Wish Rivendel's preparations were that simple !
I can't remember how long ago it was that we could "simply" haul out, paint the bottom and clean the boat to complete our Spring season (actually Fall season in the Southern hemisphere)preparations. Every year since we started going further afield in 1993 (first Mexico trip) we have typically undertaken one major system upgrade and one big system overhaul in order to try and stay ahead of the "tooth of Time" (literal translation of old Dutch saying). After extensive drive train, forecabin, watertank , electric system and navigation equipment overhauls in 2000 (Townsville and Cairns, Austrailia) as well as rigging and engine exhaust system overhauls in the Spring of 2001 (Vuda point marina, Fiji, we tried to get away with only battery replacement and windvane repairs last year in Port Vila (because of the lack of advanced facilities). This got us through the season but this year we are in the process of renewing the holding tank and associated plumbing ,reinforcing the Edson helm/rudder link system, redoing the cabin floors and replacing most seacocks. Fortunately, we have found a wonderful small French (yes, you are reading this right!) boatyard near Port Vila, called "Latitude S 17.44" where owner Laurent and his crew are (hopefully) working hard to make this all happen in time for a June 20th launching (Rivendel is wintering the tough S. Pacific cyclone season on the hard there). The biggest challenge this year may be to have to say farewell to our beloved "Rivendel II" in September, provided we find a regional buyer, or sail her to New Zealand. Project MARC (Medical Assistance to Remote Coomunities) currently has enough support from larger regional sailing vessels not to have to depend on the continued availability of "Rivendel II" anymore. Since it typically takes at least one month to get her ready each year, we would rather spend those energies on organizing and coordinating the various Project MARC team expeditions than on boat yard work. In case Rivendel is sold somewhere in the Coral Sea region we may well decide to wait a few years till we retire from our organizational Project MARC responsibilities and then buy a new sailboat in the Puget Sound / San Juan Island area. If we do not find a regional buyer and decide to sail her to New Zealand instead, we are looking forward to several years of coastal cruising there, instead of in the NW USA. We will just let the chips fall where they may.... Flying Dutchman PS We can still use a few more medical, educational and technical team members for the project MARC July, August and September expeditions in Vanautu (possibly including a special expedition to cyclone-ravaged Tikopia in July/August). If you are interested, please visit the attached website link for more details HM
