Category: SV Away

Winter Boat Jobs

April 6, 2022 / fiandadrian

Being in Eastbourne we have not had too many distractions from the long list of boat jobs we wanted to get done before heading to the Baltic. Here are some of the jobs we got done.

We secured some storage boxes in the cavernous unused spaces under the floor.

Installed an retractable clothes line in the tech room.

Modified the bimini cover so it can be put away without detaching the front frame which simplifies set up and put away.

Organised the sail locker with some boat hook holders, shelves for paddle boards, storage boxes, and electric outboard mount point.

Installed a gas strut under the bed so we can get to the storage without holding up 753kg with one hand whilst accessing storage with the other.

Crocheted an orchid hanger (first indoor plant…its a slippery slope)

Installed an offshore safe fruit bowl

Improved the bike storage (yes it was worse before)

Found a good spot for Bernie’s folded carriage

Fixed some issues and learnt lots about our distributed power system. You CAN read the stories here.

There are always more boat jobs to be done, but for now this represents for us a good start and it means we can head off. Its sometimes hard to break the inertia, especially when boat jobs are always there, but we are committed to continuing our journey. The last big job is to haul out and hose off the bottom of the boat from a winter of sitting still (its looking pretty green), plus check our anodes, however the Sovereign Harbour boat lift is fully booked for months, so we have to find another port in which to do this – so off we will go!

Getting Away

August 15, 2021 / fiandadrian

By Fi

I’m genuinely not sure that the puns using the boat name are ever going to stop… but I expect they will have to because there are only so many variations using the word “Away” that my brain can compute.

Again, its been a while between posts but for good reason! We got Away! And its been hectic. I’ve taught the boat yard folks doing the handover with us a new phrase – “Drinking from the fire hose” – because that is how it has been feeling.

Our first two days on Away (Thursday and Friday), entailed getting to know the boat a little so we could sleep and cook and do the necessary. We also moved all our belongings (12 boxes plus suitcases) on to the boat and tried to get as much of it put into logical places. Easier said than done when the lockers are all different shapes and sizes, and also there is storage under storage, under beds, under floors etc.

We learned about the systems and did a lot of testing. Then we had the weekend to really unpack and settle in, and take the 25 minute walk to the shops over and over again for supplies, and the supplies we inevitably forget. I promise I will include some nice inside photos in a sec.

Day 3 and 4 were spent on the harbour here in Cherbourg, hoisting sails, testing the single line reefing system on our mail sail (used to reduce the amount of sail for windy conditions), testing the stay sail, the solent and the gennaker. All working so well and we love how the boat sails (thank goodness because prior to now, we didn’t actually know how it sailed).

Here you can see our beautiful red gennaker looking fabulous against the ocean and our black hull.

We also spent time doing some “close quarters manoeuvring” – or in other words, trying not to hit other peoples boats while we try to dock ours.

I was up first for close quarters work, and with the help from Kevin (our handover specialist) I parallel parked the boat a few times, using the bow thruster and getting the feel for the dual rudder system. I wasn’t allowed yet to reverse the boat into our slip, mainly because neither of us had seen it done before, and the space between the dock on one side is about 20cm, and the neighbours boat on the other side is about 20cm, so you can imagine Kevin preferred to show us how it was done, prior to either of us giving it a bash – literally. Apparently this is as tight a slip as we will see anywhere, so if we can reverse into this slip, we’re going to be well set up.

Here is Bernie and I happily looking out for crab pots while I helm on our first day sailing. Needless to say there are no photos of us doing close quarters manoeuvring we’re a little busy (read stressed).

Adrian was up the next day (our last day) to practice some manoeuvring as well, and we had a chance to ask some final questions. Not to be outdone by me, Adrian was this time allowed to reverse the boat into our slip, and did so like a champion. I have dubbed him the official reverse parker of the boat now. To be fair, a few days later I would have my own chance to reverse the boat in and would do so successfully.

Here we are after some successful docking practice. Successful meaning I managed to lasso the cleat on the dock by throwing the docking line over it from the boat while Adrian, driving the boat towards the dock, didn’t hit anything. Oh, and Bernie didn’t jump off the boat mid docking manoeuvre to say hi to everyone. Happy days.

So after completing the final systems check, both of us having helmed, docked and sailed the boat, we signed the paperwork and Away is officially our home. The next few days we spend working with Garcia on a few items that needed correcting (to be expected when building a new boat), fitting out the boat with our safety gear, moving our belongings around and around and around finding the best spots for things, and buying storage boxes – lots of storage boxes.

Again we didn’t think that would make interesting photos so here we are sailing again.

And we buy sheets and plates and storage boxes and towels and cookware and dog food and storage boxes and tools and glasses and baguettes and storage boxes and spices and a board for my magnets and hooks and storage boxes. Tiring stuff!

We also now have a book for the local area and the charts, so looking at the weather, we hope to be out exploring more of France next week or very soon thereafter. It will be excellent to get off the dock. The Fastnet race has been in town and Bernie INSISTS on jumping off and saying hello to every sailor that walks past. Horror for his introverted parents but he is having the best time. A lot of people also want to talk to us about Away and where we are from, if we like France and where we are planning to go. We feel quite popular, but it can get very busy.

Here are some nice photos of the interior and our first few days on the boat – hope you enjoy!

Going Away

June 28, 2021 / fiandadrian

We haven’t posted for a while as we have been feverishly getting ready to move to France. For those of you diligently keeping up with our travels, you hopefully remember that we are on the cusp of realising our 5 year dream of sailing the world on a sailboat. So, whilst we’ve been floating and driving around Australia over the last 18 months, progress on the new boat has continued. Most recent excitement is the logo and black wrapping around the hull. The black wrapping is a stick on plastic layer with a 5+ year lifespan.

“Away” is awaiting us, almost ready for us to live off the grid and sail the world. Here you can see the arch on the back of the boat, ready with solar panels. The electrics are currently being installed, and soon they will finalise the interior fit out, move the boat outside, and install the mast, rigging and sails.

We will arrive with enough time to see “Away” splashed in the water which we’re really excited about.

Here you can see the spare room for when you come and visit us! And we do want you to come visit us. This journey is as much for us to see the world, as it is for us to share it with our friends and family. We promise there will be a comfy mattress and pillows here for you when you come.

Bernie is coming with us too, and although he has no idea what is going on, we think he loves being with his pack, no matter what daft thing we’re doing.

We put a hot and cold running dog shower on the back of the boat for him so that when he gets back from running in the mud and salt water, he can look forward to a lovely warm wash on the stern. It also doubles as a nice outside shower for us which is an added bonus. It is in this picture, I’ll let you spot it.

We have enjoyed being back in latte sipping inner westie Sydney for a few weeks while we prepared to move, but are looking forward to cheese, wine, baguettes and the end of a northern hemisphere summer.

Bye Sydney! We are publishing this from Dubai having already crossed one of the most highly guarded borders on the planet. Our international flight left from Brisbane, Queensland requiring a short hop from Sydney. People from south of the border now get a police escort to the international terminal, although they don’t carry your luggage!

Away

April 24, 2021 / fiandadrian

Another milestone has arrived in our sailing project.

Addictive, our 30ft fibreglass yacht was the perfect training yacht and served us well coastal hoping up the east coast. This week Addictive’s new owners finalised the sale and will shortly complete the transfer from Brisbane to its new home on the Gold Coast.

Whilst you can cross oceans in a yacht like Addictive, we decided we wanted more comfort and safety to be comfortable cruising ongoing. Our dream boat has been gradually taking shape in Cherbourg, France over the last 6 months and finally has a name: ‘Away’ is expected to ‘splash’ in early July.

Away is not your average yacht. Away is a Garcia Exploration 45 designed to explore the less frequented parts of the world. Being 45 feet long the internal volume is much bigger than we are used to allowing room for some home comforts and a more comfortable ride at sea.