gel to prevent future blooming.

Besides that I pulled the 20 year old spinnaker halyard out of the mast, gave it a 4 Euro wash in the washing machine to get rid of calima and salt leftovers and routed it back into the mast via a pilot line. The shackle got de-rusted in some phosphor-water-mixture. All becoming sweet, soft and handy again.

Before jumping on the bike for my minimum daily ride to PDC, I fixed a reading lamp, which had a broken internal cable. Some brazing was required, not my core skill but it is back alive.

Following a nice sundowner on SY Beagle with Alice and Ulli, I am now ready to call it a day. Tomorrow, we will focus on the spinnaker pole arrangement and prepare for water maker membrane replacement, which is scheduled for Monday.

Fair winds & good night!

🙋‍♂️…home leave…🛫

By Bernd

On October 18, 2022

In Spain

I am off for a 10 days home leave to Germany seeing Susan and spending some quality time together in the Rhine-Main-Region.
The lady will be looked after by Jonny from Ireland but also the marina staff is very attentive and will keep an eye on things.

I could not leave without taking some fresh tuna from the Pescaderia in Puerto del Carmen. Two big fresh steaks from the catch of the day passed security check and are sitting in my small handluggage besides some cheese from Azores.
Looking forward to spend some time with Susan in lovely Germany.

Fair winds…

Category: Spain Page 6 of 29