Cast off

Well, it’s time to ‘put up or shut up’ as I have now been banging on about my single handed challenge for so long it is probably very boring. Hejira is ready, she has been tested over many miles, crossed the Atlantic twice and her ‘kitting out’ has proved itself in spades for ocean passage-making so now it’s time to test another fragility – me !

The preparation has been a challenge and covered in previous missives but there remained the issue of ‘the bottom’. Although the hull is treated with Copper Coat and I have fitted an ultrasonic antifouling system which has operated continuously, she had not been lifted to review the efficacy for well over a year and I was concerned that I should not embark on my ‘adventure’ with a dirty bottom, a sentiment, I am sure, that would be shared by all. Efforts to book a formal ‘lift and clean’ exercise were proving problematic with no space in any of the busy Cote d’Azur marinas before June. I had also been unable to find the opportunity to anchor and dive under. On the off-chance, I asked the home, Baie des Anges yard if they had any cancellations late one morning expecting the usual Gallic shrug but no, a glance at the watch resulted in an invitation to come to the slings immediately which I did, was lifted, jet washed (in a slightly cursory manner) and relaunched having replaced the prop anode and sorted the bow thruster, all within 45 minutes – result !

The fouling was worse than expected and it makes one question the value of the ultrasonic system accepting that warm waters present pretty demanding anti fouling challenges.

The embryo of the plan is to sail as much as possible, particularly during the day, standing inshore for the sea breezes and heading offshore at night under engine as necessary if the breeze dies away. This way I can set a course out to sea after dark so that, even if I sleep through my 20 minute alarms, I shouldn’t run up a beach or collide with a cliff. Running the engine will mean that I can operate the water-maker and radar, heat the water and charge the batteries. By heading inshore during the day, I should hopefully pick up a mobile signal so I don’t have to rely on the hugely expensive satellite data service. If this works, you can look forward (?) to updates as my challenge unfolds.

Following the vindictive theft, deletion then hijacking (really, incredibly spiteful and childish – beyond belief!) of my original www.hejirasailing.com web site, I have been restoring and improving my replacement site which you have clearly found. There are new features like the ability to subscribe to blog postings and a powerful search feature. This enables you to search a word, say Gibraltar or any other place or activity that I have mentioned and go straight to the pertinent blog. I have also been building the galleries and this exercise is ongoing. The galleries will feature descriptions of the pictures providing more detail than the blogs.

As I write, it is Saturday morning and I cast off at 06.55.

I am running down the coast past Monaco and there is no wind so I am bimbling along under the engine and a cloudless sky. The wind is forecast to fill in from the South West later today so I am optimistic that I may soon be able to silence the engine and SAIL !